Super League: Leeds Rhinos charge to derby win over Bradford
Leeds claimed an eighth straight win with a 42-22 victory over Bradford in a one-sided Super League derby at Odsal.
Last Updated: 03/05/13 10:38pm
The Bulls drew 18-18 with the champions at Headingley five weeks ago but were blown away by a ruthless Rhinos side that ran in five converted tries in the first half to virtually wrap up the contest by the interval.
Bradford rallied briefly with two tries in the third quarter but a comeback never looked likely as they slipped to a third defeat in a row.
Leeds were ahead inside four minutes as Kallum Watkins broke through Chev Walker's tackle and weaved and raced his way 80 metres to the Bradford line, Kevin Sinfield adding the conversion.
Two minutes later Leeds were over again as Brett Delaney burst up the middle - again taking advantage of some sloppy tackling - before good hands from Danny McGuire and Sinfield put Mitch Achurch in for a try.
Bradford did not help themselves by knocking on three times in the Leeds half as they attempted to get a foothold in the game and they were punished on 22 minutes when Karl Ablett took the ball at first receiver and crashed over from close range.
Leeds prop Ryan Bailey was held up just short and Bradford responded with a try, Ben Evans scoring bravely one-handed as he was hit with a high shot by Kylie Leuluai. Jarrod Sammut converted but there was case for Bradford being awarded a penalty as well.
Five minutes before the break Paul McShane broke from dummy half and put McGuire in and four minutes later three Bradford defenders could not stop Bailey this time getting over from a couple of yards out.
Brief rally
Bradford rallied briefly at the start of the second half as Heath LeStrange's long pass put Elliott Kear over unopposed in the corner, although Sammut could not convert.
They cut the deficit to 16 points when Brett Kearney dummied his way over beneath the posts and Sammut added the extras, but Leeds quickly reasserted their dominance.
Zak Hardaker squirmed out of a tackle to score with a second effort and after LeStrange knocked on 10 metres from his own line, Sinfield set up Karl Ablett for a try directly from the scrum.
Almost inevitably, Sinfield converted both tries before Bradford had the final say on the hooter, quick hands out wide producing the chance for Kear to show neat footwork as he crossed for his second try.