Hunslet 26 Bradford Bulls 18: Hunslet repel Bradford’s fightback

Bradford showed plenty of spirit to battle back from 20-6 down before prop Jordan Andrade sealed victory in the closing seconds with former Hunslet Club Parkside stand-off Danny Rowse – another impressive figure – adding his third goal.

Bradford took the lead when Cobi Green’s kick led to Murphy Smith dotting down out wide, Matthew Race adding the goal.

But the hosts responded as Vila Halafihi, Brambani and, with a sweet short pass, Rowse sent Josh Tonks charging in, Rowse adding the extras.

The Parksiders then went in front when, after Duane Straugheir had gone close off Halafihi’s pass, the latter burrowed over from short range, Rowse again improving.

The pressure increased on Bradford and when the ball was swept wide, Rowse’s long pass created space for Anthony Boardman to sweep in,.

A high kick by Rowse was spilled by Billy Jowitt and although the ball appeared to go backwards, a knock on was given. Hunslet spun the ball across and back again, Rowse’s flighted ball sending Boardman in for his second try.

Bradford got back into the contest whenHarry Shackleton – a key figure following his introduction at the break –sauntered through a huge gap on 51 minutes and Matthew Race added the extras.

Brambani stole the ball from Race at the restart only for the move to break down, with Bradford surging to the other end, where Race scampered through weak defence and converted his own score to peg Hunslet back to a couple of points.

Hunslet, though, looked likely scorers when Tonks raced through off Rowse’s short ball, only for William Adams to pull off a try-saving tackle.

Race, however, was forced to concede Hunslet’s first goal-line drop out as the hosts applied more pressure. Zak Braham powered 15 metres to the line, where he was held up. But Bradford were unable to prevent Jordan Andrade’s similar effort on 79 minutes, Rowse’s goal sealing victory.