Bulls 36, Hull FC 22

It should have been easier but who’s complaining? The Bulls finally picked up a win, their first in five games, and it didn’t matter how it came about.

Boss Steve McNamara admitted afterwards his side had played with anxiety. There was plenty of that in the stands also as Bradford threatened to throw away two much-needed points.

When a depleted Hull side got back to 30-22 with 12 minutes to go, supporters were fearing the worst.

Craig Kopczak’s foolish off-load 20 metres from his own line had gifted Hull’s Great Britain centre Kirk Yeaman a simple interception and the buoyed visitors had nicked two tries in just three minutes.

Bradford had already squandered a 16-0 lead in the first half, Michael Platt guilty of another howler at full back to allow Richard Agar’s side a way back in, but they held their nerve to secure the victory that lifts them back into the top six.

Matt Cook powered his way over in the 73rd minute to ease the tension and impressive man-of-the-match Semi Tadulala bundled Craig Hall into touch at the other end to kill off any lingering doubts.

Bradford had never lost four Super League games on the bounce – the other defeat in this current run had been a Carnegie Challenge Cup exit against Hull at Odsal – and the victory should do wonders for confidence.

After a minute’s silence was held for former Hull and Great Britain stand-off David Topliss before kick-off, the Bulls started in formidable fashion.

Bradford capitalised on Hull’s early mistakes, with props Garreth Carvell and Ewan Dowes both knocking on in the opening two sets.

Bulls prop Andy Lynch – back after a neck injury – was the beneficiary, proving too strong when another returning star, the excellent Terry Newton, opted to run on the last, sending his team-mate careering to the line.

Iestyn Harris converted and Danny Tickle booted the restart out on the full to hand the hosts another striking opportunity. They duly took it, with Dave Halley snapping up a loose Sam Burgess pass for Paul Sykes to scamper over.

Carvell is tipped for a World Cup place and is also believed to be interesting Bradford next season but he had a torrid start.

After knocking on again, the powerful front-rower was then caught not square and, from the penalty, McNamara’s men made them pay once more, David Solomona sending out a lovely ball for Tadulala to crash over in the corner.

At 16-0 inside just 14 minutes, playing strong and confidently with Hull missing eight regulars, the Bulls looked well set to end that rut in style. However, Platt’s blunder gave Hull the sniff they needed.

Shaun Berrigan had dinked a kick through on the last tackle which the full back should have dealt with comfortably, turning back and diving on the loose ball on his own 20. But Platt tried picking it up, fumbled and it was hacked on for Danny Houghton to pounce.

When the try-scorer produced a massive 40/20 soon after, it visibly lifted the visitors, who moments earlier seemed destined for a real mauling.

Bradford went back inside themselves and started making needless errors which only encouraged their opponents further.

They defended their line well to see off a couple of raids and looked to have escaped when Shontayne Hape was put over again by Newton on the last.

But Hull would not lie down and when Burgess spilled the ball in the tackle – the touch judge ruled otherwise but referee Ian Smith still awarded the scrum – they were over once more.

Yeaman, who proved a handful all afternoon, latched on to Berrigan’s long pass and defied Platt and Halley to reach the corner, Tickle landing from touch to see them somehow trailing just 20-12 at the turnaround.

Hull had picked up confidence with their win at Odsal three weeks earlier and also having thrashed Castleford for Agar’s first Super League victory last Sunday but this was supposed to be Bradford’s real chance of their own resurrection.

When Yeaman broke clear soon after the restart he should have put young winger Tom Briscoe away but instead tried to beat Platt and was denied.

The same player dived over in the corner shortly afterwards but this time was thwarted by a touch judge’s flag.

Bradford were let off the hook and responded with two tries of their own though Tadulala again – his 17th in just 11 games – and Newton, who finished off Platt’s splendid break. Harris improved both to make it 30-12 but then they imploded once more.

Briscoe seared clear down the left touchline after that side got exposed again, Matt Sing supported and although Platt smothered the Aussie, he got out a dubious pass for Willie Manu to finish.

Then came Yeaman’s second after Kopczak suffered a head rush and, with the rain and wind howling at Odsal – typically when the club had set it aside as beach party day – the signs were ominous.

But Burgess came back on for Kopczak to steel things up and Hull nemesis Cook did the business. It was only his third try in 44 games for the club but all have come against the Black and Whites.