Archive
Fri, 19 July 2002
Hull FC 24
Bradford Bulls 25
Bradford Bulls: Michael Withers, Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Lee Gilmour, Lesley Vainikolo, Leon Pryce, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Robbie Paul, Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Daniel Gartner, Mike Forshaw
Subs: Nathan McAvoy, Brian McDermott, Richard Moore, Lee Radford
Tries: Leon Pryce, Robbie Paul, Stuart Fielden
Goals: Paul Deacon (6)
Drop Goals: Michael Withers
Hull FC: Steve Prescott, Gareth Raynor, Toa Kohe-Love, Graham Mackay, Matt Crowther, Jason Smith, Richard Horne, Craig Greenhill, Lee Jackson, Scott Logan, Adam Maher, Sean Ryan, Chris Chester
Subs: Garreth Carvell, Paul Parker, Glen Donkin, Paul Cooke
Tries: Crowther, Kohe-Love (3)
Goals: Crowther (4)
But Withers struck a 40 yard drop goal - only the second of his career - to ensure that the Bulls keep their noses in front of St Helens at the head of Tetley's Rugby Super League and condemn Hull to a third straight defeat.
Hull had lost to St Helens and London in their last two games and have seen their hopes of a top three finish fading recently, but a bright start saw Matt Crowther slot over a 30 yard penalty to open the scoring in the seventh minute.
The boot of Paul Deacon had seen the Bulls gain a first minute 40/20, and the scrum half's bomb on ten minutes allowed Tevita Vaikona to palm the ball to Leon Pryce, who stepped inside Steve Prescott to touch down, Deacon converting.
Five minutes later, Hull hit back with a fine effort from Toa Kohe-Love, who ran a great line onto a fine Richard Horne pass and left Withers standing to romp in, Crowther making the score 8-6 with the goal.
Again the Bulls hit back, with Robbie Paul - switched to hooker in James Lowes' absence - dummying and stepping before reaching through a two-man tackle to score from dummy half.
Deacon added the extras, but another Crowther penalty cut the gap to 12-10, although Deacon then kicked two goals of his own to give the Bulls a six point advantage at the break.
Another two points for the Bulls eight minutes after the restart edged them further away from their hosts and, when Stuart Fielden crashed soon afterwards and Deacon kicked a fourth penalty of the evening on 63 minutes, the game was as good as over for the reigning champions.
This was to be the last clash between the duo at The Boulevard and Hull were determined to ensure that they had the final say by mounting a stunning comeback.
Firstly, Graham Mackay was sent away down the left and Crowther supported and rounded Withers from 35 yards to touch down in the corner, with the video referee awarding the try despite Pryce appearing to be held back by Paul Cooke.
But there was no doubting the legitimacy of the next Hull try, on 71 minutes, when they used the overlap well for Horne to again send Kohe-Love in.
Forshaw was then put on report for a high tackle on Sean Ryan as Bradford struggled to get their hands on the ball to stem the tide.
Then, on 76 minutes, Jason Smith ran on the last tackle but saw the ball come free - and backwards - in a two-man tackle before Steve Prescott collected.
After a vain call for the tackle count to be wiped clean, the full back launched a bomb to the corner which Ryan palmed to Kohe-Love, who scored at the corner to level the match.
Crowther was unable to convert, and then wasted a golden chance to cap a stunning reply when he burst through, but Deacon got back to tackle him and the winger could not free the ball to the supporting Scott Logan.
It proved costly as Bradford came back downfield and, as the Hull attention centred on Deacon, the ball was switched to Withers, who hit as sweet a drop goal from 40 yards as will ever be seen in Super League.
His last one-pointer came to win a 19-18 thriller against Leeds at Odsal in 1999 as the Bulls reached the Grand Final - this one could prove just as vital in the Super League race this season as Saints maintain the pressure on the resilient champions.