Bradford Snatch Share of the Points With Late Evans Try

Bradford snatched a late draw to prevent their centenary celebrations going flat last night, although the team who gain most from this result are St Helens. Thanks to James Evans' try in the 78th minute, the Bulls are one point clear of Leeds at the top of the table and could secure the League Leaders' Shield - and home advantage in the first round of the play-offs - by beating Warrington on Friday.

The Bulls, who had led 8-0 at half-time, were staring at a third cruel derby defeat of the season when Leeds' Australian wing Scott Donald was awarded his second try of the night in controversial circumstances by the video referee Richard Silverwood. Numerous replays could not prove for certain whether Donald had knocked on Danny McGuire's chip to the corner, but Silverwood gave him the benefit of the doubt and Kevin Sinfield's conversion gave the Rhinos a 16-12 lead.

Bradford showed their spirit to mount one last attack, however, and David Solomona's long pass gave Evans just enough space to dive over in the left corner. Paul Deacon was unable to add the conversion that would have secured victory almost 100 years to the day since Bradford Northern played their first match.

The only try of the first half came from the hard-grafting prop Andy Lynch, with Deacon converting and adding a penalty. That Bradford were restricted to that was largely down to some desperate Leeds defending, with the former Bulls captain Jamie Peacock excelling.

The Rhinos' fightback started with a controversial penalty try awarded to the hooker Matt Diskin. Bradford pulled away again when Marcus St Hilaire caught a kick from one Harris, Iestyn, and passed inside to another, Ben, and would have killed the game if Peacock had not pulled off another try-saving tackle on Nathan McAvoy.

Instead, Donald touched down one McGuire kick to cut the deficit to 12-10, and then won that video verdict from another to nudge the Rhinos in front. For the sake of Bradford's sanity, never mind their centenary, it is just as well that decision did not give Leeds victory again.

Bradford Bulls Platt; St Hilaire, B Harris, Evans, McAvoy; I Harris, Deacon; Vagana, Newton, Lynch, McKenna, Solomona, Morrison. Interchange Feather, Henderson, Cook, Burgess.

Leeds Rhinos Tansey; Smith, Toopi, Senior, Donald; McGuire, Burrow; Peacock, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield. Interchange Leuluai, Lauitiiti, Thackray, Ablett.

Referee P Bentham (Warrington).