A masterful goal-kicking display by Paul Deacon on his 200th appearance helped the Bulls down Hull 32-22 at Odsal last night.

Deacon kicked five penalties and two conversions but it took late tries from Andy Lynch and Karl Pryce to secure the two vital Super League points after Hull twice overturned ten-point deficits to hit the front late in the second half.

"I thought we played well, we played tough," said coach Brian Noble.

"I thought there were some super efforts from everybody. We clocked off for a couple of minutes in each half and a team like Hull can put points on you. But the desire was there and we shaped up well and played some footy. It was a good game of rugby."

A neat solo try by Iestyn Harris and three Deacon goals saw the Bulls shoot into a 10-0 lead but Nathan Blacklock and Michael Eagar hit back to put Hull on level terms. Leon Pryce's try just after the break again gave the Bulls breathing space but another Blacklock strike and a fine try from Gareth Raynor again levelled matters before the Bulls kicked clear in the final ten minutes.

Props Stuart Fielden and Joe Vagana led a dominant Bulls pack, with Jamie Langley pressed in to action as a makeshift centre following Paul Johnson's withdrawal with a shoulder injury.

Loose forward Brett Ferres made his debut but only saw four minutes of game time and Noble may be forced to dig deeper into the academy ranks for the Easter double-header against Leeds and St Helens.

"Paul Johnson has a bad shoulder and won't be around for six weeks," confirmed Noble.

"We are a bit thin on the ground but Karl Pryce wasn't playing at the start of the season and he now looks the goods and we have Matt Cooke and Ryan Atkins, who deserve a shot at some stage over the next couple of weeks.

"We have never been ones to crow about our injuries. We will stick the young kids in and see what they have got."

The Bulls have now won four straight matches after dropping their first two but Noble isn't about to break out the champagne.

"We didn't start the season the way we wanted to but we have improved a lot. We still need to keep improving. With 22 games to go there will be ups and downs right throughout the

season."