LEEDS RHINOS 50 BRADFORD BULLS 16
PHIL CAPLAN, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Sunday

IN many ways the Magic concept was enshrined in the final game of 2007, in its first year, when Leeds controversially beat Bradford on the whistle in one of the most contentious finishes Super League has seen.

That was not expected to be the case this time, and so it proved, as the Rhinos moved four points clear at the top with another dominant performance led by their exceptional three-try captain Ash Handley.

In form and fielding an unchanged 17, Leeds began as 28-point favourites to make it five wins out of five in Magic meetings with their neighbours.

That came to pass, as did Maika Sivo’s 1-6 odds to score a try when he touched down late on – his 28th of the league season and a club record-breaking one, making him the first Leeds player to score in ten consecutive Super League games.

Bradford, meanwhile, still have just one Magic win to their name in nine attempts.

On their return to the big stage, the Bulls were without forwards Will Gardiner, Phoenix Steinwede and Dan Russell through injury, and they were under siege from the start.

Jake Connor was wasteful with possession early on but Leeds broke the deadlock after nine minutes as Jarrod O’Connor’s delightful chip to the in-goal saw Brodie Croft claim his 17th try of the season.

After some brief Bradford respite, O’Connor darted and, on the last, Connor’s grubber was side-footed inside by Chris Hankinson, football-style, for a try in his sixth consecutive game.

Connor forced a goalline drop-out and after Leeds were awarded a penalty and ran it, O’Connor sniped over.

Bradford hit back on the half hour as, on the last tackle of a set, Caleb Aekins saw a gap to go over, although Luke Hooley missed the conversion attempt.

The Rhinos immediately regrouped. Lachlan Miller broke up the middle, Croft stepped into the clear and positioned James McDonnell to the line.

Chris Atkin sent the restart out on the full, Tom Holroyd went close and Handley powered over for his 150th career try and Leeds’ fifth – all converted by Connor – of a dominant half that ended 30-4.

Leeds received a penalty on their first set of the second half and the onslaught continued, Miller and Kallum Watkins sending in Handley for his second out wide, although Connor hit the post with his conversion attempt for his first miss.

Bradford put on Mitch Souter who speeded up the play the ball, and a pass over the top from Atkin saw Ethan Ryan go in.

Ryan was over again on the next set, breaking down the main stand side and exchanging passes with Aekins to cross, with Hooley goaling both times.

In a purple period, Atkin and Souter combined on another break but Ryan’s kick inside saw the chasers offside.

Leeds wrested back control with breaks from McDonnell and Holroyd. Handley, with a fine pass on the last, put Connor over for a converted try.

Connor was later green carded with a shoulder injury and just as it looked like the game would peter out, Handley unselfishly put Sivo in for his history-making try.

Some fine Rhinos offloads saw Hankinson denied when he put a foot in touch as he dived over, but there was still time for Connor to chip over for Handley to claim his treble, Connor adding his seventh goal.

GAMESTAR: Leeds’ hat-trick hero Ash Handley again reminded England coach Brian McDermott that he is worthy of a World Cup place.

GAMEBREAKER: The Rhinos responding immediately to Caleb Aekins’ try when James McDonnell made it 24-4 from a Brodie Croft break.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Having the Bradford fans back at Magic – they never gave up on their side and were rewarded by a spectacular length-of-the-field second try from Ethan Ryan.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Ash Handley (Leeds)
2 pts Jarrod O’Connor (Leeds)
1 pt Ethan Ryan (Bradford)

MATCHFACTS

RHINOS
1 Lachlan Miller
5 Ryan Hall
3 Harry Newman
4 Ash Handley
2 Maika Sivo
6 Brodie Croft
7 Jake Connor
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Jarrod O’Connor
13 Keenan Palasia
14 Chris Hankinson
12 James McDonnell
15 Cooper Jenkins
Subs (all used)
10 Tom Holroyd
11 Kallum Watkins
17 Cameron Smith
23 Danny Levi
18th man (not used)
20 Presley Cassell
Also in 21-man squad
22 Riley Lumb
26 Tom Nicholson-Watton
33 Jack Bird

Tries: Croft (9), Hankinson (19), O’Connor (25), McDonnell (33), Handley (36, 42, 79), Connor (60), Sivo (70)
Goals: Connor 7/9

BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
23 Connor Wynne
24 Guy Armitage
4 Waqa Blake
5 Ethan Ryan
6 Jayden Nikorima
32 Chris Atkin
8 Ryan Sutton
9 Andy Ackers
15 Eribe Doro
30 Leon Ruan
25 Eliot Peposhi
13 Joe Mellor
Subs (all used)
14 Mitch Souter
16 Ebon Scurr
22 Luke Hooley
33 Jack Ormondroyd
18th man (not used)
27 Alfie Leake
Also in 21-man squad
11 Dan Russell
29 Cameron Bate
38 Riley Dean

Tries: Aekins (30), Ryan (51, 53)
Goals: Hooley 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 18-4, 24-4, 30-4; 34-4, 34-10, 34-16, 40-16, 44-16, 50-16

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rhinos: Ash Handley; Bulls: Ethan Ryan

Penalty count: 8-5
Half-time: 30-4
Referee: Tom Grant