Hull FC 18, Bradford Bulls 32: The M62 heading towards the North Sea isn't the most glamorous stretch of motorway. But Bradford Bulls won't mind as they confirmed their liking for travelling east on the three-lane trans-Pennine highway by adding another victory at The Boulevard last night.

They also won there in July, and this latest triumph by the reigning champions ensured the race for the minor premiership will go down to the wire.

For the Bulls to finish top now, London need to beat St Helens at Griffin Park tomorrow. But this come-from-behind victory in the last league match at The Boulevard was secured by a flattering margin in the end.

The Bulls, who trailed 12-0 after 20 minutes, regained their championship touch in the second half to claim a precious victory that lifts them two points clear of Saints, who still have a superior points difference.

The final outcome was tough on Hull, however, who battled valiantly in a bid to leave their famous home on a high.

One of Bradford's heroes was scrum half Paul Deacon. The league's leading points scorer had a rare off day with his kicks at goal, but inspired the victory by scoring their first try and setting up two others with pin-point kicks.

Yet it was Hull who generally held sway in a one-sided first half, with props Craig Greenhill and Paul King setting an outstanding lead.

The Bulls, lacking influential loose forward Mike Forshaw (throat infection), in addition to utility back Leon Pryce (hand injury) and winger Lesley Vainikolo (sickness), must have been happy to get to the half-time hooter trailing only 12-6.

Hull, clearly with a point to prove after their 64-10 humiliation at St Helens the previous weekend, played with plenty of fire in their bellies and thoroughly deserved their early lead.

Greenhill set up the first try, cleverly off-loading from a two-man tackle just short of the line for full back Steve Prescott to score the 100th try of his career.

Their second try, in contrast, was a spectacular 90-metre effort from stand-off Richard Horne, who cleanly caught a kick from Bulls hooker James Lowes ten metres from his own line and showed the soles of his boots to the despairing cover. Centre Graham Mackay - scorer of the last goal kick for the Bulls in the Grand Final at Old Trafford last October - added both goals, but Deacon gave the visitors hope when he wrong-footed Adam Maher to slice through for Bradford's try, to which he added the goal.

Hull lost some momentum when King was forced into the blood bin and the visitors went in front with two tries in five minutes from skipper Robbie Paul - who fought off a virus to play - and winger Tevita Vaikona, who both pounced on Deacon's perfectly-judged kicks to the line.

When Hull captain Tony Smith crucially lost the ball going for the line in the 61st minute, the game appeared to be going away from the hosts, particularly when winger Nathan McAvoy raced in for the first of his two tries to make it 20-12.

He had been given the extra space he needed because his opposite number Gareth Raynor was receiving treatment for cramp.

But substitute forward Richard Fletcher crashed over for a 72nd-minute try to give Hull renewed hope, with Mackay kicking his third conversion, but Bradford finished well on top.

Second-rower Daniel Gartner raced onto a James Lowes grubber kick for a fifth try and McAvoy added his second in injury time from an astute Lowes kick.

Hull, who stay fifth after Leeds' fighting 30-26 victory at Wigan last night, will now face the Rhinos at Headingley next Friday with the loser being eliminated.

The Bulls have earned themselves next weekend off whatever the result of St Helens' match tomorrow.

The only decision now is where will the clash of one v two be played - Knowsley Road or Valley Parade. Tomorrow's match at London will give us the answer.