BRADFORD BULLS 16 HULL FC 14
KEITH MCGHIE, Bartercard Odsal, Sunday
BRADFORD ended a run of five defeats after a thrilling finale to a game which couldn’t produce a try for almost an hour.
Brave Hull were forced to play 32 minutes with just 12 men after the dismissal of Yusuf Aydin but refused to be overwhelmed and had to watch as a Zak Hardaker attempt at goal, which would have tied the scores, agonisingly struck the woodwork three minutes from time.
A tryless first half finished with the Bulls two points ahead after three penalties from Chris Atkin outscored Hardaker’s two.
The recently injury-hit Bulls were delighted and no doubt relieved to welcome back five of their regular starting line-up with Jayden Okunbor, Waqa Blake, Jayden Nikorima, Eribe Doro and Luke Hooley brought into the side defeated 38-14 at Wigan a fortnight beforehand.
Somewhat erratic FC, two points and three places above their hosts going into the game, were also looking to get back to winning ways after the surprise home defeat to Toulouse over the same weekend.
The black and whites also made a couple of changes with James Bell (knee), Connor Bailey (clavicle) and Matty Laidlaw (head), Lennon Clark and Harry Newman (returned to Leeds after loan spell) all unavailable.
Ligi Sao and the latest loanee from the Rhinos Ethan O’Neill came into their 17.
A determined Nikorima chase from the kick-off immediately forced Hull to spill the ball into touch and, a six again later, only a forward pass prevented Zac Fulton claiming an Atkin pass to score the Bulls’ opening try.
They were denied again by the video referee when Ethan Ryan went over in the corner.
Once the early excitement had calmed, Brad Fash made an unexpected early exit to the bench.
Hardaker opted to settle any nerves by opening the scoring with a penalty when the Bulls were caught offside defending their own line.
Just over a minute later Logan Moy danced cleverly around the fullback to apparently put Hull further ahead but the video referee decided there had been crossing in the build up so ruled out the try.
Atkin levelled the score with a penalty at the other end before Davy Litten was also hurt and temporarily helped off, after a crunching tackle from Okunbor.
Hardaker put the visitors ahead with another straightforward penalty with Atkin once more responding with a slightly further out kick from the tee.
A lack of accuracy on both sides prevented any further scoring, although both had chances through overlaps on the wing, until Atkin took the opportunity to nudge Bradford ahead for the first time with a third successful penalty 45 seconds before half-time.
The next significant action also resulted in a Bulls penalty but, more significantly, Aydin was sent off for a reckless, above the horizontal bodyslam challenge on Caleb Aekins.
The hosts didn’t take long to take advantage of the extra man, pressing from the resumption of play and a Fulton break sliced the defence apart with Blake up in support to score the game’s first try.
Atkin was just wide of the target, for the first time, with the conversion attempt but after Andy Ackers was held up, Joe Batchelor followed a neat grubber to grab a try back by the posts and allow Hardaker to make things all square again to the delight of the sea of black and white fans gathered at the Rooley Lane end of the ground.
Their joy was short lived as Ethan Ryan dived over for what has become an almost trademark try in the corner and Atkin landed an almost as difficult a touchline conversion.
Atkin was fractionally wide with a field goal attempt which needed the video referee to rule it out.
Hull were camped on the Bulls line in the closing minutes and Litten grabbed a late try in the corner to give Hardaker the chance to level the game from out wide.
Amazingly his kick struck the post and bounced out.
GAMESTAR: Jayden Okunbor chalked up several fabulous catches from aerial crossfield kicks amid a typically industrious display for the Bulls.
GAMEBREAKER: Zak Hardaker’s final fruitless kick at goal.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: Ethan Ryan’s acrobatic try, grounding with his body in the air but a metre over the touchline.
ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Jayden Okunbor (Bradford)
2 pts Eribe Doro (Bradford)
1 pt Zak Hardaker (Hull FC)
MATCHFACTS
BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Jayden Okunbor
17 Ed Chamberlain
4 Waqa Blake
5 Ethan Ryan
6 Jayden Nikorima
32 Chris Atkin
10 Loghan Lewis
9 Andy Ackers
15 Eribe Doro
11 Dan Russell
12 Zac Fulton
19 Will Gardiner
Subs (all used)
21 Sam Hallas
22 Luke Hooley
25 Eliot Peposhi
28 Jamie Gill
18th man (not used)
23 Connor Wynne
Also in 20-man squad
30 Leon Ruan
35 Greg Eden
Tries: Blake (56), Ryan (67)
Goals: Atkin 4/5
HULL FC
24 Logan Moy
2 Harvey Barron
19 Tom Briscoe
3 Davy Litten
5 Lewis Martin
6 Jake Arthur
7 Aidan Sezer
18 Ligi Sao
9 Amir Bourouh
10 Harvey Hill
11 Joe Batchelor
4 Zak Hardaker
23 Brad Fash
Subs (all used)
14 Cade Cust
38 Jeremiah Mata’utia
20 Yusuf Aydin
39 Ethan O’Neill (D)
18th man (not used)
27 Callum Kemp
Also in 21-man squad
29 Will Hutchinson
30 Will Kirby
32 Lloyd Kemp
Tries: Batchelor (63), Litten (77)
Goals: Hardaker 3/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 2-2, 2-4, 4-4, 6-4; 10-4, 10-10, 16-10, 16-14
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulls: Jayden Okunbor; Hull FC: Zak Hardaker
Penalty count: 13-11
Half-time: 6-4
Referee: Tara Jones
Attendance: 7,315
Image: David Lofthouse – Hull FC