Bradford: (10) 14
Tries: St Hilaire, Vainikolo
Goals: Deacon (3)

Leeds: (6) 18
Tries: Donald (2), Ellis
Goals: Sinfield (3)

Scott Donald snatched victory for the team in the closing minutes against Bradford Bulls for the second year running, as Leeds win 18-14 at Odsal. Leeds and Bradford both came out fired up out of the tunnel but the visitors had the first chance to score after a big hit by Danny McGuire on Lesley Vainikolo off-loaded 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 of Bradford. Bradford got the first points of the game just after seven minutes when a penalty was awarded against Keith Senior for lying on at the tackle and Deacon hit the penalty from thirty four metres out. We then had a major let off when the Bulls moved 80 metres up field with a great move from Morrison and also involved 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 kick to make it 4-0 after just eleven minutes. We then struck back after fourteen minutes when Burrow and McGuire combined to send Webb away. He threw a brilliant pass out wide to Senior, who made a brilliant run down field before passing back inside to leedsrhinos.biz man of the match Scott Donald who surged across the line to score although he was under imence pressure from Marcus St Hilaire. Sinfield missed the conversion so the score remained level. Shortly after Burrow was denied a try by video ref Ashley Klein. Inspite of some good attacking play right infront of the Bradford line, Brent Webb seemed to have a lack of discipline after yet high shot. This time he was shown the yellow card. Dave Solomona started a great move for the Bulls. He then made a offload as he came into contact to Iestyn Harris. Harris ran across our defence before throwing a long pass to Morrison and released to Marcus St Hilaire to score on the wing. Deacon missed the conversion so it remained 8-6 Bradford at their newly named stadium. In the last minute of the first half we went close through Donald before the play switched to the other end in seconds. In the remaining secounds of the first half 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. -- SECOUND HALF! -- We made a slow start to the secound half but there was no stopping the Bulls when Vainikolo cut in from the touchline and powered his way over from close range. There was no stopping him. Deacon's conversion was wide but the Bulls now led 14-6. In the terraces we thought it was all over by now... But 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. We had even further chances when JJB 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 finally Ashley Gibson was pulled up for a forward pass to rob us of a 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 and both sides were just taking their sets of six. But wit just fifteen minutes remaining we gave revenge when Sinfields grubber kick was touched down by Gareth Ellis. Sinfield convered. It was approaching the final five minutes of the game but the lads were not quite finished yet!!  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 to Leeds Rhinos.

..For now were top of the league...so enjoy it whilst it lasts! To keep our place sitting smug at the top of the table we will have to wait untill Friday night and hopefully we will win against the Warriors on Tuesday at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium!

Tony Smith:

"The standard, particularly in defence, by both teams was unbelievable. Every point had to be earned.

"I wouldn't have been too disappointed, with the effort my boys put in, if we had lost that game.

"I thought Jamie Peacock was absolutely terrific, it was one of his best games in a Leeds uniform."

Crowd: 16,706

Ref: Steve Ganson