David Howell claimed two second-half tries as Harlequins moved back into the engage Super League play-off places with a hard-fought win at Bradford.

Howell, returning from a three-match ban, crossed twice in the final 15 minutes at Odsal - after the Bulls had taken a 14-10 lead.

Matt Gafa and Ryan Esders were also on the scoresheet as Brian McDermott's men ended a damaging run of six successive defeats and left the Bulls well out of the play-off race.

Bradford had twice led after an early Semi Tadulala effort and later tries from Paul Sykes and Chris Nero. However, they were unable to maintain the momentum.

Harlequins had the game's first chance when Howell, back after his horror tackle on Wigan's Sam Tomkins, found space on the right but passed straight into touch.

After that it was the Bulls who dominated the early exchanges, and reward came as Tadulala pounced on a Sykes kick for the opening try after eight minutes.

Intensity was lacking, and Quins were unable to make the most of their possession.

One good chance opened up for Danny Orr after some inventive play by Will Sharp. But the former Wigan half-back, deputising at hooker for the injured Chad Randall, dropped the pass.

There were few more genuine try-scoring opportunities until Quins took charge of the game with two touchdowns around the half-hour mark.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was stopped just short of the line, but Orr quickly sent the ball wide for Howell to set up Gafa.

Esders, currently on loan from Hull KR, then followed him over moments later from a Luke Gale pass.

Orr converted to give the visitors a 10-4 lead to take into the interval, although Nero almost reached a Dave Halley kick to reply immediately for the Bulls.

Halley looked like scoring himself within a minute of the restart, after breaking from halfway, but Chris Melling got back to tackle in the corner.

Former Harlequins forward Michael Worrincy was then held up over the line as the Bulls pressed forward again, but a chance was lost as Luke Dorn gathered a loose ball.

Pressure eventually told as Terry Newton created the gap for Sykes to run through and score, and Paul Deacon's conversion levelled the scores.

The Bulls reclaimed the lead just after the hour as Sykes broke from inside his own half; Deacon took up the attack, and Nero then raced over in the corner.

It was an advantage that did not last long as Quins produced their best move of the second half, and Dorn's inside pass sent Howell over.

Orr nailed an excellent conversion from the left to give the Londoners a two-point lead.

The Bulls almost hit back as Halley was held over the line but the visitors secured the game after Sharp claimed a Deacon kick and quickly turned defence into attack.

Melling caught the Bulls flat as he sprinted 80 metres from in front of his own posts and then found Howell in support to touch down.

Orr failed to convert but wrapped up the win with a penalty in the final minute.