Round 5
Bradford Bulls 24 l. Hull FC 36

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Hull FC continues 100% Super League start
Mon March 16, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Craig Hall and Kirk Yeaman each scored twice as Hull FC maintained their 100% engage Super League start by piling on the misery for Bradford Bulls.

The visitors ran in six tries at the Grattan Stadium to notch up their fifth win of the season and leave the Bulls still looking for their first after four outings.

Richard Horne, in fine form after an injury-ravaged 2008, also got on the scoresheet along with Chris Thorman, while Danny Tickle booted six goals to take his season's tally to 23.

Yet despite dominating, Hull could not quite kill off the game and Bradford kept the scoreline respectable with tries from Ben Jeffries, Rikki Sheriffe, Semi Tadulala and Steve Menzies.

It was clear within the opening two minutes which side had gone into the game lacking confidence and which was full of it.

Bradford's Nick Scruton knocked on deep inside his own half with barely 20 seconds on the clock and Hull were quick to capitalise with the opening try.

Willie Manu was stopped just short of the line but Hull quickly worked the ball out wide and the revitalised Horne crashed over for his fourth try in five games.

The visitors claimed their second just four minutes later as they moved the ball though several pairs of hands and Thorman sent Yeaman over for his first.

With both early efforts converted by Tickle, Hull were already well on course but the Bulls showed some spirit with a Jeffries break.

That preceded a good spell of home possession and pressure eventually told as Chris Nero burst through a gap on 20 minutes and put Jeffries in under the posts.

Hull soon reasserted their authority as Thorman found Yeaman with another superb pass and the centre's arcing run took him to the line.

Tickle looked set to add another after seizing a kick from Horne but he was denied by excellent work from Tadulala and Paul Sykes behind the line.

But that delayed the next try by only one tackle as Hall leapt to reach Thorman's high kick and touch down.

Another goal by Tickle pushed Hull further clear but Bradford at least cut the deficit to 22-12 at half-time with a swift counter-attacking try on 39 minutes.

Sheriffe finished off a quick move in the corner with Paul Deacon adding his second of four goals from the touchline.

Hull gave themselves further breathing space early in the second half with a Tickle penalty quickly followed by a Thorman try after a move involving Manu, Tom Briscoe and Hall.

Yet Richard Agar's side could not quite finish the job and the Bulls pulled another back as Jeffries kicked to the corner for Tadulala.

The game finally looked beyond Bradford as Manu offloaded brilliantly for Hall to step over under the posts for his second but Bradford were not quite finished and Jeffries set up Menzies.

Hull were not to be denied, however, and calmly played out the final 10 minutes to maintain their best start of the summer era.

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