Round 8
Bradford Bulls 14 l. Leeds Rhinos 18

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Rhinos snatch late victory
Sat April 7, 2007
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Scott Donald snatched victory for the Rhinos in the closing minutes against Bradford for the second year running, as Leeds win 18-14 at the Grattan Stadium.

The Rhinos came out fired up and took the game to the home side from the kick off both on attack and defence. The visitors had the first chance to score after a great hit by Danny McGuire on Lesley Vainikolo freed the ball ten metres from his own line but the chance came to nothing when the wide pass by Webb fell between two players and was picked up by Ben Harris.

As it was the Bulls got the first points of the game after seven minutes when Keith Senior was penalised for lying on at the tackle and Deacon struck the penalty from 34 metres out.

The Rhinos then had a major let off when Bradford moved 80 metres up field with a flowing move involving Morrison, Deacon, Evans and Vainikolo before the cover got across. However, shortly afterwards Webb was penalised for a high tackle on Iestyn Harris and Deacon added a simple penalty to make it 4-0 after 11 minutes.

The Rhinos then struck back after 14 minutes when Burrow and McGuire combined to send Webb away. He threw a pass out wide to Senior, who burst down field before passing back inside to Scott Donald who managed to keep his ball carrying arm off the floor under pressure from Marcus St Hilaire to score the try. Sinfield missed the conversion to the score remained level.

Burrow was denied a try by video ref Ashley Klein two minutes later when Deacon just managed to knock a kick dead under pressure from the Leeds scrum half.

However, Leeds did manage to get points from that visit to the Bulls have when Sinfield kicked a penalty from close range after Lynch was penalised for holding down.

Despite building pressure on the Bradford line, the Rhinos were dealt a blow after 22 minutes when Brent Webb was sin binned for another high shot. Having warned him for the earlier incident, referee Ganson had no hesitation on reaching for his top pocket.

The Bulls brought on David Solomona instantly and put the visitors under pressure with Vainikolo having a chance before a good tackle by Ashley Gibson.

However, with ten minutes remaining in the half two former Leeds men combined to give the Bulls the lead again. Dave Solomona started the move with a great offload as he came into contact to Iestyn Harris. Harris ran across the Leeds defence before throwing a wide pass to Morrison, he drew the last man and released Marcus St Hilaire to score in the corner. Deacon missed the conversion so it remained 8-6 to the Bulls.

The game continued to ebb and flow and there was drama in the last minute of the half. Leeds went close through Donald before the play switched to the other end in seconds. Deacon kicked with time running out but McGuire knocked on under pressure and the loose ball was latched onto by the Bulls. However, Jamie Jones-Buchanan was penalised for holding down as the hooter went and Deacon kicked the penalty to make it 10-6 to Bradford at half time.

The Bulls extended their lead after five minutes of the second half when Chris Feather offloaded close to the line to Iestyn Harris, he passed to Evans who slipped a pass back inside to Vainikolo who cut in from the touchline and powered his way over from close range. Deacon's conversion was wide but the Bulls now led 14-6.

Webb missed a great chance to hit back after 49 minutes when he supported a great break by McGuire but could not take the pass in with the line at his mercy.

Leeds had further chances when Jones-Buchanan broke 50 metres up field after picking up a loose ball, then Ryan Bailey just missed a grubber kick before the dead ball line and finall Ashley Gibson was pulled up for a forward pass to deny Burrow a try.

Possession then swung the other way with Bradford piling on the pressure on the Leeds line but they too were unable to get points on the board for their efforts with some remarkable defence from the Rhinos to deny them.

However with fifteen minutes remaining Leeds struck back when Sinfield's grubber kick was touched down by Gareth Ellis after Diskin and Platt initially tussled for the ball. Sinfield added the conversion to set up a nailbiting finale.

And what a finish it was! With just two minutes remaining Danny McGuire broke down field from an offload by Peacock before drawing the cover and passing to Scott Donald to score out wide. Sinfield added the touchline conversion for good measure to make the final score 18-14 for Leeds.

Bradford: Platt, St Hilaire, B Harris, Evans, Vainikolo, I Harris, Deacon, Lynch, Newton, Burgess, McKenna, Morrison, Langley.
Subs: Solomona, Henderson, Feather, Vagana

Leeds: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Gibson, McGuire, Burrow, Peacock, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield.
Subs: Lauitiiti, Thackray, Tansey, Leuluai

Ref: Steve Ganson
Attendance: 16,706

Report source: www.leedsrugby.com


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Bradford
Thu April 5, 2007
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight, Leeds coach Tony Smith looks ahead to this Thursday's clash with Bradford Bulls at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal, kick off 8pm.

IS THIS A GAME YOU LOOK FORWARD TO?
It is obviously a big game for the fans and that creates a great atmosphere for the two sides taking part. Bradford are a quality, well coached side and that brings the best out of our players so that again creates a special spectacle. We play each other a few times this season so we will know each other pretty well by the end of the season but this is the first chance for either side to get the upper hand.

WOULD YOU HAVE PREFERED A TOUGHER GAME LAST WEEK?
I think you can make the most out of any situation. We were able to rest a few guys last week who had a couple of injuries and vitally we were also able to give some players a lot of game time after they had been playing off the bench. We are fresh for this game and looking forward to it. Bradford had a tough game against Castleford so they will probably say that that has prepared them better. Either way we both know we are in for a tough encounter on Thursday.

HOW HIGHLY DO YOU RATE THE BULLS?
Everything is set up well for this game with us both being joint top of the table. The Bulls have had a good start to the season. They lost their last home game in Super League so will be up for a big performance anyway. Losing Shontayne Hape will be a blow for them but they have quality throughout their side and they are getting tries throughout the team so we know we will have to produce a top quality performance to match them.

WEBB, SENIOR AND ELLIS RETURN FOR RHINOS
Brent Webb, Keith Senior and Gareth Ellis have all been named in Tony Smith's 18 man squad for this Thursday's game at Bradford, kick off 8pm.

All three internationals missed last weeks win over Workington in the Carnegie Challenge Cup whilst Jamie Peacock is in line to face his old club after being an unused replacement in last Friday's game.

Lee Smith and Carl Ablett are the two players to drop out of the initial 20 man squad.

The squad in full is:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
3 Clinton Toopi
4 Keith Senior
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
9 Matt Diskin
10 Jamie Peacock
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12 Gareth Ellis
13 Kevin Sinfield (c)
14 Ali Lauitiiti
15 Jamie Thackray
16 Ryan Bailey
18 Ian Kirke
20 Ashley Gibson
23 Jordan Tansey

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com

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