Hull FC secured fourth place in the Engage Super League, and a home tie against Huddersfield Giants, with a battling 20-10 victory against Bradford Bulls at the KC Stadium.

The defeat meant that the Bulls had to settle for 3rd place, as the Rhinos secured second spot in the table with a comfortable 46-4 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Headingley. Bradford will face an elimination playoff against Wigan Warriors at Odsal.

Bradford welcomed back centre Shontayne Hape after six months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but that was to be the only good news for the Bulls.

A try from Tame Tupou, who returned from suspension, was cancelled out by two penalties from Danny Tickle, as the sides went in 4-4 at the break.

Both sides battled hard in the second half, but it was Hull who came out on top. Graeme Horne, Danny Tickle and Richard Whiting crossed for the hosts, with David Solomona scoring the Bulls’ only response.

The visitors put Hull under heavy pressure in the early stages but it took 18 minutes for them to get on the scoreboard. Tupou shrugged off two tackles before powering over for a try.

In the absence of the injured Paul Deacon, Iestyn Harris stepped up for the conversion, but sent his effort off target.

Both sides were making too many errors, and Hull began to get back into the game. The hosts put the Bulls under late pressure, and were rewarded with two penalties from Danny Tickle to make the scores all square going in at the break.

Hull FC moved in front seven minutes after the restart. Horne came up with a big hit to force the Bulls to lose possession, before out muscling Solomona to race in for a try inside the right hand corner.

Bradford pushed forward and were almost responded minutes later but Tupou was held up just short of the line. Glenn Morrison then had disallowed, but nobody could stop Solomona running in for a try on 52 minutes. Harris added the extras.

An error from the Bulls gifted possession to Hull, and the hosts made no mistake with Tickle going over for and converting the try. The try seemed to spark Hull into life as they began to put more and more pressure on the Bulls, who were making needless errors.

The Bulls should have levelled the scores inside the final five minutes but Nathan McAvoy knocked on with the line at his mercy. Bradford paid the price for wasted chances as Richard Whiting went over for a try, which Tickle converted, to secure a 20-10 victory for Hull.

By Joseph Verney