Bradford 16, Leeds 16: Evans' late leveller saves Bulls' celebrations
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Your support makes all the difference.James Evans' last-gasp try salvaged something for Bradford after Leeds had threatened to turn their centenary celebrations sour. This might not have been the most fluent display of the 100 years of the club in its various forms, but it reached a climax worthy of the occasion when, with less than two minutes left, the Bulls moved the ball across field for David Solomona's pass to allow Evans to dive in. Paul Deacon's conversion could have brought them victory, but it drifted agonisingly wide.
The result still leaves Bradford with a theoretical chance of overtaking Leeds to finish second at the end of the regular season, but they looked like being denied even that lifeline when two Scott Donald tries put the Rhinos ahead in the second half.
The second of them continued the recent tradition of high drama and controversy between these two clubs. Danny McGuire's kick went to the corner, Marcus St Hilaire and Donald both went for it and even after what seemed like dozens of video replays it was still impossible to be sure whose hand had propelled the ball.
Donald was given the benefit of the doubt and Leeds were ahead for the first time. All this drama came after a first half in which the only winner was Odsal itself. The scene of much of the action over the last 100 years was the major factor in the first 40 minutes during which neither side could come to terms with its microclimate.
In the greasy drizzle, neither side could handle the ball and the only try came when Andy Lynch ploughed over, Deacon adding the conversion and a penalty when he was obstructed by Gareth Ellis chasing his own kick. Leeds came back after half-time with a penalty try awarded to Matt Diskin when Michael Platt raked the ball out in a two-man tackle. Iestyn Harris's kick produced a try for his namesake, Ben, and the first of Donald's tries, scored as he slid over the line on to Maguire's kick, set up a memorable finale.
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