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Hull 20 Bradford Bulls 10
OLD Trafford seemed a distant dream for Hull just a few short months ago but the prospect of successive engage Super League grand finals came considerable closer following a rousing victory for last season's runners-up.
It may not have been pretty, nor was it particularly impressive, but in winning for an eighth time in their last 10 matches Hull showed many of the qualities they will need to negotiate the tricky route to Manchester from fourth position.
Bradford were the better side for long stretches of a low rent final league fixture but paid the ultimate price for their lack of polish in attack, particularly before the break when, for all their territorial advantage, they could not shake off opponents Hull mounted just one attacking move of any note in the first half.
The opening quarter belonged almost exclusively to the Bulls who, aided by a succession of four penalties in their favour, piled on the pressure to force Hull's defence into working overtime.
That pressure almost brought an early reward when Joe Vagana's sweet one-handed flick pass sent Ben Harris through only for the Australian to be hauled down short by a try-saving tackle from Shaun Briscoe.
Hull, however, could do nothing to stop Tame Tupou in the 19th minute after Danny Tickle had been penalised for a high tackle on Morrison 20 metres out. Terry Newton's quick tap penalty carved out a rare gap and the giant Kiwi wing crashed over from first receiver.
Iestyn Harris was unable to add the conversion, a miss Bradford came to rue in the second quarter as Hull hit back with two penalties by Tickle.
The first came after Sam Burgess was adjudged to have obstructed Richard Horne before prop Andy Lynch foolishly conceded a penalty on the last tackle by holding down Yeaman to enable Tickle to level the scores from 30 metres out.
Hull needed a strong start to the second half but their hopes were dealt what had the makings of a telling blow in the 42nd minute when Richard Whiting held on to Tupou for far too long in a tackle to earn himself a yellow card.
Tupou almost added to the punishment with a thundering run down the left touchline which took him to the corner but Hull denied the New Zealander with a try-saving double tackle from Graeme Horne and Craig Hall.
Horne, a first half replacement for Mathew Head, the injury-troubled Australian scrum-half who never returned to the field because of an ankle injury, then made an even more decisive intervention with a smash-and-grab score from 55 metres out.
Bradford had just carried the ball over the halfway line only for James Evans to lose it in a tackle and look on aghast as Horne picked it up and held off the cover defence on a touchline-hugging run to the line.
The Bulls did make their numerical advantage tell before Whiting's return when an elusive run from Ian Henderson caught the Hull defence in two minds for David Solomona to punish their hesitancy with a try.
Harris converted and the Bulls were two points ahead, a lead they held until the 62nd minute when Wayne Godwin and Tommy Lee combined to send Tickle over. With Bradford increasingly hesitant, Hull grew in stature and authority and after Nathan McAvoy blew a gilt-edged chance to snatch both points for the Bulls by spilling a try-making pass from Shontayne Hape, the home side had the last word through Whiting.
The centre, a former Barnsley FC apprentice, showed some skill with the boot to twice hack on the ball after an error by Solomona before diving over in the right corner for Tickle's touchline conversion to complete the scoring.
Despite their defeat, Bradford still finish third and will be at home to the team that finishes in sixth place, Wigan or Huddersfield, in an elimination play-off next Friday.
Hull will be at home to the Giants or Wigan the following day.
Hull: Briscoe; Hall, Whiting, Yeaman, Raynor; R Horne, Head; King, Lee, Carvell, Radford, Tickle, Washbrook. Substitutes: Godwin, G Horne, Wheeldon, Dowes.
Bradford Bulls: Platt; St Hilaire, Hape, Evan, Tupou; Morrison, I Harris; Vagana, Newton, Lynch, Solomona, B Harris, Burgess. Substitutes: McAvoy, Cook, Henderson, Feather.
Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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