Hull too strong for city rivals

5:29pm Sunday 20th July 2008

Hull warmed up for their Challenge Cup semi-final in seven days' time by ending their derby-day blues against bitter rivals Hull KR with a 44-18 success at the KC Stadium.

Rovers led 18-16 at the break after a tense opening half with Ben Galea, Ben Cockayne and Chaz I'Anson crossing.

But Hull came roaring back with five unanswered tries, Kirk Yeaman and Tom Briscoe both scoring one in each half, while Scott Wheeldon, Graeme Horne, Matt Sing and Craig Hall also crossed.

Bradford produced a clinical second-half performance to boost their chances of a top-four finish with a 24-10 win over Wakefield.

Damien Blanch's second-minute try put the Wildcats 6-0 up at the break in a half which saw Bradford's Great Britain prop Sam Burgess sent to the sin-bin.

The Bulls improved after the break with Paul Deacon, the returning Terry Newton, Iestyn Harris and ex-Wakefield favourite Ben Jeffries crossing over.

Michael Shenton, Luke Dorn and Richard Owen each helped themselves to a hat-trick tries as the bottom club Castleford produced a ruthless display to crush Harlequins 66-12 at the Stoop.

The Tigers went in at the break with a 28-12 lead courtesy of tries from Stuart Donlan, Richard Owen, Shenton (2) and Luke Dorn.

Cas then ran in eight second-half tries, while Chris Melling and Jon Grayshon went over for the home side.

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