Battling Bulls end losing run

Bradford ended their four-match losing run in emphatic fashion with a 36-22 win over Hull FC at the Grattan Odsal Stadium.

The Bulls ran in seven tries to move themselves back into the top six and relieve some of the pressure building on head coach Steve McNamara.

Kirk Yeaman bagged a brace in a losing cause for the injury-hit visitors, who were without 10 members of their first-team squad.

Winger Semi Tadulala crossed twice to help Bradford get back on track and also gain revenge for their Carnegie Challenge Cup defeat to the same opponents at the start of the month.

Fast start

That quarter-final clash went the way of the Airlie Birds thanks to a fast start but this time it was the home side that were the quickest out of the blocks.

The returning Andy Lynch wasted little time in making an impact on his comeback from injury, scoring the first of three tries in the opening 12 minutes.

Centre Paul Sykes and Tadulala both found their way to the line and, with Iestyn Harris managing to land two out of three conversion attempts, a 16-0 deficit seemed to suggest the writing was wall for Richard Agar's troops.

But, to their credit, Hull - who handed a Super League debut to loan signing Jodie Broughton - kept on battling and were rewarded when Michael Platt's slip allowed Danny Houghton to get their first points midway through the half.

Although Shontayne Hape replied for the Bulls, Yeaman's try four minutes before the break, which was converted by Danny Tickle, meant Hull went in at half time still in touch.

Guns blazing

McNamara would have been disappointed that his team fell away as the first 40 minutes wore on but Bradford emerged from the interval all guns blazing.

Tadulala finished strongly for his second try and then Platt made up for his earlier error by taking Ben Jeffries' pass to race into a gap before handing over to the supporting Newton to finish.

Just as they had done in the opening half Hull hit back, Willie Manu finishing off a 50-metre move that Tickle converted.

The loose forward was also on target with the extras to cut the gap down to eight points after an interception of sub Craig Kopczak's pass allowed Yeaman to score a second.

Yet any hopes the Airlie Birds had of a dramatic comeback were dashed when Matt Cook forced his way over from close range, Harris kicking his fourth conversion to calm nerves amongst the Bradford fans.