Bradford ensured the race for the minor premiership will go down to the wire after coming from behind to beat Hull in the last-ever league match at the Boulevard.

The reigning Tetley's Super League champions trailed 12-0 after 20 minutes but hit back to claim a precious victory that lifts them two points clear of St Helens.

Ian Millward's men can still reclaim top spot if they win at London on Sunday.

Bradford's hero was scrum-half Paul Deacon, who had a rare off day with the boot but scored his side's first try and set up two others with pinpoint kicks.

Hull, clearly with a point to prove after their 64-10 humiliation at St Helens, played with plenty of fire in their bellies and thoroughly deserved their early lead.

Craig Greenhill set up the first try, cleverly offloading from a two-man tackle just short of the line for full-back Steve Prescott to score the 100th try of his career.

Their second try was a spectacular 90m effort from stand-off Richard Horne, who caught a kick from Bulls hooker James Lowes 10m from his own line.

Centre Graham Mackay added both goals, but Deacon gave the visitors hope when he wrong-footed defender Adam Maher to slice through for Bradford's try.

Hull lost some momentum when King was forced into the blood bin.

And the visitors went in front with two tries in five minutes from skipper Robbie Paul and winger Tevita Vaikona, who both pounced on Deacon's perfectly-judged kicks to the line.

When Hull captain Tony Smith lost the ball going for the line, the game appeared to be going away from the hosts, particularly when winger Nathan McAvoy raced in for the first of his two tries to make it 20-12.

But substitute forward Richard Fletcher crashed over for a 72nd-minute try to give Hull renewed hope, with Mackay kicking his third conversion.

Second rower Daniel Gartner then raced onto a James Lowes grubber kick for a fifth try and McAvoy added his second in injury time to deny Hull a fitting farewell to the Boulevard.

Hull: Prescott, Raynor, Kohe-Love, Mackay, Parker, R. Horne, T. Smith, Greenhill, Jackson, King, Maher, Logan, Chester. Replacements: Carvell, Poucher, Fletcher, Cook.

Bradford: Withers, Vaikona, Naylor, Costin, McAvoy, Paul, Deacon, Vagana, Lowes, Fielden, Gartner, Peacock, Radford. Replacements: McDermott, Anderson, Gilmour, Parker.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).