Rhinos trample Bulls

Leeds Rhinos produced a super second half performance to maintain their 100% start to the engage Super League season with a 42-12 win at Bradford Bulls.

The champions and league leaders ran in five tries after the break to crush their West Yorkshire neighbours in a replay of last year?s Grand Final.

The first half was tightly fought but Leeds Rhinos eventually ran out comfortable winners with captain Kevin Sinfield scoring 18 points, including a try, and Rob Burrow crossing twice.

Bradford Bulls started well and their pressure paid off after seven minutes when Sinfield was forced into a hurried pass and paid the price.

Richie Mathers was caught unawares and could not cling on, allowing Karl Pryce to intercept and dart under the posts for his seventh try of the season, with Deacon adding the conversion.

Leeds Rhinos did get themselves back on level terms midway through the first half when another move down the right ended with a Chev Walker try. Then a slick Leeds Rhinos move ended with Mathers sending Sinfield under the posts for a try he converted on the stroke of half-time.

Bradford Bulls started the second half as well as they did the first to power back into contention with a Stuart Reardon try two minutes after the restart. Deacon missed the conversion but levelled the scores with a penalty after a high tackle on Lee Radford by Richie Mathers.

But the score only served to reawaken Leeds Rhinos, who charged back in front with two tries in as many minutes.

Keith Senior grabbed the first after a superb break down the touchline from Bai and Burrow went over following good work from Sinfield and Liam Botham.

Sinfield was on hand to finish off another swift counter-attack under the posts and his third goal of the second half further stretched the advantage.

A quick break from Burrow led to Leeds Rhinos? sixth try as Calderwood touched down and Burrow himself then escaped Bradford Bulls? clutches to round off a good night?s work.

Bradford: L. Pryce, Reardon, Langley, K. Pryce, Vainikolo, Harris, Deacon, Vagana, Paul, Fielden, Peacock, Meyers, Radford. Replacements: Ferres, Pratt, Lynch, Parker.

Leeds: Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Bai, Sinfield, Burrow, Bailey, Dunemann, Ward, Lauitiiti, McKenna, Ellis. Replacements: McDermott, Poching, Scruton, Botham.

Bradford (6) 12. Tries: K. Pryce, Reardon. Goals: Deacon 2.

Leeds (12) 42. Tries: Walker, Ellis, Senior, Burrow 2, Sinfield, Calderwood. Goals: Sinfield 7.

Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington)

Att: 22,843

Thanks to: http://www.superleague.co.uk for another excellent article.