Leeds cut St Helens' lead at the top of Super League XI to three points after coasting past Bradford Bulls at Odsal.


A solitary try from the diminutive Rob Burrow was all that separated the two sides in an electric opening half.


The Bulls, who lost Brett Ferres and Michael Withers just before kick-off to a virus, threw everything at the Rhinos to get back into the game.


But second-half tries from Willie Poching, Chev Walker, Ryan Bailey and Keith Senior led to a convincing win.



Despite their attacking flair, Leeds were indebted to their defence, which repeatedly kept Bradford at bay.


In the first half, Shontayne Hape had a good chance to score for the Bulls, only to spill the ball going for the line.


Then Ben Harris thought he had scored after intercepting a Senior pass only to be felled by the relentless Burrow.

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Rugby Super League Top 4:

We have to get back on track after the disappointment of Thursday but to do it we are going to have to be at our absolute best, this is a real intriguing contest and one that will be settled by the individual skills that we have a bit more of.

LEEDS RHINOS
Matt Diskin is back for us but I would continue with Millard and start Diskin on the bench. Mark O’Neill may also start but again I expect him to come on from the bench if he makes the 17 at all.

We are definitely without Chev Walker and Chris Feather, our most improved player this year. Nathan McAvoy is in the initial 20 but I cannot see him making the starting line up.
I expect Gareth Ellis to play at centre and Willie Poaching to play at loose forward; Ryan Bailey to start at 8 and JJB to come into the second row with Ali.

So from the initial 20, I expect to lose McAvoy, Ablett and Gibson.


SALFORD REDS
Salford look like they will be almost unchanged from the team that beat Warrington on Friday with just Andrew Brocklehurst missing out.


We have the injury problems but we have also had an extra day's rest and I think we have the men to break them down.


Therefore I predict: Salford 14 Rhinos 22


Come on Leeds!!!!!

Great game, crap result, but as soon as Danny McGuire naively threw out that dodgy pass with 2 minutes to go you knew exactly what was going to happen.


And it did with Brett Ferres falling over the line for the Bulls with the very last play of the game, absolutely sickening.
Bradford had the better of the game early on despite a strong wind against them and went in front after 15 minutes when Stanley Gene crossed, the conversion made it 0-6 Bulls.

It was end to end stuff but when Rob Burrow forced a goal line drop out the Bulls could keep us out no longer and Ellis went in after a brilliant pass from JJB.


HT: 6-6


Minutes into the second half and Rob Burrow made and scored a try out wide after running cross field and also added the 2 points, we lead 12-6 and were looking good to extend that lead, but that all changed when Lynch stole the ball one on one from Ryan Bailey.
Ironically, after what happened to Bailey the other week, 2 minutes later and the Welsh money grabber went over, 12-12.


Shortly after that, on 57, Paul Deacon kicked cross field and another ex-Rhino, Marcus Bai had little to do to score as Danny Williams was well out of position. 12-16 as the kick was missed.


At this point I thought we may lose it as the Bulls were getting on top, but Williams made amends for his bad positioning soon after, when McGuire sent up a bomb he did well to tap the ball back the Mathers who strode over, 16-16.


With just 6 minutes to go we were awarded a penalty 30 yards out in front of goal and unusually accepted the kick at goal, 18-16 Rhinos, with 5 minutes to go.

At that point I could only see us scoring again until with 2 minutes to go after just 3 tackles McGuire inexplicably sent out that pass.
FT: 18-20



If I do have one criticism of our team it is that we do not know when to kill a game off. That said, I'm sure it would not have happened had Sinny been on the field.