Bradford thankful as Leeds arrive bearing gifts

Bradford Bulls 46 Leeds Rhinos 18

Bradford consolidated their place on top of Super League last night, and took revenge on their neighbours, aided and abetted by a sorry sequence of errors.

Tevita Vaikona and Lesley Vainikolo, who will play for Tonga in the Commonwealth Games Sevens today, were two of the beneficiaries as Leeds gave the Bulls far too much latitude, even when they had 13 men on the field.

Leeds have already had a season of wildly fluctuating form and fortune, with their two previous wins over Bradford certainly among the highlights.

They will not remember much of last night's first half with much affection with their mistakes and indiscretions contributing to four tries and a sending off.

Francis Cummins was the first guilty man, mis-handling and allowing Robbie Hall to pick up and score.

Paul Deacon was in the wars when he took a stray knee from Keith Senior, lost the ball and allowed Karl Pratt to run 60 yards for the equalising converted try.

The try that put Bradford back in the lead was another tale of misadventures, Tonie Carroll stopping Paul's penalty from going into touch but only serving it up for Vainikolo to kick ahead and win the race for the line.

Yet another Leeds mistake gave Bradford their third try. James Lowes kicked into the goal and, although Mark Calderwood should have dealt with it without difficulty he left it there for Vainikolo to swoop for his second.

The other Tongan wingman, Vaikona, was the next to profit from Leeds errors. Pratt missed his tackle on Michael Withers and Vaikona had an easy win behind the sticks to leave Bradford firmly in control.

When Barrie McDermott was dismissed, after wading in with fists flying towards Stuart Fielden, Leeds' task seemed even more hopeless, but perversely they were at their best in the last few minutes of the half after going down to 12 men.

After Ben Walker had kicked a penalty Kevin Sinfield's long pass combined with Carroll's expertise in drawing his man sent Calderwood away, and Walker's goal reduced the deficit to eight points.

Leeds continued to overcome their handicap gamely at the start of the second half until a quickly taken penalty saw Lee Gilmore go over. Two minutes later Fielden forced his way over from dummy half.

Michael Withers scored from Paul's pass and Lowes joined in the fun with Bradford's eighth try.

Senior managed to score a late consolation for Leeds, but their triumphs of earlier in the season now seem a very long time ago.

Bradford: Withers; Vaikona, Naylor, Gilmour, Vainikolo; Paul, Deacon; Vagana, Lowes, Fielden, Gartner, Peacock, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Pryce, McAvoy, Radford, Brian McDermott.

Leeds: Cummins; Pratt, Carroll, Senior, Calderwood; B Walker, Sheridan; Ward, Diskin, McDermott, Jones-Buchanan, Bailey, Sinfield. Substitutes used: Poching, C Walker, McDonald, McGuire.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).