Bulls edge derby scrap

Ah Van: four second-half penalties

Bradford claimed their first win at Headingley in almost four years with an 18-12 success over Leeds in a bruising derby clash.

Loose forward Olivier Elima scored two first-half tries for the Bulls, who then held on gutsily for a morale-boosting victory over their fiercest rivals.

Bradford had already tasted defeat twice at the hands of the Rhinos in Super League XVI, but this time they were able to frustrate the majority of an 18,095 crowd.

There were plenty of handling errors from both sides but the Bulls deserve great credit for keeping Leeds scoreless in the second half, as Patrick Ah Van's four penalties proved decisive.

Genuine chances remained scarce in the opening 20 minutes as passes from both sides went to ground; misplaced or simply knocked on.

That changed in the 20th minute as the Rhinos finally broke Bradford's spirited resistance thanks to a fine passing move which saw the ball go through five pairs of hands and culminated in Ryan Hall crossing in the left corner.

Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield, a pivotal figure in Hall's try with some clever dummy running, added a fine touchline conversion but Bradford were off the mark themselves three minutes later in contentious circumstances.

A high kick from Bulls stand-off Ben Jeffries was clumsily fielded by the Rhinos defence and the ball ran loose for Elima to pounce with the slightest of touches.

Ah Van failed to add the extras before Leeds stretched their lead with a second try in the 29th minute.

Bulls wing Jason Crookes spilled a high kick from Sinfield and Jamie Jones-Buchanan grounded the loose ball for a try which Sinfield converted.

Bradford hit back, creating a neat score in the 34th minute when Elliott Whitehead sent Herbert's high kick into the path of Elima, who touched down from close range for a try which Ah Van converted to make it 12-10.

Punished

Leeds were punished for an offside offence six minutes after the resumption and Ah Van kicked the penalty to make it 12-12.

Former Leeds hooker Matt Diskin was placed on report after he sparked a melee with a high shot on Carl Ablett, which left the Rhinos man with blood pouring down his face.

Jeffries was then helped off the field after taking a bang to the head, but his team's dogged approach continued to hold them in good stead and they earned a succession of penalties, one of which Ah Van sent over the posts from long range in the 59th minute.

He added another two-pointer three minutes later and, although Leeds pressed ferociously, Bradford's line held firm and Ah Van landed his fourth penalty late on.