Jones-Buchanan Helps Rhinos Sound Ominous Warning

Leeds produced the most ominously dominant performance of the Super League season so far to humiliate their local rivals and pull four points clear at the top of the table. The Rhinos led 32-2 after 44 minutes with their second-row Jamie Jones-Buchanan the pick of an outstanding bunch, eclipsing even the New Zealand full-back Brent Webb who scored three of their eight tries.

Jones-Buchanan should be harder to pick out this season than he was in earning a Great Britain debut last year, having shaved off the extravagant beard he grew for charity. But Bradford had no answer to his pace and footwork, and on this form he must be an automatic selection for England's World Cup squad.

The same goes for Rob Burrow, who after scoring his first try of the season to complete 100 for Leeds in last Friday's 48-0 demolition of Harlequins moved quickly to 102, his second a thrilling individual effort as he sidestepped three Bulls defenders to scoot between the posts.

A minute's silence in memory of Eric Ashton, whose long spells with Wigan and St Helens sandwiched a single year as the Leeds coach, was quickly followed by a seven-minute delay caused by a worrying injury to the Rhinos prop Kylie Leuluai. He mistimed an attempted big hit on Chris Feather and was knocked out cold. It was a major relief when he re-emerged from the dressing rooms to take his place on the Leeds bench late in the first half, admittedly in a groggy condition.

Bradford were leading 2-0 when Leuluai left, courtesy of a cleanly-struck penalty from their captain Paul Deacon. But when the match finally began to develop some momentum, Leeds were unstoppable.Jones-Buchanan scored their first try following a wonderfully old-fashioned piece of hooker's craft from their hooker Matt Diskin, who worked a run-around with Jamie Peacock and dinked a delicate grubber kick behind the Bradford defence.

Kevin Sinfield failed to convert but made amends with a one-handed offload to lay on the second Rhinos score for Brent Webb but the killer blow came seven minutes later. Bradford had been pressing the Leeds line and attacking with real invention, but the Rhinos' defence held and after Webb defused a bomb in his own in-goal area, Jordan Tansey caught the Bulls cold with a quick tap on the 20 to send Jones-Buchanan sprinting clear. He could have scored himself but played safe by passing to the supporting wing Lee Smith.

Bradford crumbled and Iestyn Harris's first significant contribution on his return to the Bulls team as a substitute was to gift Rob Burrow the 101st try of his career, then Gareth Ellis brushed aside two weak attempted tackles to lay on Webb's second. Deacon's misdirected kick allowed the Scott Donald to sprint 70 meters for his ninth try of the season. The Bulls competed gamely enough but lacked the potency to claim even a consolation try.

Leeds Rhinos Webb; Smith, Ellis, Senior, Donald; Tansey, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield. Interchange: Scruton, Hall, L Burgess, Worrall.

Bradford Bulls Halley; Evans, Nero, Hape , Tadulala; Jeffries, Deacon; Lynch, Newton, Feather, Solomona, Finnigan, S Burgess. Interchange: Harris, Cook, James, Godwin.

Referee S Ganson (St Helens).