Leeds 18-18 Bradford
- Published
Adrian Purtell scored his first try since recovering from a heart attack as Bradford Bulls grabbed a last-minute try to draw at Leeds Rhinos.
Kallum Watkins scored for Leeds after 24 seconds but Purtell and Tom Olbison went over to put Bulls in front.
Mitch Achurch's score ensured the game was level at 12-12 at half-time.
Jamie Peacock's second-half try put Leeds in control, before Adam Sidlow's late score and Jamie Foster's kick secured the Bulls a dramatic point.
The Rhinos made an explosive start to the game and went ahead without Bradford even touching the ball. Kevin Sinfield's kick was collected by Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who set up Watkins for the try.
Sinfield added the extras and within moments the hosts thought they had a second, but Jones-Buchanan was ruled offside after Ryan Hall scrambled over.
After looking scrappy in the opening stages, Bradford's fightback began with a special moment for centre Purtell, who went over for a try following a well-worked move involving nine pairs of hands.
Purtell suffered a heart attack in May 2012 in the aftermath of the Magic Weekend defeat against Leeds at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. He only returned to action earlier this month.
Foster landed the conversion and did the same when Olbison stepped through a sleeping Leeds defence to score Bradford's second try.
But the home side levelled when Achurch grounded the ball on the line, a try which had to be confirmed by the video refere.
The two sides went to the break level and early second-half pressure saw Peacock charge over the line, with Sinfield adding the extra two points.
Sinfield missed a drop kick in an attempt to push Leeds further clear, while Peacock was sin binned for dissent to reduce Leeds to 12 men.
And they were made to pay as Sidlow powered over near the posts, with Foster adding the pressure-kick conversion, for a dramatic finish.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Leeds coach Brian McDermott said:
"We lost too much possession. There's not much whingeing to be done when you lose so much unforced ball.
"Credit to Bradford, they fought and didn't allow us to get to get two scores in front.
"If we had been, it would have been less attainable for them."
Bradford coach Francis Cummins said:
"I'm pleased with the way the game went. The lads earned the right to play. We didn't have enough quality at times, which was a bit frustrating, but boy have they got character.
"When you think about how we started the game, it was like we had half a dozen of our players left on the bus and we could have been blown away.
"At times it was ugly for us but we found a way, which was really pleasing. We lacked a bit direction but there was no lack of effort."
LINE-UPS
Leeds: Watkins, Vickery, Ablett, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Leuluai, Burrow, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Bailey.
Replacements: Kirke for Leuluai (22), Moore for Peacock (34), Ward for Delaney (31), Achurch for Bailey (28).
Sin Bin: Peacock (78).
Bradford: Kearney, Kear, Purtell, Lulia, Foster, Addy, Sammut, Scruton, Diskin, Manuokafoa, Olbison, Whitehead, Walker.
Replacements: Sidlow (20), Langley for Scruton (25), L'Estrange for Diskin (27), Bateman for Walker (30).
Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).
Attendance: 16,604
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