Leeds Rhinos 18-18 Bradford Bulls

Adrian Purtell scored his first try for the Bradford Bulls after recovering from a heart attack in a dramatic game which saw his side draw with the Leeds Rhinos. 

It was a remarkable achievement, not just for Purtell but for a Bradford side who were all but dead and buried the last time they faced their local rivals. 

Despite this, they did not get off to a very good start and it looked as though the game may have all been over when Kallum Watkins scored for the Rhinos after just 24 seconds. 

Bradford allowed the ball to bounce from the kick off and an excellent chase by the Rhinos saw the ball scooped up by Jamie Jones Buchanan. It was quickly passed to Watkins who threw a dummy to break through the Bulls defence. 

Leeds continued to dominate and seemed unstoppable in the opening 10 minutes.

Nevertheless, a determined Bradford side were not going to let this happen and the tables soon turned after Leeds lost the ball in possession and Purtell hurtled down the field to bring them close to the opposition’s line. 

Bradford were allowed another set of six after Rob Burrow knocked on and Jamie Foster was able to keep the ball alive. It found Elliot Whitehead who slipped out of a tackle and released the ball to Purtell who smashed over the line. 

Now it was Bradford’s turn to dominate and they were in again shortly after with a try from Tom Olbison but Leeds refused to lie down and replied with a try from Mitch Achurch, leaving the score all square at half time. 

Jamie Peacock opened the scoring for the Rhinos in the second half, surprisingly the only time he has scored a try against Bradford. 

Tempers began to flare as both sides battled hard to gain control and the shine was taken off Peacock’s try after Kevin Sinfield’s potentially match winning drop goal was wiped off after Peacock was penalised for interference. 

Bradford applied an unbelievable amount of pressure to a Rhino’s defence that seemed unbreakable but it was finally broken when the referee had enough of Peacock’s ill-discipline and he was sin binned for dissent.

Taking advantage of the extra man, Bradford’s Adam Sidlow finally managed to break the line and went over for a try in the 79^th minute, drawing the game in front of an ecstatic crowd at Headingley.