Archive
Fri, 06 September
Leeds Rhinos 18
Bradford Bulls 20
Bradford Bulls: Michael Withers, Nathan McAvoy, Lee Gilmour, Brandon Costin, Lesley Vainikolo, Leon Pryce, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, James Lowes, Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Daniel Gartner, Mike Forshaw
Subs: Robbie Paul, Paul Anderson, Brian McDermott, Lee Radford
Tries: Michael Withers, Leon Pryce, Robbie Paul, Daniel Gartner
Goals: Paul Deacon (2)
Leeds Rhinos: Cummins, Calderwood, C Walker, Senior, Pratt, Sinfield, Sheridan, McDermott, Diskin, Ward, Hay, Bailey, Poaching
Subs: McDonald, Maguire, Burrow, Jones-Buchanan
Tries: Poaching, Senior, C Walker
Goals: Sinfield (3)
By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport
The Rhinos looked to have secured a third win of the season over their derby rivals and with it a play-off berth when they led 18-16 with two minutes left of a rousing, error-strewn game at Headingley.
But the Bulls kept the ball alive superbly in a last-ditch bid for victory and Leon Pryce took Nathan McAvoy's pass to crash over for the match-winning try.
Leeds coach Daryl Powell had gambled by dropping leading points-scorer Ben Walker for the second time this season and his bold move look to have paid off as the Rhinos charged into a 16-6 interval lead.
Kevin Sinfield, a specialist loose forward, took over Walker's stand-off role, with youngster Danny McGuire preferred on the bench, yet again raising doubts over the Super League future of the former Brisbane Bronco.
But Sinfield was in inspired form as Leeds dominated the first half, despite conceding a try within 87 seconds of the kick-off.
Bradford made a dream start, with full-back Michael Withers slicing through for his 17th try of the season before much of the 15,328 crowd had settled in their seats.
That followed a superb 40-20 kick from scrum-half Paul Deacon, who landed the conversion to register his 300th point of the season and kicked magnificently throughout.
But the Bulls, whose confidence was badly dented by recent back-to-back defeats, struggled to cope with a greasy ball and put themselves under enormous pressure with a series of handling errors.
Leeds' handling was more assured in the first half and they possessed a devastating strike force in blockbusting centre pairing Keith Senior and Chev Walker.
Walker twisted and turned out of Lesley Vainikolo's tackle to score on five Pryce with contemptuous ease to touch down for the eighth successive game and take his tally for the season to 20.
In between, loose forward Willie Poching took a clever inside pass from the impressive Andy Hay to wrongfoot Withers and crash over the line.
Sinfield missed with his first two shots at goal before putting over a 30th-minute penalty and then, finding his range, converted Senior's try from the touchline.
Bradford were a rejuvenated side after the break and it was the Rhinos' turn to buckle under pressure.
Second-rower Daniel Gartner pounced for a soft try just two minutes into the second half after Walker lost the ball in a gang tackle close to his own line and Deacon added the conversion.
The Bulls thought they had scored again when Vainikolo brilliantly passed the ball back inside to his centre, Brandon Costin, a split second before being bundled into touch only to see his partner fail to ground the ball cleanly.
However, the visitors did draw level on 54 minutes when skipper Robbie Paul, introduced as a substitute six minutes earlier, went on a solo run 15 metres out, jinking and weaving his way through a mesmerised Leeds defence for his 14th try of the season.
Deacon was off target for the first time and Sinfield edged Leeds back in front on 63 minutes with a penalty after Bulls prop Brian McDermott was pulled up for ball-stealing.
Bradford had a glorious chance to win it when second-rower Jamie Peacock through clean through the home defence but Rhinos full-back managed to get a hand to his final pass meant for Withers.
However, they maintained the pressure and it paid off when Pryce went past some tired legs for the try that broke the hearts of the battling Rhinos.