Bradford (10) 13
Tries: Tadulala, Nero Goals: Deacon 2 Drops: Deacon
Hull KR (12) 13
Tries: Fox 2 Goals: Dobson 2 Drops: Dobson

Michael Dobson's drop-goal on the hooter cancelled out Paul Deacon's late effort to give Hull KR a draw against Bradford in their Super League opener.

The Bulls had seemed set for victory when Deacon gave them the lead for the first time on 78 minutes.

Two Peter Fox tries and a pair of Dobson penalties had put the visitors 12-6 up in the first half.

But Chris Nero's try cut the lead and a second-half Deacon penalty levelled the score before the late drama.

Bradford were dealt a double injury blow during the game with Jamie Langley and David Solomona both suffering dislocated shoulders.

The pair both look set for several weeks on the sideline with coach Steve McNamara admitting afterwards that Langley had to go to hospital after his shoulder would not go back into place.

"It wasn't a great way to start the season but we'll cope with the players we've got," he said.

Bradford coach Steve McNamara:

"It was a point lost, without a doubt.

"There was a tremendous amount of effort and courage to get back into the game and then into a winning position, but we weren't very smart at the death.

"I thought we completely dominated the majority of the game. Their goal-line defence was very good but so was ours."

Rovers coach Justin Morgan:

"The players are genuinely disappointed they didn't win.

"I walked into the changing room and players were kicking bottles and shaking their heads, but as a coach that was nice to see.

"Both teams put in a massive effort and both teams deserved something out of the game, but I thought we did enough to win it."

Bradford: Platt, Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Tadulala, Jeffries, Deacon, Burgess, Newton, Scruton, Menzies, Morrison, Langley. Replacements: Cook, Godwin, Solomona, Kopczak.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Walker, Welham, Colbon, Cooke, Dobson, Fozzard, Fisher, Vella, Newton, Galea, Murrell. Replacements: Gene, Cockayne, Mills, Aizue.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield)

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