LAST-GASP TRY DOWNS YOUNG BULLS DESPITE IMPRESSIVE OUTING

BRADFORD Bulls Reserves’ side produced a resilient display against an experienced Hull FC outfit before falling to a last-gasp 20-18 defeat at the hands of the Airlie Birds.

Bradford controlled large sections of the opening half and made their dominance count when Ryan Butterworth was sent over to score. 

Smart play from the impressive Matty Race then enabled him to find a gap to dive over underneath the posts to extend the visitors advantage.

Hull FC would find a score before the break, however as Tonga international Mahe Fonua broke through to send Jude Ferreira over.

After the break, Hull’s star-studded team then began to show their class as Connor Wynne, who featured for the Bulls in pre-season took on the Bradford line and broke through to score.

The Airlie Birds would then take the advantage in a game of two half’s as winger Charlie Graham touched down although Bradford thought they had stolen the game as Ethan O’Hanlon crashed over to set a tense finish 

The game was wrapped up however as Lewis Bienek burrowed his way over on the last play of the game to seal the win for The Black and Whites.

Dunning’s side included the likes of Cameron Berry, Ethan O’Hanlon and Matty Race, who had all impressed in various games in pre-season.

The Reserves started brightly and within the opening ten minutes found themselves with the advantage as Race fed Butterworth to score.

The troublesome duo of Hull FC first-team regulars Albert Kelly and Mahe Fonua caused the young Reserves side issues but Race who had already set up a try, grabbed one for himself as he flew over to send the Bulls 10-0 up.

The Bulls’ Reserves could only hold out for so long though as Fonua shrugged off three Bradford tacklers to send Jude Ferreira to score in the corner to reduce the arrears.

The second half saw more dominance from the home side as they scored two quick fire tries, through Wynne – who raced 60 meters to score and then Charlie Graham, who gave Hull FC the advantage, touching down in the corner. 

With only five minutes left on the clock, O’Hanlon barged through two Hull defenders to score what looked like the winning try, however Lewis Bienek was to have the final say as with seconds remaining, he found a gap to condemn Bradford to an opening day defeat.