Round 10
Hull FC 8 l. Bradford Bulls 24

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Bradford move to joint second as pressure mounts on Sharp
Sat April 5, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Bradford Bulls moved to joint second in the engage Super League as they eventually ran away 24-8 with an often tight game at Hull FC.

The result left home coach Peter Sharp under intense pressure and facing up to the possibility of becoming the first managerial casualty of the season.

Hull remain in the bottom two and Sharp, who had previously offered a number of injuries to key players as a reason for his side's poor form, must now be looking increasingly over his shoulder with the majority of his stellar names back on the field.

A burst of two tries in five second-half minutes from Matt Cook and Semi Tadulala proved the difference for Steve McNamara's men, who have now won their last three games since their Easter mauling at Leeds Rhinos.

Knowing that they needed to win, if only to harness the support of their increasingly dissenting fans, Hull were comfortably the better side during the opening half but were pegged back by a try from Chris Nero and went in level at the break.

From there, they were never able to dent Bradford's resolve.

They started in superb fashion, with Willie Manu making two scintillating breaks that nearly resulted in tries.

On each occasion, however, Manu's pass inside and then Kirk Yeaman's ball back to the Tongan were intercepted by Bradford, who were wearing a kit almost identical to Hull's in colour and design.

Undeterred, Hull did make the breakthrough they had threatened on 16 minutes as Shaun Berrigan chalked up his third try of the season.

The Australian hooker pounced on some static Bradford marking to dive over from close range, with Danny Tickle adding the extras.

Hull continued to boss the half, with Berrigan peerless in defence and Manu continuing to cause Bradford all sorts of problems - but their inability to make their pressure tell cost them as Nero helped level the scores two minutes shy of the break.

In what was Bradford's first serious attack, Ben Jeffries floated a lovely kick over the top where Nero was waiting to glide in and post his second try in as many games. Deacon added the conversion.

Bradford turned down match commissioner Steve Cross's request to change their kit during the interval and returned in the second half to take the lead for the first time through a Deacon penalty.

Tickle soon cancelled that out, though, with a goal of his own in the 53rd minute, just after referee Ben Thaler had ruled out a Todd Byrne try after deeming that the Hull winger went in touch as he crossed in the corner.

Paul Sykes was then guilty of wasting a golden chance to put Bradford back ahead. The centre picked up the ball after Sam Burgess had punched his way through Hull's defence, but he was unable to make the most of a clear overlap and was dragged away from the line by Yeaman.

But that was soon forgotten as two quick tries ended the contest.

First, sub Cook slithered over from dummy half and an almost improbable angle to score, before Tadulala finished off a fine last-tackle move in the corner after some neat hands from Burgess and Nero.

Hull offered nothing in the way of a comeback, and any thoughts of one were soon ended when Burgess barged over for a last-minute score.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: McNamara backing Sharp


Airlie News: Hull FC v Bradford
Fri April 4, 2008
Source: www.hullfc.com

Hull FC coach Peter Sharp believes the draw they got against Catalans Dragons in Perpignan last weekend can kick start a change in fortune for his side.

Sharp was proud of his battle scared warriors after they had taken everything the Dragons could throw at them and then almost snatched a last second victory.

Having lost prop Paul King with a broken bone in his foot and skipper Lee Radford, rib cartilage, Sharp said: "We were really up against it because they are a very physical side.

"It would have been easy to have caved in but the boys showed tremendous guts and character by digging in and fighting their way back.

"The Catalans performance was tremendous and I believe it will prove a springboard to turning our season around."

Hull's horror injury problems have been well documented; Sharp has struggled desperately to put 17 fit players on the field. Even now they are not out the woods and a few of his team are playing "busted" as Sharp calls in.

But in the last couple of weeks Sharp has had more players on the training ground than at any time this season, and he added: "I couldn't believe it in France, I had to pinch myself because we had 21 players all training together.

"That's unheard off this season and for the first time I also had a selection headache."

Getting more players back on the training and playing field is something Sharp desperately needs, and he said: "We need to train together and also play together and when we do we'll be a handful for anyone and anyone who writes us off does so at their peril."

Sharp admits his side needs to start winning and he's hoping they begin against the Bulls.

"After a draw it would be nice to back that up with a win over Bradford," he said. "It is going to be tough because Bradford is a good side; they have a lot of quality players and come into this game on the back of a big win over Castleford.

"I am sure that win over Castleford will have given their confidence a real boost and they will come into this game feeling really good.

"But we feel good and we have a few more players back. Ewan Dowes makes his return after five weeks out with a knee injury.

"That's great news for us and we also have Peter Cusack, who became a dad again last weekend, back.

"In addition Willie Manu who returned in France from a broken jaw and Jamie Thackray who played his first game since returning to the club in France will have benefited from that game and also another full weeks training with the rest of the squad.

"All these things are positives but now we're looking to back it up with a win and to give the fans, which have been brilliant for us and really supportive in these tough times, something to shout about."

Having returned against Leeds, Richard Horne has now played one and a half games and he admits: "I feel a lot better for it and particularly getting through the entire game against Catalans."

Horne has been out since last season with a foot injury but he's now fit and looking sharp and added: "I'm feeling good and it's just a case of match fitness.

"I'm not far away and Bradford will be a good test for me and the rest. They are a good side but we're improving and this is a challenge we're relishing.

"A win would be great for us but we know we're going to have to be on top of our form.

"We know what we have to do and all the boys are just itching to turn things around and get right back in the mix at the top again."

Hull FC (from): Todd Byrne, Shaun Berrigan, Mike Burnett, Peter Cusack, Ewan Dowes, Graeme Horne, Richard Horne, David Hall, Danny Houghton, Tommy Lee, Willie Manu, Gareth Raynor, Lee Radford, Jamie Thackray, Danny Tickle, Motu Tony, Danny Washbrook, Scott Wheeldon, Kirk Yeaman.

Super League record against the Bulls
Total: Played 27, won 5, drawn 2, lost 20, for 466, against 784

At Hull (Boulevard, KC Stadium): Played 15, won 4, drawn 2, lost 9, for 290, against 341

Birthdays:
Danny Tickle, April 8th
Garreth Carvell April 21st

Milestones:
Ewan Dowes is four games away from 150 for the club.

Gareth Raynor needs four more tries for a 100 for Hull FC.

Richard Horne is two tries away from his Hull FC century. He has already scored 100 career tries.

Motu Tony is now on 95 appearances for Hull following his move from Castleford in 2005.

Graeme Horne is closing in on his 100th appearance for Hull. He has made 94.

Scott Wheeldon has now played 51 games for the club, 47 have been off the substitutes bench.

News sent by: www.hullfc.com

Thu April 3, 2008
• Bulls Eye: Bradford v Hull FC
  

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