Rampant Bradford go top after Calderwood's calamity

Bradford went top of Super League for the first time this season as an horrendous mistake from Mark Calderwood triggered a burst of five tries in 15 minutes in front of a 21,000 crowd, the season's biggest in the competition.

Leeds were holding their own until Calderwood's blunder, but after that there was never the slightest doubt where the balance of power in West Yorkshire would lie this weekend.

As you would expect of a meeting between the top two in Super League and a re-run of the hugely dramatic Challenge Cup final last month, all roads led to the Odsal Stadium last night. Indeed, the sense of occasion was greater than that for any league match so far this season.

It was Bradford who seemed to draw all the early inspiration from that, with a series of purposeful attacks culminating in the game's first try after three minutes.

James Lowes, a torment to his former club from the start, exchanged passes with Joe Vagana and then lofted one to the wing for Tevita Vaikona to force his way over.

Paul Deacon missed his kick, but Bradford had started out in ominous form and Leeds were delighted to peg them back when Kevin Sinfield put over a long-range penalty for a high tackle on Ryan Bailey. Yet, with Deacon responding in kind, it was the Bulls asking most of the questions and the visitors hanging on grimly.

Leeds were gifted possession by Daniel Gartner's wild pass, however, and when Lowes held down Danny Ward, Sinfield put over the penalty. Deacon then put his kick off straight out on the full and Sinfield tied the scores from halfway.

Leeds had worked so hard to get back on terms, but the manner in which they fell behind again was a disaster for Calderwood. The Rhinos' winger went to hack clear a speculative kick from Deacon and only succeeded in sending it rolling across his in-goal for Gartner to dive in for an easy try converted by Deacon.

It was the start of a calamitous few minutes for Leeds. Three minutes later, a cleverly disguised pass from Deacon sent Paul Anderson thundering through a massive gap for a rare try.

Two minutes before half time, the Bulls' rampage continued when some magical handling ended with Scott Naylor slipping the pass out of a tackle for Robbie Paul to score his 100th Super League try. Deacon landed both goals and Bradford were rapidly disappearing out of sight.

It got even worse for Leeds after the break with Lesley Vainikolo smashing his way over after Ward had lost the ball.

Deacon contributed two more goals before a stunning run by Vaikona gave Karl Pratt a try against the club that sacked him last season.

Deacon notched his seventh goal from the touchline and, even with 25 minutes to play, Chev Walker's try from Sinfield's pass was already too little too late for a bedraggled Leeds side.

Calderwood then scored a try that would have given him scant consolation, picking up a loose ball and going 60 yards when Paul lost possession after a brilliant break.

Vainikolo claimed his second when he wrestled the ball from Calderwood's grasp, although the winger again made some amends by laying on a try for Sinfield. Even then, on a memorable night for Bradford, the Bulls had the final say through Vaikona's second.

Bradford: Paul Vaikona, Naylor, Happe, Vainikolo, Pratt, Deacon, Vagana, Lowes, Gartner, Radford, Peacock, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Reardon, Gilmour, Parker, Anderson.

Leeds: Connolly, Calderwood, McKenna, Walker, Cummins, McGuire, Dunemann, Bailey, Diskin, McDermott, Furner, Adamson, Sinfield. Substitutes uesd: McDonald, Poching, Burrow, Ward.

Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington).