Sheriffe score stuns Rhinos

Sheriffe: Match winner

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Teams

• Bradford Bulls
• Leeds Rhinos

Players

• Rikki Sheriffe

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Bradford Bulls put their dreadful run to an end as they overcame local rivals Leeds Rhinos 10-6 in a tight and controversial derby at Odsal.

The wet conditions led to handling errors all over the field, while the two old foes were cagey in their attacking play throughout a tense contest in Bradford.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan gave Leeds the lead before Michael Worrincy hit back for Bradford, and just a single second-half try from Rikki Sheriffe settled the match in the home side's favour.

Video referee Thierry Alibert ruled out two second-half Leeds tries that may well have stood on another night, while Carl Ablett's sin-binning 13 minutes from time cost the Rhinos dear as they conceded the match-winning try while down to 12 men.

The Bulls battled away though, in a performance far better than their one win in six Super League matches so far this season suggests, and beating the champions could be the confidence boost they have been craving.

Early pace

Bradford forced the early pace in a cagey opening 15 minutes, but despite the Bulls having most of the play Leeds were manning their line well to prevent any score.

With handling errors outnumbering good moves of any note, the game was not the spectacle the crowd had hoped for, although the intensity of the local derby was there.

It took until the 21st minute for a breakthrough to come, as Jones-Buchanan took a forward-looking pass from Burrow before battling beyond four defenders to score.

The Rhinos looked to have added a second try just after the half hour but this time a forward pass was called when Danny McGuire fed Ryan Hall before the winger raced over the line.

Just three minutes later and Bradford were level, as Worrincy found a great angle coming in off the left wing to burst onto Paul Sykes' pass and drop the shoulder before scoring under the posts.

Scrappy stuff

After more scrappy stuff at the start of the second half, Leeds looked to have taken the lead when Burrow scampered clear and exchanged a one-two with Brent Webb before crossing the line.

However, referee Ian Smith wanted the try looked at and video ref Alibert controversially scrubbed it out for Webb earlier being in front of the play-the-ball.

It was Bradford's turn to have a try chalked off on the hour mark, as Webb fumbled a high ball after a thumping tackle from Steve Menzies, but Webb had just managed to get a hand on the ball and ground it before Matt Cook arrived.

The Bulls then got a huge lift when Ablett was sin-binned for rolling Sheriffe into touch after he had produced a withering run through the Rhinos defence.

Leeds paid the price soon after as Sheriffe gathered a contested knock down from Ben Jeffries' high bomb to touch down, although again video official Alibert was involved as he turned down Leeds' appeals for obstruction before the kick.

Sheriffe then dropped a simple pass with the line at his mercy just five minutes from time, and Leeds promptly gathered the ball and led a break down the right that resulted in McGuire sliding over in the corner.

Alibert once again got involved though, and the video man had another say in the match when he picked out a knock-on from Jones-Buchanan in the build-up to the try and Leeds had another score disallowed.

Bradford hung on for a tight victory which was far from pretty, but desperately needed after their shocking run, and Steve McNamara will hope it can provide a kick-start for their season.