Happy ending for Hape

Winger ends Bradford stay with try in big win over Robins.

Last updated: 29th June 2008

Hape Shontayne Bradford Bulls Mar 07

Hape: Farewell try

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Shontayne Hape managed to sign off from his stay with Bradford with one of seven tries the Bulls bagged in a rampaging 40-20 victory over Hull KR.

The New Zealander took his tally to 85 tries in 136 appearances for the Bulls as he played his last game for the club before switching codes and joining Guinness Premiership side Bath.

Hape had enjoyed a pulsating partnership with Lesley Vainikolo during his six-year spell at Bradford but now joins his old team-mate in joining rugby union.

Hape crossed for one of Bradford's seven tries that helped them move up into fifth place in the Super League table, with David Solomona, Simon Finnigan, Iestyn Harris and Michael Platt all scoring tries, while Paul Sykes crossed the line twice.

New England cap Peter Fox had scored for Rovers as they took early control with further tries from Paul Cooke and Michael Dobson, but by the time Ben Cockayne added a fourth it was a mere consolation.

Start

Hape almost started his final game with a try on eight minutes but, after he was held up just short of the line, Solomona did manage to power over and give the Bulls an early lead.

Despite this fast start the Robins were unmoved and hit back with three tries in just ten minutes putting them in control of the match.

New England winger Fox was still on a high after representing his country against France just 48 hours earlier, and he maintained his form with a try in the corner to reduce the deficit.

Kris Welham then set Cooke clear under the posts before Jake Webster and Daniel Fitzhenry combined to get Dobson in down the left flank and Rovers were sitting pretty.

However, the visitors contributed to their own downfall when Cockayne's shocking pass from the base of the scrum gave Sykes an easy touchdown.

Solomona then used his muscle to create the space for Hape to burst through for an emotional final try of his Bradford career, which also importantly put the Bulls back in front just before half time.

Ruthless

Cockayne was forced off with a knee injury in the second half and Bradford took advantage by bagging four further tries.

Finnigan finished off a break from Ben Jeffries and then sent Sykes clear for his second try five minutes later.

Harris showed his brilliance with a swanky side-step to dance his way in, and Platt then added a further gloss to the home side's performance.

Cockayne did return to the field to score late on for Rovers but it was all over and Bradford ensured Hape had a winning send-off as he moves into a career in rugby union.