Archive
Fri, 08 August 2008
Leeds Rhinos V Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls: Michael Platt, Dave Halley, Paul Sykes, James Evans, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Iestyn Harris, Joe Vagana, Terry Newton, Andy Lynch, Matt Cook, Simon Finnigan, Jamie Langley
Subs: Wayne Godwin, Chris Nero, Craig Kopczak
Tries: Paul Sykes, James Evans, Wayne Godwin
Goals: Iestyn Harris(3)
Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Smith, Ablett, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow, Peacock, Diskin, Leuluai, Kirke, Ellis, Sinfield.
Subs: Scruton, Burgess, Tansey, Worrall.
Tries: Ablett, McGuire, Scruton, Burgess, Tansey.
Goals: Burrow (1 from 1), Sinfield (3 from 4).
REPORT
Carl Ablett and Danny McGuire touched down in the final quarter to hand Leeds Rhinos the derby honours and halt the reigning engage Super League champions' recent slide.
The Rhinos went into the game having lost their previous two matches and five of their last eight outings, to raise serious question marks over their ability to defend their crown.
Bitter rivals Bradford Bulls did them no favours by edging 18-16 shortly after the break after former Leeds favourite Iestyn Harris converted his side's third try of the evening.
But the Rhinos dug deep and Ablett - a forward who was forced to play at centre due to injuries - touched down Matt Diskin's neat grubber on the hour mark to edge his side ahead.
Mercurial stand-off McGuire added a fifth try in the closing stages to send a packed Headingley Carnegie Stadium into raptures as Leeds celebrated their fourth victory of the season against their most bitter rivals.
It was the perfect antidote to their recent struggles but was not without controversy.
Indeed, the game exploded into life in the fifth minute when Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow and Bradford full-back Michael Platt were shown yellow cards for fighting.
Platt paid the price for aiming a headbutt but Burrow appeared unlucky to be sent from the field with blood pouring from his face after becoming involved in the subsequent melee.
Leeds wing Scott Donald was also forced off through injury in the opening stages and Bradford - themselves hampered by injury - exploited the uncertainty in the home ranks by carving out a delightful score in the seventh minute.
It came courtesy of centre Paul Sykes, who collected Ben Jeffries' outrageous reverse offload to touch down in the right corner and cap a fine move which saw the ball pass through five pairs of hands. Harris converted from close to the touchline.
Yet Leeds responded in style with tries from young replacements Jordan Tansey, Luke Burgess and Nick Scruton.
They claimed their first score in the 15th minute when Tansey took an offload from Webb and dived over the line in the left corner.
Kevin Sinfield could not convert but he added the extras to a fine counter-attacking score from Burgess five minutes later.
Hooker Diskin embarked on a fine run from halfway and showed intelligence to send the supporting Burgess clear from 20 metres with an excellent offload that left Platt stranded.
Leeds began to dominate and former Bradford favourite Jamie Peacock belied his huge frame to produce a delicate offload to send Scruton over the line from close range in the 31st minute.
Sinfield converted but Bradford remained firmly in contention at the break after centre James Evans squeezed over in the left corner for a try which Harris again converted with aplomb.
The Bulls were quickest off the mark again in the second half when Harris' high bomb caused panic in the Leeds rearguard.
Evans did well to palm the ball back into the path on the onrushing replacement Wayne Godwin, who grounded under the posts and Harris converted with ease after video referee Ian Smith verified the score.
But Leeds were not to be denied and on the hour mark they went ahead when Ablett was the quickest to a clever kick from Diskin and the battle-weary Burrow added the extras to put his side home and dry.
McGuire scored Leeds' fifth try from close range and Sinfield converted.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Bulls coach Steve McNamara insists there is no reason to be downbeat, despite his side's failure to hold out for the full 80 minutes.
Injuries, departures and a loss of form have conspired against Bradford throughout this season to leave them facing the dismal prospect of their lowest league finish in the summer rugby era.
But McNamara, who singled out Andy Lynch for special praise, said: "We didn't want to come here and be brave soldiers and just miss out at the end."
"We're disappointed because we should have got the job finished, regardless of the players we had out."
"But I've been encouraged by these guys for a long, long time."
"I'm sick and tired of people talking about Bradford's demise."
"We're in a different stage as an organisation and as a team, and at this moment in time we are rebuilding the team and the organisation."
"With some of the issues and problems we've had, it's a massive effort to even be in there fighting for the six - never mind anything else."
"The players tonight showed what they're about, and we're looking forward to the next game."
From a Leeds point of view their victory over derby rivals Bradford was overshadowed by injury to winger Scott Donald.
Prolific try-scorer Donald sustained a rib injury in the opening exchanges, and coach Brian McClennan faces a nervous wait to hear how long the Australian will be sidelined.
The Rhinos boss said: "He's popped a rib cartilage, but we'll have to wait and see how long he will be out for."
"These injuries normally keep you out for three weeks and they're really uncomfortable."
"It's difficult to breathe, and he will be very sore."
The game exploded into life in the fifth minute when Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow and Bradford full-back Michael Platt were shown yellow cards for fighting.
"I didn't see what happened, because there was a post in the way," added McClennan.