Captain fantastic inspires Bulls to victory
8:01am Monday 18th August 2008
Bulls 42 Hull FC 14
Anyone ever doubting the importance of Paul Deacon to the Bulls should take note of this stat.
They have played ten Super League games without the little maestro this season and won only twice.
There’s one reason why Bradford are still mathematically uncertain of their top six berth with just a couple of games to go.
With Deacon back in the fold yesterday, the Bulls simply looked more complete than the side that had lost at Leeds, Harlequins and Huddersfield in recent weeks.
Granted, the man who’s in his testimonial campaign at Grattan Stadium only papered over some cracks, as at times Bradford were as scrappy as ever.
But Deacon produced enough quality to steer his team to a much-needed victory, highlighted by his classic try on the hour mark that finally sealed the points.
The scrum half is often criticised for not attacking the line but he threatened the Hull defence plenty in the first half, looking lively and dangerous and showing no signs of the stubborn hamstring problems that had sidelined him for much of the season.
When he crabbed across, dummying inside runners in the second period, Deacon straightened up to slice through from 30 metres and then angled back to leave Hull full back Motu Tony marooned.
Pressing down on the accelerator to get to the whitewash, Deacon showed something else he is rarely praised for – genuine pace.
It was a classy touchdown. Throw in the fact he was involved heavily with two other tries through two quality kicks – one a neat grubber for James Evans and another a deft lob for Paul Sykes to hit in the build-up to Matt Cook’s effort – along with his dead-eye 100 per cent conversion record and he could be hugely satisfied with his afternoon’s work. The Bulls were 12-0 up before their opponents had even touched the ball.
Craig Hall’s kick-off sailed out on the full and the hosts immediately struck, Deacon’s well-weighted grubber to the corner putting a try on a plate for Evans.
From the touchline, he slotted the first of his seven conversions and had a much simpler attempt when Bradford scored again in the re-start set.
Ben Jeffries was put clear through the middle of Hull’s fragile defence and Terry Newton roared up in support, just managing to hold off the challenge of Matt Sing to reach the line.
The struggling Challenge Cup finalists – missing eight regulars but desperate to avoid the wooden spoon and find some form for Wembley – looked broken and ready for the taking.
With Deacon pinning them back with some quality kicks as Bradford completed their sets, it seemed only a matter of time.
But the Bulls have been struggling for form just as much as their opponents and, despite Deacon’s promptings, uncertainty crept in.
The loss of Newton with an injury didn’t help either and despite forcing plenty of drop-outs – four in total – they couldn’t press home their advantage in the repeat sets, a problem that had hindered them at Leeds.
Hull were erratic and wasteful in a lacklustre first half but a couple of penalties gave them position and Tony sneaked under some tackles from dummy half to get them back in it.
Both sides were reduced to 12 men when Bulls winger Semi Tadulala punched Jamie Thackray after the Hull replacement had been penalised at the play-the-ball.
It was the visitors who scored next though when Matt Sing finished off a length-of-the-field break from Hall and Bradford fans were nervy as their side, who spilled too much ball when trying to go wide, went in just 12-10 ahead.
The second half was a different matter though. Wayne Godwin darted over from dummy half just two minutes in and, although Kirk Yeaman responded after a great break out by the excellent Shaun Berrigan, the Bulls upped the ante.
Newton returned to bring some extra control and with the industrious Cook, Simon Finnigan and Jamie Langley continuing to battle hard, they finally got a grip of the contest.
A magical chip by Deacon provided the chance for Cook to continue his record of scoring tries in all four games against Hull this year – including one while on loan at Castleford – and then came the captain’s own dazzling effort.
Hull went on to wilt badly under some intense pressure and both Craig Kopczak and David Solomona thought they had barged over only to be deemed held up by referee Ian Smith.
Another finely weighted grubber from Deacon saw Finnigan force another drop out and although Richard Agar’s men held out for another six, they had no answer when Joe Vagana came rumbling up soon after.
The giant Kiwi seems set to be drawing a close to his glorious career and – in what could be his penultimate match at Odsal – gave supporters a reminder of what they will be missing.
Vagana’s huge frame blasted through the Hull defence as he hit Newton’s short pass from close range, leaving defenders grimly hanging on as he crashed over for his first try of the season, that generated an equally seismic roar from the terraces.
When the Bulls defence marched a Hull player back 20 metres late on, the ball came free for Jeffries to mop up and hack home for a seventh try, Deacon doing the rest.
The final scoreline was perhaps harsh on a Hull side who had battled hard for large periods.
However, despite hoping to see plenty of men back soon, they must be fearing the worst against St Helens in that final in 12 days’ time.
The Bulls, meanwhile, will just hope their main man Deacon can stay fit for the play-offs so he can exert his influence again.