The Black & Whites fell to defeat in their first pre-season friendly of 2022, but a youthful side from Brett Hodgson put in a promising display at Odsal Stadium.
Despite the 42-18 scoreline, a Hull FC side featuring just four players over the age of 21 left West Yorkshire in positive spirits with the vast majority of the squad making their very first appearance for the senior side.
Captain Brad Fash got on the scoresheet, but it was young half-back Callum Rutland who stole the show for the Airlie Birds in defeat, bagging an impressive brace.
Team News
Brett Hodgson named just a handful of senior players in his squad going into the match, with Ligi Sao, Cameron Scott, Jordan Johnstone and captain Brad Fash all making their first appearance of the year.
Davy Litten started at full-back just a day after signing his three-year contract with the club, with Callum Rutland and Callum Walker starting in the halves.
The squad featured some 17 players who came through the club’s academy system, as well as 14 players who are either currently part of the club’s Centre of Excellence educational pathway, or are graduates.
The Match
After a positive start from the Black & Whites, it was the Bulls who opened the scoring, with Kieran Gill intercepting a Marcus Walker pass just twenty metres out from his own line, and had the pace to race down to the other end of the field and score. Patton converted.
Hull were level on the 15 minute mark though when captain Brad Fash powered over from close range under the sticks, with Callum Rutland adding the goal.
Some impressive defence from Jebson, Martin and Rutland prevented Bradford going over for their second, holding up the Bulls over the line after a quarter of the game had passed.
Hull soon hit the front though, with Fash adding an assist to his try, showing some dancing feet to skip through the Bulls line and hand the ball onto Callum Rutland who touched down with ease. He converted his own try.
The hosts hit back with back-to-back scores, with Tommy Doyle and Ben Evans, either side of the half-hour mark, powering over from close range. Patton converted both scores to put Bradford six points ahead.
Half-Time: Bradford 18-12 Hull FC
Bradford opened the scoring in the second-half with David Foggin-Johnston finishing a spectacular effort in the corner, before Elliot Kear completed a quickfire double just moments later. The two scores, plus Patton’s two conversions, took the Bulls to the 30 point mark.
Try number six for the Bulls came from Foggin-Johnson, with a carbon copy of his first effort just ten minutes earlier.
FC did managed to hit back though just after the hour mark, as Callum Rutland scampered over for his second of the game under the Bulls defenders. He also made it three with the boot.
Coby Nichol added a late seventh try for the Bulls as he slipped through FC’s line from twenty metres out.
Full-Time: Bradford 42-18 Hull FC
Squads:
Bradford: Elliot Kear, Matty Dawson-Jones, Rhys Evans, Kieran Gill, David Foggin-Johnstone, Dec Patton, Billy Jowitt, Dan Fleming, Thomas Doyle, Ebon Scurr, Aaron Murphy, AJ Walace, Jordan Baldwinson.
Interchange: Antony Walker, Steve Crossley, Sam Scott, Ben Evans, Joe Burton, Bradley Ho, Sam Arundel, Lewis Camden, Ryan Foreshaw, Coby Nichol.
Hull FC: Davy Litten, Martin Lewis, Cameron Scott, Leon Stewart, Manoa Wacokecoke, Marcus Walker, Callum Rutland, Bradley Fash, Jordan Johnstone, Aidan Burrell, Charlie Severs, Zach Jebson, Ligi Sao.
Interchange: Kieran Masike, Sam Richards, Nick Staveley, ALex Gibson, Mackenzie Harman.
Scorers:
Bradford Tries: Gill (5), Doyle (28), Evans (33), Foggin-Johnston (42,52), Kear (44), Nichol (78).
Bradford Goals: Patton (5/5), Jowitt (1/1)
Hull FC Tries: Fash (15), Rutland (23,61)
Hull FC Goals: Rutland (3/3)
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