BULLS 42 HULL 18

BRADFORD notched up their first win of pre-season with a comfortable win over Hull's youngsters yesterday.

On a bitterly cold day at Odsal, it took the hosts a while to warm up, but they bounced back from conceding a couple of early tries to lead 18-12 at the break.

And with the imperious Dec Patton leading the way in the halves, Bulls really stretched their legs after the break, quickly opening up a comfortable lead that they never looked like relinquishing.

Hull never gave up, but Bradford's experience told, as they head into the derby against Leeds with a bit of confidence under their belts.

The visitors had their first really threatening break down the right, but a slightly stray pass, and new boy Kieran Gill was on to it in a flash. He intercepted the ball out wide and ran 70 metres before diving over to score.

Patton, who had made a bright start with the boot, pinning Hull deep in their own territory on more than one occasion with his kicking, slotted over an easy conversion to add the extras.

But good work from Hull hooker Jordan Johnstone near the Bulls line saw him pop the ball up to prop Bradley Fash, who skated his way over by the posts from close range.

The two first-teamers showed their class on that occasion, and Callum Rutland fired over the extras to bring the scores level.

A neat dummy from Fash then put him through and he fed Rutland for an easy converted try down the middle to give the visitors the lead.

Bulls hit back, with Ant Walker and Billy Jowitt both making good bursts to get to the Hull line, and from the latter, Tom Doyle did what he does best, picking the ball up and diving in low to score.

Patton thumped over the resulting conversion to make it 12-12.

Doyle was then brought down just short, and when the ball was worked back to Patton, he found Ben Evans, who despite being clattered in the tackle, managed to bounce over the line.

Patton converted easily to put Bulls into an 18-12 lead, and that was how it stayed at the break.

Bradford quickly increased their advantage after the interval.

Doyle flung a pass to Patton, and Bulls worked it out to the left wing brilliantly. The final ball saw Gill put in David Foggin-Johnston, who dived over spectacularly in the corner to score.

Patton nailed a superb kick from the left touchline to put Bulls 12 points in front, and he was soon in the thick of the action again.

Patton fed the ball to Elliot Kear, who charged through diagonally, and though he was nearly brought down just before the line, he stumbled over on his knees to touch down.

The stand-off pinged over a slightly easier kick than his previous one to make it 30-12.

A brilliant offload in the tackle then allowed Bulls to keep a move going, and that ended with Foggin-Johnston diving over for his second in the corner.

Patton's flawless record from the tee continued, as a tricky conversion went over via the post to put Bulls 36-12 ahead.

Hull interchange Nicholas Staveley managed to bundle his way over for a consolation try, with Rutland converting, before Bulls ended the game with arguably the try of the match.

The ball was worked out to the left wing to Coby Nichol, but it was above his head and he did well to reel it in.

Instead of charging down the touchline, he turned on the afterburners, scooted inside, and drove over under the posts.

Jowitt, who had just come on for Patton, drilled over a simple conversion to round off the scoring.

BULLS: Kear, Dawson-Jones, R. Evans, Gill, Foggin-Johnston, Patton, Jowitt, Fleming, Doyle, Scurr, Murphy, Wallace, Baldwinson.

Interchanges: A. Walker, Crossley, S. Scott, B. Evans, Burton, Ho, Arundel, Camden, Forshaw, Nichol.

HULL: Litten, Lewis, C. Scott, Stewart, Wacokecoke, M. Walker, Rutland, Fash, Johnstone, Burrell, Severs, Jebson, Sao.

Interchanges: Masike, Richards, Staveley, Gibson, Harman.