Bulls keep foot flat on pedal

Bradford 62 Leeds 18

A team do not actually win anything for finishing top of Super League – apart from a week off in the first round of the play-offs – but that did not stop Bradford producing a typically high-powered display to make sure of that perk.

A characteristic first-half blitz, triggered by the excellence of the former Leeds hooker James Lowes, made sure that they would go back ahead of Wigan on points difference and emphasised how hard they will be to beat at Valley Parade in the play-offs.

Bradford put out a full-strength line-up against a Leeds team with half-a-dozen regulars missing, and after an early exchange of penalties, soon claimed first blood.

Lowes stole the ball from Gary Mercer and the Leeds defence was caught short on numbers when Michael Withers moved the ball out to Scott Naylor. Three minutes later, Lowes supplied the pass for Mike Forshaw to exploit a big gap in a defence that was already showing signs of collapse. Daniel Gartner then made it three in four minutes, latching on to Robbie Paul's midfield break.

Tevita Vaikona ran through for the fourth and and the prospect of surpassing last week's 84 points at Warrington suddenly loomed. Robbie Paul wriggled through a tangle of defenders for yet another, before some rather more robust tackling – notably by Calderwood – at last slowed the scoring.

The natural rhythm of the game resumed when Forshaw stood in the tackle to supply Robbie Paul with his second try, although there was a brief gesture of defiance from Leeds when a handsome move ended with Marcus St Hilaire crossing in the corner.

Naylor scored his second as Bradford continued to plough along at close to a point a minute until the Rhinos reached the welcome sanctuary of the interval. They even scored the first try of the second half, through Danny Ward, and the second, when Rob Borrow's scampering run gave him room for the pass that sent in Chev Walker.

The Bulls got moving again when Gareth Morton made a hash of the kick-off and Paul Deacon followed up to touch down. Deacon's clever little kick produced a try for Withers and Henry Paul's seventh goal brought up the half-century. Withers swiftly added a second and Lowes fittingly rounded it off.

"I'm highly delighted for the players to finish top of the pile. They've played some fantastic rugby and they deserved it," said coach Brian Noble. "We've won nothing yet and we've two games at least to go."

Leeds have even further.

Bradford: Withers, Vaikona, Naylor, Mackay, Pryce, H Paul, R Paul, Vagana, Lowes, Brian McDermott, Gartner, Peacock, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Deacon, Rigon, Fielden, Anderson.

Leeds: Cummins, St Hilaire, Walker, Senior, Calderwood, Sinfield, Burrow, Fleary, Farrell, Barry McDermott, Wrench, Mercer, Morton. Substitutes used: Dowes, Netherton, Ward, Kirk.

Referee: R Connolly (Wigan).