Rhinos tough it out

Sinfield: kicked five goals for Rhinos

Leeds ended a three-game run without a win by beating Bradford 30-22 in the Easter derby at Odsal.

Bradford were vastly improved on the side which slumped 56-16 at Salford last week, but the Rhinos had just enough to hold off their fierce local rivals.

The Bulls impressed from the off in front of a vociferous home crowd and deservedly raced into a 10-0 lead.

They completed their sets and defended aggressively in the opening exchanges before going ahead after six minutes with a spectacular try from Patrick Ah Van.

Mark Herbert lofted a perfectly-weighted kick into the corner and the winger leapt highest before making a one-handed catch and spinning to the ground to score.

Ah Van failed to add the extras but just three minutes later he knocked over a far simpler kick after prop Andy Lynch forced his way between two defenders to score beneath the sticks.

Leeds responded but it took them almost 15 minutes of sustained pressure to hit back, with the impressive Paul McShane plunging over from dummy half for a trademark hooker's try. Kevin Sinfield coverted and the gap was back to four points.

That was wiped out on 35 minutes after a burst from McShane set up good position and Jamie Jones-Buchanan got the ball down under pressure.

But it was Bradford who went in with the half-time lead, after Ben Cross gave away a silly penalty with a late hit after playing the ball inside his own 20 and Ah Van made it 12-10.

The Bulls increased the lead shortly after the break, taking advantage of back-to-back penalties before hooker Heath LeStrange put Olivier Elima over for a try.

High shot

But LeStrange then gifted the Rhinos field position with his high shot on Rob Burrow and Brent Webb set up Keith Senior for a try which Sinfield converted.

Webb then bust open the defence and Ryan Hall slid in at the corner for a score, Sinfield converting with a superb touchline kick.

But back roared the Bulls on the hour mark as Elima bravely went over for his second try and Ah Van levelled up the scores.

Either side could have won it now but it was the Rhinos who showed more composure in the closing minutes.

Sinfield kicked a penalty - a decision which could have gone either way - on 66 minutes and with three minutes remaining, Danny Buderus wrapped up a vital win for the visitors as he powered his way over beneath the posts and Sinfield kicked his fifth two-pointer.