Archive
Thu, 20 March 2008
Leeds Rhinos V Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls: Dave Halley, Semi Tadulala, Chris Nero, Shontayne Hape, James Evans, Ben Jeffries, Paul Deacon, Andy Lynch, Terry Newton, Chris Feather, David Solomona, Simon Finnigan, Sam Burgess
Subs: Matt Cook, Iestyn Harris, Wayne Godwin, Matt James
Tries:
Goals: Paul Deacon
Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Smith, Ellis, Senior, Donald, Tansey, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield.
Subs: Worrall, Burgess, Scruton, Hall.
Tries: Webb (3), Smith, Donald, Burrow (2), Jones-Buchanan.
Goals: Burrow (2 from 2), Sinfield (4 from 6).
REPORT
engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos were in ruthless form against their arch-rivals, running in eight tries without reply to rack up their biggest margin of victory over the Bradford Bulls in engage Super League.
New Zealand full-back Brent Webb scored a hat-trick as the Rhinos kicked off the Easter programme in sparkling fashion to pull four points clear of the chasing pack.
Scrum-half Rob Burrow touched down twice but as pleasing for coach Brian McClennan in his first derby was his side's magnificent defence, which kept a clean sheet for the second successive week in front of a crowd of 19,296 at Headingley.
Leuluai knocked himself out trying to tackle Bradford's former Rhinos forward Chris Feather and the game was held up for seven minutes while the New Zealander had treatment on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher.
But the disruption had little effect on the Rhinos, who ran in five tries before half-time, four of them in a devastating 17-minute spell.
The visitors had taken the lead with a fourth-minute penalty from captain Paul Deacon but Leeds scored the game's first try when hooker Matt Diskin's grubber kick ricocheted off his opposite number Terry Newton and bounced kindly into the arms of second Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
It was a sure sign that Leeds' luck was in. Kevin Sinfield, whose scoring run goes back 48 matches, hit the woodwork with the conversion attempt but found the target with the first of four successful goals when Webb scored his first try after 22 minutes, following a neat offload from the skipper.
Bradford, who went into the game without six first-choice players, were still well in the game at that stage but they were dealt a body blow after 29 minutes when Leeds turned defence into attack in devastating fashion.
Webb demonstrated superb athleticism to diffuse a ‘bomb’ on his own line and Jones-Buchanan caught the Bulls napping with quickly-taken tap on the 20-metre line to race clear and send winger Lee Smith over for an 80-metre try.
As if that was not bad enough for Steve McNamara's men, they saw the game slip away completely after conceding two further tries in the last four minutes of the first half.
Great Britain forward Gareth Ellis, once more looking awesome in his old centre role, swooped on a loose ball after Deacon lost possession near his own line and Burrow took advantage of another ricochet to score his 101st try for the club.
Ellis then went past Chris Nero and Matt James as if they did not exist and sent Webb racing away for his second try.
It seemed the harder Bradford tried, the worse it got for them and they went further behind three minutes into the second half after conceding another long-range try.
The Bulls were in an ideal attacking position but Deacon's grubber kick went straight into the hands of Leeds substitute Luke Burgess and he demonstrated quick reactions to get winger Scott Donald away for an 80-metre score, his ninth try of engage Super League XIII.
Bradford suffered more misery when hooker Terry Newton was placed on report for what appeared to be a late tackle on Diskin and they were denied a try when Deacon was literally thrown back from the line.
Left winger Semi Tadulala, who had a lively first half, was also thwarted by a last-ditch tackle as Leeds demonstrated a determination to keep their line intact for the second successive week.
Leeds had no such difficulty reaching the line. Burrow dodged and weaved his way past six defenders to notch his second try after 61 minutes and Webb followed up Tansey's kick to complete his hat-trick seven minutes later.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Leeds coach Brian McClennan was beaming with pride after watching his side keep their tryline intact in consecutive matches for the first time in the Super League era.
"We were pretty clinical in attack but the guys stuck to their task and to be able to keep your line intact in the last quarter when you are being penalised is a pretty phenomenal effort," he said. "We're rightly proud."
"It's not often you see a team win by that scoreline and see a lop-sided penalty count. That was disappointing!"
"It was good to see Jonesy get some reward for the work he does," said McClennan. "He does a lot of work for other players which isn't always recognised."
"He's a very good player."
Bulls head coach Steve McNamara was not looking for excuses.
"Leeds were very good, we were poor and we paid the price," he said. "There are reasons for it but it would be wrong of me to use them as an excuse for the scoreline."
"We were beaten in every department. Leeds were more energised and we made a lot of tired tackles. They seemed to capitalise on every error we made."
"It's certainly not a nice taste but the saving grace is that we only have to wait until Monday to rectify it."