Super League: Bradford Bulls claim last-gasp draw over champions at Headingley
Adam Sidlow's last-gasp try earned the Bradford Bulls an 18-18 draw against the Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.
Last Updated: 28/03/13 11:26pm
Leeds opened the scoring in the first minute through Kallum Watkins, but the Bulls fought back and led with Adrian Purtell and Tom crossing the try line.
Mitch Achurch's first try for Leeds levelled the scores. Jamie Peacock's second-half effort looked to have won it for Leeds before Sidlow's late score from close range.
The Bulls were good value for their point, especially after recovering from a calamitous start in which they conceded a try within 24 seconds and had a lucky escape three minutes later after failing to cope with Sinfield's kicking game.
The Rhinos gained possession from their own kick-off when the ball bounced wickedly into the grateful hands of onrushing second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan and full-back Kallum Watkins took Sinfield's pass to score from the next play.
The champions looked to have added a second try before Bradford could recover, with winger Ryan Hall touching down after full-back Brett Kearney had been deceived by Joel Moon's grubber kick.
Harsh
Video referee Ian Smith disallowed the try because Jones-Buchanan was offside from the kick but it looked a harsh call since he was not directly involved in the move.
The Bulls made the most of the let-off. Purtell took Elliott Whitehead's superb offload to finish off a scintillating move which featured six pairs of hands and second rower Olbison caught the Leeds defence napping by scoring from dummy-half.
Jamie Foster added both conversions and the Bulls also extended their lead on 22 minutes when stand-off Danny Addy forced his way to the line only to lose control of the ball.
Leeds drew level six minutes later when 6ft 5in forward Achurch proved unstoppable after taking Sinfield's pass 10 metres out to crash over for his first every Super League try and Sinfield kicked his second goal.
Jones-Buchanan got over the line on 51 minutes without being able to ground the ball but there was no stopping Peacock moments later as he took three defenders over with him to register his second try of the season.
Sinfield's third goal made it 18-12 but the score only served to spur the visitors, who put the Leeds defence under enormous pressure.
Tension
As the tension grew, tempers boiled over when Leeds took exception to Whitehead's tackle on Jones-Buchanan and referee Phil Bentham was forced to deliver a lecture to calm things down.
Sinfield thought he had made the game safe with a drop goal nine minutes from the end but the score was disallowed for Peacock's push and the Leeds skipper was also wide with another attempt.
In a dramatic finish, Sammut was brought down inches short of the line and Leeds were reduced to 12 men when Peacock was shown a yellow card for dissent.
Bradford immediately took advantage of the extra man, with Sidlow going through a yawning gap in the Leeds defence for his side's third try and Foster's third goal locked up the scores.