Hull remain unbeaten
Hull maintained their 100 percent Super League record after scoring a 36-24 victory at struggling Bradford.
Last Updated: 15/03/09 6:12pm
Hull have maintained their 100 percent Super League record after scoring a 36-24 victory at struggling Bradford.
Craig Hall and Kirk Yeaman each touched down twice, with the visitors running in a total of six tries at the Grattan Stadium to notch up their fifth win.
After an injury-hit 2008 season, Richard Horne continued his fine form by getting on the scoresheet along with Chris Thorman.
Meanwhile, Danny Tickle kicked six goals to take his season's tally to 23 already.
Although they were the dominant side, Hull did not quite have what it took to kill the game off, however, and Ben Jeffries, Rikki Sheriffe, Semi Tadulala and Steve Menzies touched down to keep the scoreline respectable from Bradford's point of view.
Even so, Steve McNamara's side are still looking for their first win after four outings.
Confidence
They appeared lacking in confidence almost from the off, with Nick Scruton knocking on deep inside his own half with barely 20 seconds on the clock.
Hull took full advantage and, with Willie Manu stopped just short of the line, the ball was then moved out wide for Horne, who crashed over for his fourth try of the campaign.
The second came just just four minutes later, Hull demonstrating their own confidence to the full as the ball moved through several pairs of hands - Thorman eventually sending Yeaman over.
Tickle converted both, but the Bulls finally started getting their act together and a good spell of home possession followed.
The pressure eventually told midway through the opening period when Chris Nero burst through a gap and put Jeffries in under the posts.
But Hull were soon bossing their opponents once more and after Thorman found Yeaman with another superb pass, the centre's looping run took him to the line.
After claiming a kick from Horne, Tickle then looked set to add another but he was denied by the defensive barrier placed by Tadulala and Paul Sykes behind the line.
However, the inevitable was delayed by just one tackle as Hall subsequently leapt to reach Thorman's high kick and touch down.
Another goal by Tickle pushed Hull further clear but Bradford at least cut the deficit to 22-12 at half-time.
Sheriffe scored their second on 39 minutes after finishing off a swift counter-attacking effort - Paul Deacon adding his second of four goals from the touchline.
Advantage
But Hull once more extended their advantage early in the second half as a Tickle penalty was quickly followed by a Thorman try.
Nevertheless, Richard Agar's side were just about kept honest and the Bulls pulled one back - Jeffries kicking to the corner for Tadulala.
More scores followed for both sides as Manu offloaded brilliantly for Hall to go under the posts for his second before Jeffries set up Menzies for Bradford.
However, Hull's victory was secure and they calmly played out the final 10 minutes to maintain their best start in the summer era.