MATCH REPORT | Leeds Rhinos Reserves 45 Bradford Bulls Reserves 8

Chev Walker’s reserve side welcomed old foes Bradford Bulls to AMT Headingley knowing that a win would seal a home grand final but knew that it would be no easy task. With the scores level at the half that made it seem more unlikely than first though but thanks to a dominant second half display including tries from Oscar Brown, Jack Sinfield, George Brown, and Shane Tuohey the youthful Rhinos can now start preparing for the end of season showdown.

Leeds started the game well and nearly scored when loose forward Zak Lloyd went close after a clever inside pass from half back Jack Sinfield, but the Bradford defence stood strong and held him up short. The early pressure was released however when Leeds were penalised for a high tackle seconds later. The visitors made use of the field position scoring in the right corner moments later in the shape of winger Baily Fitzgibbon after the ball was spread wide quickly by the visitors.

Leeds then hit back moments later after a forty twenty attempt was charged down, they regathered possession and used the extra tackles well with Jack Sinfield making a line break after throwing the dummy pass and racing through before finding second row forward Jacob Stead on his shoulder with the forward scoring the try, with both conversions missed, the sides found themselves both on four points midway through the first half.

Leeds hoped to put themselves in front moments later but for an interception attempt from the visitors' metres from the try line only for the ball to be knocked on giving the Rhinos a scrum ten metres out. Leeds went close to scoring on a number of occasions only for the Bulls’ defensive efforts proving enough to keep the scores level and that’s how it stayed until half time.

Leeds came out of the blocks quickly from the restart and took the lead with their second use of the ball when Oscar Brown smartly took a pass and evaded the Bradford defender before racing sixty metres to score his first try of the day, Sinfield adding the conversion to give Leeds a 10-6 advantage. Minutes later the home side extended their lead, Sinfield with a superb individual effort taking the pass from the scrum and taking the ball to the line, throwing the dummy pass and sliding through the defensive line untouched.

The tries came thick and fast with Leeds adding another shortly after with Bradford penalised for an incorrect play the ball in their own half, the Rhinos took advantage of the territory. This time full back George Brown scoring in a carbon copy of the Sinfield’s try minutes earlier. Sinfield added the conversion and Leeds were 20-4 ahead.

Leeds maintained their scoring when dummy half Shane Tuohey quickly ran out from the play the ball down the short side before hitting centre Oscar Brown with the pass and the centre crashed over for his second try of the game. Sinfield with another touchline conversion and the Rhinos were 26-4 ahead.

Bradford hit back moments later through winger Baily Fitzgibbon again squeezing over in the right corner again with the ball shifted across the line quickly by the Bulls.

That Bradford try was but a blip in the half for the Rhinos with the home side quickly responding. A smart break down the left edge from stand off Harry Smith put him up against the Bradford full back before finding Noah Whittingham on his shoulder to score the try with Sinfield successful again with the boot to give his side a 32-8 lead with just over ten minutes remaining. 

Shane Tuohey then changed from try provider to try scorer when the hooker went himself and, despite the best efforts of the defence, he still managed to force his way over to score the try. Sinfield added the conversion. Leeds weren’t finished scoring yet. Joe Butterfield raced halfway down the field to put Leeds in a dangerous position before spreading the ball to the left and with a looping pass from Sinfield to Riley Lumb, the winger squeezed his way over in the corner. Sinfield with another touchline conversion meant Leeds were 44-8 ahead.

Sinfield made sure he put the cherry on the cake with seconds remaining, slotting over the drop goal to make the final score 45-8 and complete the Reserves season with a home grand final to come!