Round 11
Hull FC 22 l. Bradford Bulls 32

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Bulls return to top of the table after away win at Hull
Sat April 21, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Bradford produced a fine performance to come away from Hull FC with two precious points in the engage Super League, celebrating Steve McNamara's year in charge with a return to the top of the table.

The Bulls posted six tries in a tremendous team performance which was all the more credible after they trailed three times during the tie.

For Hull coach Peter Sharp, the problems continue to mount.

Having failed to recapture the form that saw them make last season's Grand Final, the Black and Whites have spent the duration of this campaign lodged in the bottom half of the table.

They are now facing up to the prospect of losing talisman Paul Cooke to inner-city rivals Hull KR and his half-back partner Richard Horne left the arena with a torn hamstring in the first half.

With Garreth Carvell returning for Hull after a month out and Bradford missing five regulars through injury, the game set off at a frantic pace, with both David Solomona and Shaun Briscoe spurning chances to put their respective sides in front.

Hull were the first to trouble the scoreboard though and did so in some style, with two tries in as many minutes.

The first saw Richard Swain collect his first try in over a year, picking up Kirk Yeaman's inside ball after he had been sent racing clear by Cooke's pass. Then, Cooke's perfectly weighted kick caused enough panic to force Nathan McAvoy into an error and allow Briscoe to pounce.

Cooke added the extras for one of the scores and Hull led 10-0, which had turned into 12-10 by the interval courtesy of Cooke's 37th minute penalty - but only after Bradford had produced a stirring revival.

First, Solomona was at his creative best, conjuring an opening for James Evans to cross in the corner and, although Paul Deacon failed with the conversion attempt, he was soon drawing his side level after Terry Newton was on hand to support Iestyn Harris, who beautifully carved open the home defence.

Hull took full advantage of Solomona's sin-binning to stretch their lead after the interval when Cooke was able to pick Yeaman out after the Bradford defence went astray, before the Bulls mounted their second fightback of the match to edge themselves ahead.

Ben Harris was the first to contribute, before Joe Vagana used all his power to hang on in the tackle and hand his side a 53rd minute lead.

Hull's defensive response was dogged though and thanks to some timely penalties, they were soon back on level terms after Horne's replacement, Motu Tony, collected Danny Washbrook's fine pass to go under the posts.

With time running out, Lee Radford failed with a drop-goal attempt to win the tie, before two further Bradford tries confirmed their win.

Evans added the first after further good work from Solomona, before Andy Lynch capped a fine performance with the final touchdown of the night.

Hull FC (12) 22.
Tries: Swain, Briscoe, Yeaman, Tony.
Goals: Cooke 3.

Bradford (10) 32.
Tries: Evans 2, Newton, B. Harris, Vagana, Lynch.
Goals: Deacon 4.

Hull FC: Briscoe, Sing, Domic, Yeaman, Raynor, Cooke, R. Horne, Dowes, Swain, King, Tickle, Radford, Washbrook.
Replacements: Tony, G. Horne, Carvell, Maiava.

Bradford: Platt, McAvoy, B. Harris, Evans, Halley, I. Harris, Deacon, Burgess, Newton, Lynch, McKenna, Solomona, Langley.
Replacements: Cook, Henderson, Kopczak, Vagana.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield)
Att: 12,767

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article McNamara proud of victorious Bulls


Bulls Eye: Bradford v Hull FC
Thu April 19, 2007
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

In Bulls Eye this week, Bradford coach Steve McNamara looks forward to Friday's engae Super League Round 11 game at the KC Stadium as the Bulls take on Hull FC.

STEVE McNAMARA
IT LOOKED LIKE A GAME OF TWO HALVES LAST WEEK?
It was a classic case of that. The warm weather coupled with the fact we had played two games so close meant we were a little bit dusty in the first half and we lost a lot of ball but in the second period I thought we were very good. That's down to the players because it's easy to give a half time team talk but it's another thing for the players to go out and put that into practice.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM HULL THIS WEEK?
I think they are probably back into a little bit of form after what for them must have been a disappointing start to the season by their standards but when you look at the League Table they are not far off. I am sure they will be looking to get on a bit of a roll - they have won their last three games - and they are very tough to beat in Hull. Paul Cooke is back for them and that has given them more options.

It will be a very exciting game and we are not going to go there and die wondering; we are going to give it a good crack. We have some young boys in the squad are going to get an opportunity to play, not only with some great players on our side but also some great ones in the opposition in a great stadium in front of a great crowd. We are really looking forward to the challenge and we are going to get over there, get a smile on our faces and play some Rugby League.

We are a long way off the business end of the year and we will both be looking for a win but whoever loses knows that it won't be the end of their season by any means as there is still a long way to go. We want to go there full of confidence and get the win.

SQUAD
Steve McNamara has omitted Chris Feather, back and Lesley Vainikolo, knee from last week's squad.

The 18-man squad is: I Harris, Newton, Kopczak, McAvoy, Evans, Cook, Vagana, Henderson, Solomona, McKenna, Deacon, Burgess, B Harris, Halley, Lynch, James, Platt, Langley,

MILESTONES
LESLEY VAINIKOLO has scored 139 tries in 142 games.

MARCUS St HILAIRE needs 1 try for a century of touchdowns in his career.

PAUL DEACON has kicked 56 goals from 66 attempts this season for an average success rate of 84.85%.

News sent by: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

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