Hull FC 24, Bulls 25 - Michael Withers has only landed two drop goals in his career, but both have been dramatic in the extreme.

On Friday, September 3 1999 the Australian landed a match-winning effort in injury-time to give the Bulls a 19-18 injury-time Odsal victory over Leeds Rhinos in front of a Super League record crowd of 24,020.

And last night the 26-year-old Australian popped one over from 42 metres with 50 seconds left to give the Bulls a 25-24 victory over Hull at The Boulevard.

It was a stunning victory for the Super League leaders, who had led 24-10 with 13 minutes left, but they still needed a great tackle by scrum half Paul Deacon on Matt Crowther with two minutes remaining to salvage even a point.

Toa Kohe-Love was at the heart of fifth-placed Hull's fightback, and his hat-trick of tries, completed in the 76th minute, looked to have claimed a draw for the Airlie Birds.

The revival had been begun by a Matt Crowther try, but as the Hull revival reached a full head of steam, it was shut off by Withers' sweetly-struck kick - a classic case of coolness under pressure.

Bradford had started the game brightly with a couple of early bursts, but it was the home side that scored the first points of the night through a Crowther penalty as referee Russell Smith kept a strict watch on offsides.

Their lead lasted little longer than three minutes, however, as the Bulls powered back to the other end.

Deacon created the opening try with a high kick to the corner, Tevita Vaikona leaping above 2001 Bulls team-mate Graham Mackay to punch the ball into the arms of Leon Pryce.

The 20-year-old stand-off finished ruthlessly as he jinked his way in from 15 metres for a try, converted by Deacon.

But Hull proved they could be just as clinical as they edged themselves back ahead five

minutes later.

Richard Horne laid off to Kohe-Love with a brilliantly disguised pass that allowed the Kiwi to step inside and slide in by the posts.

Crowther's conversion re-established Hull's two-point advantage, but again it was to prove short-lived due to the brilliance of Robbie Paul in the 20th minute.

The New Zealand international caught the home defence flat-footed as he threw an extravagant dummy and spun 180 degrees to crash over in the corner. Deacon's conversion was his 100th goal of the season and he added two more penalties to Crowther's one before the break - referee Smith being booed off the pitch at half-time by the partisan Hull faithful.

Hull suffered a blow early in the second half when they lost second row Adam Maher to injury in a heavy tackle.

Half-back Horne also took a heavy blow, but was able to continue after a lengthy stoppage.

The interruptions did neither side any good, but it was Bradford who were the first to regain momentum with a Deacon penalty.

The Bulls then capitalised immediately on a Mackay knock-on as Vaikona surged down towards the line and set up the powerful Stuart Fielden, pictured, for a try that gave the visitors clear breathing space.

Yet Hull spurned a great opportunity to get themselves back into the game soon after as they enjoyed the luxury of almost a full set of six inside the Bulls 20.

The visitors defended as if their lives depended on it, however, and the opportunity was lost when substitute Glen Donkin's pass to the line was blocked by Nathan McAvoy - a half-time substitute for eye injury victim Lee Gilmour.

Hull's task became a little harder as Deacon added yet another penalty, but Crowther restored hope as he took a Mackay pass to sprint over in the corner, outpacing Withers on the outside.

The try brought the game alive and moments later another fine move saw the ball spun wide for Kohe-Love to touch down.

Crowther's conversion cut the deficit to four points and for the first time Bradford seemed rattled.

Hull continued to press on the gas and were instantly rewarded as another nerve-wracking attack eventually led to Kohe-Love going over for his third try in the corner on the last tackle.

Crowther could have won the game, but pushed his difficult touch-line conversion across the face of the posts, and Withers took advantage to win the game himself with just 50 seconds remaining.

Hull, not unnaturally, were concentrating their efforts on Deacon, but Withers took the opportunity of playing in front of the Sky TV cameras again to prove that that first effort three years ago was no fluke.