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 Archive > Year > 2007 > Engage English Super League
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Round 18
Leeds Rhinos 14 l. Bradford Bulls 38 |
 
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 Click the match link for full match details including teams, scoring details, articles and more Fri June 29 2007, 8:00PM GMT Fri: Leeds Rhinos 14 l. Bradford Bulls 38 at Headingley, Leeds, UK Crowd: 22,000 Sat June 30 2007, 6:00PM GMT Sat: St Helens 54 d. Huddersfield Giants 4 at Knowsley Road, St Helens, UK Crowd: 7,771 Sat June 30 2007, 1:30PM GMT Sat: Harlequins 32 d. Hull KR 18 at The Stoop, Twickenham, UK Crowd: 3,278 Sat June 30 2007, 8:00PM GMT Sat: Les Catalans Dragons 24 d. Warrington Wolves 22 at Stade Gilbert Brutus Crowd: 8,850 Sun July 1 2007, 2:30PM GMT Sun: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 32 d. Wigan Warriors 6 at Belle Vue Stadium, Wakefield, Yorkshire, UK Crowd: 8,126 Sun July 29 2007, 3:15PM GMT Sun: Hull FC 48 d. Salford City Reds 26 at Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, UK Crowd: 13,338  Bulls sign Vainikolo off in style Sat June 30, 2007 Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk The Bulls got the better of their West Yorkshire rivals in 2007, running in six tries to move into a three-way tie at the top of the table. Unlike the previous two meetings this year, both of which were won by the Rhinos in controversial circumstances, the third instalment turned out to be some what of a one-sided affair. Vainikolo certainly signed off in style with a typical barnstorming run down the left wing to open the scoring which showed precisely why Gloucester handed him a lucrative three-year contract. There seemed little danger when Vainikolo edged in from the left flank to collect a neat short offload from hooker Terry Newton. Vainikolo swiftly advanced forward, mercilessly sweeping aside Brent Webb with an awesome hand-off before showing even greater strength to swat aside the challenge of former Bulls team-mate Jamie Peacock. Paul Deacon converted from the touchline and also added a penalty as Bradford raced out to an early 8-0 lead. It took Leeds some time to get going, Matt Diskin diving over midway through the opening half to finally register their first points. But not even a try seemed to lift them out of their slumber and they were caught napping by a high kick out wide which James Evans was allowed to take with ease to touch down. Leeds briefly rallied, Kevin Sinfield's long pass putting Lee Smith in at the corner to cut the Bulls' gap to six at the break. Tame Tupou continued his impressive start to life as a Bull with an excellent finish in the right corner and although Leeds briefly responded through Brent Webb, the visitors dominated. The only fighting spirit shown by the Rhinos came when Ryan Bailey and former Rhino Chris McKenna got themselves involved in a heated exchange that threatened to spiral out of control. Andy Lynch and Glenn Morrison both crossed under the posts in the space of two minutes to settle the result. Marcus St Hilaire then rounded out a wonderful night for Bradford, and the departing Vainikolo, when he picked up Danny McGuire's fumble to race in under the posts against his former side. Deacon maintained his perfect kicking record with 7 from 7 as Steve McNamara's side moved level with Leeds and St Helens on 26 points. POST MATCH COMMENTS Rival bosses Steve McNamara and Tony Smith united in their praise of Lesley Vainikolo after the legendary wing signed off from Super League by helping Bradford to a great victory over Leeds. Vainikolo scripted his farewell close to perfection by opening the scoring with a typically brilliant individual try on his final Super League appearance. He heads for Guinness Premiership outfit Gloucester next week on a lucrative three-year contract after an incredible 149 tries in 152 appearances for Bradford. Bulls coach Steve McNamara said: "I am really pleased for Les and the fact that he got his try. "It was a try out of the top drawer and typical of Les. He's one in a million and I just find it astounding what a great send-off he's had. "He's leaving rugby league and going to rugby union but it says everything about the regard in which he is held that we give him such a great send-off and wish him all the best for his new career. "Other players would get hung, drawn and quartered for leaving rugby league for rugby union, but not Big Les." Leeds coach Tony Smith admitted Bradford were the better team on the night but could not fail to heap praise on Vainikolo. Smith said: "I thought they were better than us and they deserved their win. "Credit goes to Les because he's a great role model for rugby. He's been great for rugby and great for Bradford." Fri, 29 June 2007 Leeds Rhinos V Bradford Bulls engage Super League Round 18 Leeds 14 - Bradford 38 Bradford Bulls: Michael Platt, Marcus St Hilaire, Nathan McAvoy, James Evans, Lesley Vainikolo, David Solomona, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Terry Newton, Andy Lynch, Jamie Langley, Chris McKenna, Glenn Morrison. Subs: Tame Tupou, Ian Henderson, Matt James, Sam Burgess Tries: St Hilaire, Tupou, Evans, Vainikolo, Lynch, Morrison Goals: Deacon 7 Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield. Subs: Thackray, Kirke, Leuluai, Tansey. Tries: Webb, Smith, Diskin Goals: Sinfield 1 Report source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk Bulls hammer Rhinos at Headingley Sat June 30, 2007 Source: www.superleague.co.uk Lesley Vainikolo enjoyed a fairytale ending to his glorious Super League career as Bradford Bulls heaped serious humiliation on Leeds Rhinos in front of their bitterest rivals' own supporters. The giant Tongan wing was making his final Super League appearance before switching codes and joining Guinness Premiership outfit Gloucester next week. And he signed off from the 13-man sport in the most auspicious manner possible, producing a brilliant opening try in the ninth minute which laid the platform for a famous Bradford success. It was Vainikolo's 149th touchdown in 152nd appearance for the Bulls, his 15th against Leeds and certainly one of the most memorable by the man known as the Volcano. But, if it was Vainikolo who provided the early inspiration, then his team-mates clearly heeded the message by running in a further five tries to secure a fully-deserved success, while scrum-half Paul Deacon kept the scoreboard ticking over with six conversions and a penalty goal. For Bradford the win went some way towards erasing the pain of their controversial defeat to Leeds in Cardiff during the Millennium Magic weekend in May. It also gave Vainikolo a dream send-off before he heads for Kingsholm next week. That the former Canberra Raiders wing's final Super League outing should end at Headingley was apt - he is scheduled to begin his rugby union career there when Gloucester make an opening-day trip to Leeds Carnegie in September. In truth, there was never any prospect of him bowing out of Super League quietly - not with vital derby honours at stake and around 20,000 Rhinos fans baying for blood. There was a certain inevitability about Vainikolo seizing centre stage and he served up a classic opening score which showed precisely why Gloucester handed him a lucrative three-year contract. There seemed little danger when Vainikolo edged in from the left flank to collect a neat short offload from hooker Terry Newton. Vainikolo swiftly advanced forward, mercilessly sweeping aside Brent Webb with an awesome hand-off before showing even greater strength to swat aside the challenge of former Bulls team-mate Jamie Peacock. That took Vainikolo clear and he gleefully raced over the line in the left corner before taking the acclaim of his team-mates. Vainikolo dovetailed effectively with centre James Evans increasingly effectively as the half wore on and the pair almost contrived to send Jamie Langley over the whitewash, only for Lee Smith to make a crucial last-ditch tackle. A Deacon penalty midway through the half extended Bradford's lead but soon after Matt Diskin powered his way over from acting-half, only for Kevin Sinfield to miss the attempted goal. Leeds lacked guile in attack and with Bradford looking more dangerous it came as no surprise when Deacon's flighted kick was caught and grounded by Evans in the left corner in the 35th minute. Deacon added the extras again but a delightful array of inter-passing between Diskin, Rob Burrow and Sinfield sent Smith over the line moments before the half-time whistle. Sinfield again failed to convert and when Danny McGuire had a try disallowed eight minutes Bradford sensed it was their night. They crossed again when Newton, Ian Henderson and Nathan McAvoy worked the ball out wide for Tame Tupou - the man brought to the club as Vainikolo's successor - to burrow over in the right corner. Deacon's flawless kicking edged Bradford 20-8 ahead but Burrow sent Webb bustling over the line from close range shortly before the hour mark. Sinfield added the extras but Andy Lynch again exposed Leeds' defensive frailties and loose forward Glenn Morrison went over, with Marcus St Hilaire rubbing further salt in their wounds with a late try under the posts - before Deacon maintained his 100% record with the boot. Report source: www.superleague.co.uk Article: Coaches salute outgoing 'Volcano'
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