Bradford Bulls coach Brian Noble has praised the character of his side after they went to the top of the Tetley's Super League last night.

Again they recovered from a two-try deficit - as they had last Sunday at Widnes - to defeat Hull 32-18 at Valley Parade and this, coupled with London Broncos' shock 40-6 home victory over St Helens, was enough to give the Bulls the No 1 berth they covet.

"We didn't handle a couple of Hull's kicks in the first half and didn't manage to catch some of our own kicks, but it was a tough game," admitted Noble, whose side trailed 10-0 after 18 minutes.

"However, in the second half we rolled our sleeves up and just carried the opposition down the field.

"We had too much power for them in the second half, which enabled us to achieve our ambition - getting to the other end of the field.

"But we let them play a little bit in the first half and they were poking holes in us, and full credit to Hull.

"They are a top team with some dangerous players and pushed us all the way.

"If you let them play, you will end up standing behind your sticks.

"But it was a great test of our character and we showed we could turn things around at half-time and pull away."

Noble added: "We are not playing our best, but the lads showed a bit of composure to come back from that deficit.

"We have had a lot of disruption as well in not knowing our line-up, and that affects you. Maybe it showed up our lack of preparation - Hull had a couple of days more than us to get ready.

"But we have a lot of improvement in us, and that is our focus week in and week out."

Prop Paul Anderson won the text and Sky votes as man of the match, and Noble said: "I have seen him play better, but he was disappointed with his performance at Widnes and he bounces back from things like that.

"Generally, one of our four props gives us a lift, and Joe Vagana's second spell was good too.

"Also Brian McDermott - the unsung hero in many ways - did 40 minutes in the second half because we had lost Stuart Fielden."

The Great Britain prop was clattered by Jason Smith around the head in the first half, and Noble said: "Stuart has a headache.

"I will let the officials look at the incident - it's been shown on television - but to my mind he (Smith) has whacked him round the 'melon'.

"However, I don't want to take that away as a reflection of the game; it was a tough, physical encounter, and we were a little bit too powerful in the end."

Fielden admitted afterwards that, although he didn't lose consciousness, he could not remember what had happened after the head-high tackle by Smith.

The 22-year-old must now be a doubt for Monday's match at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (3.35), but more will be known by tomorrow.

However, one plus is that winger Lesley Vainikolo returned for the final 17 minutes and came through unscathed.

The 'Volcano' has not played since tearing a hamstring against Wigan in the first Super League match of the

season. Tevita Vaikona is pictured fighting his way out of a Hull sandwich. at Valley Parade