Bradford Bulls vs Hull KR
Sunday 15 Feb 2009
Kick Off 15:00
Michael Dobson's drop-goal on the hooter cancelled out Paul Deacon's late effort to give Hull KR a draw against Bradford in their Super League opener.
The Bulls had seemed set for victory when Deacon gave them the lead for the first time on 78 minutes.
Two Peter Fox tries and a pair of Dobson penalties had put the visitors 12-6 up in the first half.
But Chris Nero's try cut the lead and a second-half Deacon penalty levelled the score before the late drama.
Bradford were dealt a double injury blow during the game with Jamie Langley and David Solomona both suffering dislocated shoulders.
The pair both look set for several weeks on the sideline with coach Steve McNamara admitting afterwards that Langley had to go to hospital after his shoulder would not go back into place.
"It wasn't a great way to start the season but we'll cope with the players we've got," he said.
Bradford coach Steve McNamara:
"It was a point lost, without a doubt.
"There was a tremendous amount of effort and courage to get back into the game and then into a winning position, but we weren't very smart at the death.
"I thought we completely dominated the majority of the game. Their goal-line defence was very good but so was ours."
Rovers coach Justin Morgan:
"The players are genuinely disappointed they didn't win.
"I walked into the changing room and players were kicking bottles and shaking their heads, but as a coach that was nice to see.
"Both teams put in a massive effort and both teams deserved something out of the game, but I thought we did enough to win it."
Bradford Bulls Stats
Team
Michael Platt, Rikki Sheriffe, Paul Sykes, Chris Nero, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Paul Deacon, Sam Burgess, Terry Newton, Steve Menzies, Glenn Morrison, Jamie Langley, Wayne Godwin, Matt Cook, Nick Scruton, Craig Kopczak, David Solomona,
Tries
Chris Nero(1) Semi Tadulala(1)
Goal Attempts
Paul Deacon(3)
Goals
Paul Deacon(2)
Drop Goals
Paul Deacon(2)
Hull KR Stats
Team
Tries
Fox (2)
Goals
Dobson (2)