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Rugby League

Leeds win thriller against Bradford at Millennium Stadium

04/05/2008

A stunning second-half performance from the Leeds Rhinos helped them to a 40-26 win over the Bradford Bulls at the Millennium Stadium.

The Rhinos were sluggish in the first-half and could not find their usual attacking rhythm as they trailed 8-6 at the break. A Semi Tadulala try and three penalties from Paul Deacon gave the Bulls a slender lead as youngster Kallum Watkins scored a try for Leeds.

But the Rhinos really burst into life in the second-half and scored tries through Eric Anselme, Keith Senior, Scott Donald and Brent Webb to open up an 18-point gap.

Bradford hit back through two quick tries from Tadulala and Shontayne Hape, but Leeds made the points safe through tries from Ryan Hall and Kylie Leuluai.

Winger Tadulala barged over in the corner to give Bradford an early lead, but Deacon failed with his conversion attempt. The Rhinos took the lead through an unlikely source. 17-year-old Watkins took advantage of the Bulls leaving space on the left wing and he outpaced the defence to score. Kevin Sinfield added the extras.

The Rhinos defence gave away silly penalties and Deacon made them pay by knocking over three successful attempts at the goalposts.

Into the second-half and defending Super League champions Leeds ran riot. First Frenchman Anselme found space on the right wing and beat two Bradford players to score. Barely a minute later and Senior found space on the same wing and the Bulls again failed to stop the try.

By the time Donald had taken hold of a high ball to touch down and Sinfield added the extras, Leeds found themselves 28-10 ahead.

The Bulls refused to lie down and Tadulala and Hape restored hope with a try each. But they threw the game away when a wild David Solomona pass was intercepted by Hall who sprinted 40 yards to score a try. Leuluai bundled through three tackles to add another late score for Leeds.