Bradford Bulls cast aside their financial woes to condemn reigning Stobart Super League champions Leeds Rhinos to a third consecutive defeat on a night of high emotion at Odsal.

A bumper crowd of 20,821 turned out in Bradford’s hour of need and, although tomorrow’s announcement on the club’s future will be of greater significance, they lapped up a memorable Good Friday victory over their arch rivals.

Not even the late dismissal of prop Bryn Hargreaves for a spear tackle on England captain Jamie Peacock could take the shine off a tremendous performance by the Bulls, who trailed for most of the match, but struck with two tries in the last 15 minutes.

Already without 10 members of his senior squad through injury, Bradford coach Mick Potter was forced to re-shuffle his side after losing winger Karl Pryce in the opening stages.

It was another blow he could have done without. Second rower Elliot Whitehead has proved to be a useful makeshift centre, but the Bulls lacked punch against the Rhinos’ classy three-quarters.

They had plenty of possession and their approach work got them into good positions, but, for much of the game, Potter’s men lacked the cutting edge to break down an efficient Leeds defence.

The champions were still without long-serving half-backs Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow, but that gave teenager Stevie Ward another chance to demonstrate his potential and he showed some nice touches.

Defences were on top throughout a scrappy first half, the only score coming after 14 minutes when Leeds centre Zak Hardaker touched down for the fifth consecutive game, taking Brent Webb’s pass and stretching for the line.

Leeds tried to bring their dangerous wingers into play, but most of their work was spent on defence, coping with the clever kicks of Ben Jeffries.

The standard of rugby barely improved in the second half, although Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield demonstrated his kicking prowess with a 40-20 and a ‘bomb’ that full-back Brett Kearney failed to deal with.

Whitehead went close to breaking the deadlock eight minutes into the second half when he was held up on his back over the line and substitute prop Phil Joseph was brought back for a forward pass.

The frustrations boiled over into a couple of minor skirmishes, while Bradford’s French forward Olivier Elima was sin-binned on the hour by referee Ben Thaler for dissent.

Down to 12 men, the Bulls produced their best spell of the match as the crowd got behind them.

Winger Shaun Ainscough, on his first appearance of the season, broke clear only to fail to use his support, but Bradford maintained the pressure and Jamie Langley touched down after Heath L’Estrange’s bouncing kick caused havoc in the Leeds defence.

With the scores tied, Jarrod Sammut maintained his composure to land the angled conversion and edge his side into the lead.

Leeds simply could not get a foothold in the game and it was no surprise when the Bulls extended their lead after 73 minutes when Jeffries re-gathered his own kick to grab a second try.

Sammut's second goal gave the home side an eight-point lead and Bradford ought to have added another try, with Danny Addy breaking clear to get Ainscough in sight of the line, only for Leeds to avert the danger.

The game ended on a sour note when Hargreaves was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Peacock, but the Bulls supporters were already in celebration mood by then.