Noble-men repel Rhinos

On this evidence, certainly not the Bulls, who moved clear at the top of the Super League table by winning in sensational fashion at Headingley last night, despite playing half the game without a recognised No 6.

With Robbie Paul, Michael Withers and Chris Bridge all sidelined with injury, Bulls boss Brian Noble was forced to gamble on the fitness of utility ace Leon Pryce in the key pivotal position.

That gamble failed, with Pryce's sternum injury restricting him to a bit-part role in the first half and 40 minutes of bench warming in the second.

With no obvious replacement, that forced the Bulls to muddle through using a series of makeshift combinations in front of a massive crowd of 23,035.

It mattered little though, as Noble's side recovered from a 10-6 interval deficit to take an 18-10 lead with almost 30 minutes remaining, and then clung on heroically as Leeds closed to within a couple of points and threw just about everything but the Headingley kitchen sink in an attempt to crack their visitors.

Just like in the Challenge Cup final though, they couldn't do it.

But this time there was no controversy to detract from Bradford's success - no questions about penalties that should or shouldn't have been kicked, and no talk about the better side losing.

The Bulls defence was simply sensational, with a monster pack effort - led by the outstanding Jamie Peacock - withstanding just about everything the Rhinos could throw at them, especially in the closing stages.

Wave after wave of Leeds attack broke on the steely rearguard, and when Leeds did make the half-breaks the Bulls backline swept up admirably.

Bradford should have been in front as early as the eighth minute, Deacon hoisting a hanging kick to the corner that Lesley Vainikolo should have taken.

Unfortunately, the giant Tongan, pictured in action later, could only palm the ball into touch.

Leeds were equally unlucky at the other end, with Andrew Dunemann's bullet pass just evading skipper Francis Cummins.

Kevin Sinfield then saw a long-range penalty drift wide as the tension mounted, before Bradford broke the deadlock in the most dramatic fashion as the game approached quarter time.

Andrew Dunemann's high kick was clearly aimed at exploiting Vainikolo's weakness under the high ball, but it backfired spectacularly as the winger soared high to take the ball before pinning his ears back and racing away downfield.

The Rhinos defence gave chase, but although Mark Calderwood got close, he didn't get close enough to prevent Vainikolo celebrating with a spectacular swallow dive under the posts. Deacon converted for 6-0 but even at that stage it was clear that there would be no repeat of the one-sided affair at Odsal.

Leeds continued to pressure their hosts and finally got their reward in the 34th minute, outstanding full back Gary Connolly finishing off Dunemann's cut out ball on the right.

Sinfield slotted over the extras from the touchline - and within seconds the Bulls found themselves gathered for another in-goal post mortem.

The Rhinos surged forward from the restart, Matt Diskin breaking clear and whizz-kid Danny McGuire repeating Dunemann's trick with a cut out ball that found Keith Senior.

Pryce would have had little chance of stopping Senior if he had been fully fit, working at half pace he had no chance, the burly GB star bundling his way over his Test teammate from a couple of yards out.

Sinfield missed the extras to leave the score at 10-6, but Leeds should have led by more at the break, McGuire spurning a fine chance with seconds remaining.

The stand off shot away down the right-hand touchline, but despite having support on both sides found himself clattered by the outstanding Stuart Reardon, who looked completely at home at full back all evening.

Leeds looked to have extended their lead almost straight from the restart, Diskin touching down Sinfield's kick as the Bulls defence dithered.

Fortunately, the big screen replay showed the Yorkshire number nine was offside, a decision that Bradford took full advantage of.

The forward juggernaut ground its way downfield and James Lowes produced a gem of a pass to send Rob Parker storming in to level the scores.

Deacon again slotted over the extras to put the Bulls 12-10 up and when Peacock bullocked his way up the middle of the field to set up Mike Forshaw ten minutes later they looked well on their way to victory.

Leeds had other ideas, Rob Burrow touching down after a hideous error from Vaikona, who hacked Sinfield's chip kick into the path of the diminutive substitute.

Sinfield's goal narrowed the gap to two points to set up a thrilling finale which tested Bradford's rearguard to the full.

Try as they might though, the Rhinos could find no way through as Reardon, Hape, Gilmour and Vaikona all produced telling interventions on their own goal line.

Defence, it seems, really does win you games.