Bradford hold out for tight win over Hull FC

Betfred Super League

Bradford (6) 16

Tries: Blake, Ryan Goals: Atkin 4

Hull FC (4) 14

Tries: Batchelor, Litten Goals: Hardaker 3

Bradford Bulls ended their five-match winless run with a narrow victory over 12-man Hull FC.

There were no tries in the first 40 minutes as home side led 6-4 thanks to three Chris Atkin penalties, in reply to two from Zak Hardaker.

The game moved further in to the Bulls' favour when Yusuf Aydin was sent off for the Black and Whites for a tip tackle on Caleb Aekins and Waqa Blake ran in the game's first try soon afterwards.

Joe Batchelor grabbed Hardaker's grubber kick to level it up but Ethan Ryan's spectacular effort in the corner put Bradford back in front.

Davy Litten got over for the visitors with four minutes to go but Hardaker's conversion from out wide struck the upright as the Bulls take the win.

The away side came into the game off the back of a poor 12-4 home defeat by Toulouse in their last outing and Sunday's match could scarcely have got off to a worse start when they lost the experienced Brad Fash to injury after five minutes.

With both teams in indifferent form it was perhaps little surprise that they took the points when they were offered them from the tee.

The second period had started in an equally uneventful way before Aydin was red carded for a dreadful tackle on Aekins.

Blake scored the game's first try in the 57th minute after nice play from Zac Fulton.

However, the hosts - winless since 20 March - could not add to their lead before Batchelor dotted down from Hardaker's clever kick through.

Ryan continued his excellent start to the campaign with a great effort, his ninth try in 12 matches, to put Bradford back in front.

The Bulls looked to put it beyond the Black and Whites but Atkin's drop-goal attempt from in front of the posts went wide and, with time running out, Litten's score got the visitors within two.

Hardaker's subsequent kick did not quite have the legs though and Kurt Haggerty's men took the points.

This victory moves them level with Hull FC with four wins from their opening 11 matches.

Andy Last's men will look to bounce back from this latest setback at Leigh on Friday, while Bradford visit Warrington next Sunday.

Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I just spoke to them in the changing room and said 'we've not played well but we've won, we've played better and lost'.

"I wasn't comfortable at any point. It was a very clunky game, I thought we were toothless with the ball.

"I think Ethan [Ryan] has failed his HIA (head injury assessment) unfortunately. It was a pretty incredible finish and I think he has shown he is one of the best finishers in Super League."

Hull FC interim coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I'm really disappointed. I was confident coming here that we'd had a good week of practice but we just didn't start the game well and made an error off kick-off.

"We're lacking a little bit of confidence and it's quite obvious to see that the quality of players we've got sat in the stands is showing itself when we are performing. We are not quite where we need to be.

"I've got no qualms with the sending off. It was a brain snap from Yusuf [Aydin] and it's one that has proved really, really costly to the team and he's aware of that and he's disappointed.

"It looks like it will be a lengthy lay-off for Brad [Fash]. He'll have a scan as soon as we can but it looks like he's done his MCL (medial collateral ligament)."

Bradford: Aekins, Okunbor, Chamberlain, Blake, Ryan, Nikorima, Atkin, Doro, Ackers, Lewis, Fulton, Russell, Gardiner.

Interchanges: Gill, Peposhi. Hallas, Hooley

Hull FC: Moy, Barron, Briscoe, Litten, Martin, Arthur, Sezer, Sao, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, Hardaker, Fash.

Interchanges: Cust, Aydin, Mata'utia, O'Neill

Referee: Tara Jones.