Bradford edged out by Hull in thriller on Super League return

Betfred Super League

Hull FC (18) 27

Tries: Batchelor, Barron, Litten, Cust Goals: Pryce 5 Drop-goal: Pryce

Bradford (10) 20

Tries: Blake, Wynne 2 Goals: Milnes 4

Bradford Bulls were denied a comeback victory on their return to Super League as Hull FC clinched a last-gasp victory in a thriller at the MKM Stadium.

Just 48 hours on from top-flight debutants York Knights stunning reigning Champions Hull KR by a one-point margin, the visitors ended up on the wrong side of a epic season-opening fixture.

It was to the Bulls' credit, on their first return to Super League after 11 years away, that victory for their hosts never looked locked in with the match all square with three minutes of regular time left on the clock.

It took a drop-goal from Hull FC full back Will Pryce to get the home side's noses in front before Cade Cust finally delivered the win by barrelling over on 79 minutes.

Bradford have been through much since their last try in Super League, Manese Manuokafoa scoring in a win over London Broncos in September 2014, with relegation, liquidation and eventual reconstruction from the rubble.

But it was like they had never been away in the first exchanges, pushing back last year's Super League seventh placed side and scoring the first try through Waqa Blake, as the Fijian international burst through flimsy defence on six minutes.

The excellent Pryce produced a moment of magic to break through defensive lines - a grubber kick as he was being tackled led Joe Batchelor to level things up 10 minutes later, but back came Bradford through ex-Hull FC back Connor Wynne.

Harvey Barron responded once again for the hosts who went 12-10 up with the help of Pryce's unerring boot before Davy Litten broke through some weak tackles on the left wing to make it 18-10 at half time.

If John Cartwright's side were hoping the Bulls would run out of steam in the second period they were swiftly disabused just six minutes into the second half, Rowan Milnes added the extras to give the visitors the lead.

Milnes added two converted penalty goals, the second of which came after a high tackle from Aidan Sezer on Joe Mellor on 61 minutes, which put Bradford into a slim 20-18 lead.

Eight minutes later, a penalty for Hull in front of the sticks was taken without hesitation, as Pryce - whose dad Leon won the Super League title with the Bulls - levelled once again with 10 minutes to go.

Bradford had great field position from a goalline drop-out after a drop-goal attempt from Milnes was charged down, but a knock-on as they were rebuilding their attack took the wind from their sails.

Hull charged up the other end and, with three minutes left on the clock, grabbed a point themselves. A pass back to Sezer shifted cleverly back again to Pryce and his kick sailed over from 30 metres out.

A lead of 21-20 with one minute to play looked fair, but Cust added gloss to the scoreline in the final seconds.

Hull FC coach John Cartwright told BBC Radio Humberside:

"Everyone outside the group just thought it was turn up and win but inside the group we knew that wasn't going to be the case. We provided a great atmosphere but these early season games are dangerous - we've already seen it - no matter who you play.

"I thought we missed a couple of opportunities to go 24-10 up and second half the momentum swung and that is everything and hard to stop. There were two critical tackles one by Lewis Martin and another by Will Pryce. If they had scored in those it would probably have been game over.

"If you don't win your first game it does play on your mind especially with a tough away game next week [at Wigan] but for our crowd and sponsors and members it didn't look good with 15 minutes to go but when you win a tight one it is a good feeling."

Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I have just spoken to the group and I don't want [us] to be happy just because we've come here and had a really good go against Hull FC, I want us to be frustrated that we had done enough to win the game.

"It is a very disappointed changing room in there. They believed they could win the game when we came here and after the game they believed they could have won the game so we will take a lot of positives but I want it to sting a little bit.

"Not executing off the back of the line breaks is what cost us in the end. Ultimately we play a style of rugby that will create opportunities. So when you make so many line breaks in the second half you have to execute those moments.

[On Jayden Okunbor and Dan Russell injuries] "They both look pretty serious. I will know more tomorrow but the physios are pretty concerned with both of them."

Hull FC: Pryce; Barron, Hardaker, Litten, Martin; Kemp, Sezer; Knight, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, Romano, Aydin

Interchanges: Cust, Fash, Lisone, Sao

Bradford: Aekins; Okunbor, Marsters, Blake, Wynne; Keyes, Milnes; Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Russell, Fulton, Mellor

Interchanges: Souter Scurr, Doro, Chamberlain

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.