Rhinos claim controversial derby win

Organisers had hoped to save the best for last and the West Yorkshire rivals duly obliged as the 26,447 fans gorged themselves on the final helpings of a feast of rugby league in the Welsh capital.

Substitute Jordan Tansey grabbed the match-winning try in the sixth minute of added time, following up a penalty kick by captain Kevin Sinfield which hit the crossbar and bounced back into play. Bradford's players argued furiously about the penalty award and also claimed Tansey was offside from the kick but their protests were in vain as the match ended in farce.

Paul Deacon gave his side a dream start, setting up the position for an early penalty with a 40-20 kick and converting a seventh-minute try from Platt, who crashed over from Terry Newton's short pass. The fleet-footed full-back went over for his second on 23 minutes to restore the Bulls' lead after Leeds had demonstrated their attacking flair with two tries in five minutes.

Winger Scott Donald scooped up a pass from Sinfield to get second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan over before the dancing feet of Danny McGuire set up Brent Webb for the first of his three tries.

McGuire also had a try disallowed before Lesley Vainikolo twice went close before finally crossing only for Great Britain centre Keith Senior to pul a try back for Leeds. But Bradford restored their eight-point lead on the stroke of half-time thanks to some quick thinking by hooker Ian Henderson, who stole the ball legitimately from Jamie Thackray and nipped over.

It was a similar story in the second half, with Bradford unable to shake off their determined opponents. Webb finished off a break by Donald to claim his second try but then blotted his copybook by being sin-binned for the fourth time this season, this time for dissent.

Bradford took advantage of the extra man, with centre Ben Harris charging over for his side's fifth try and Deacon kicking his sixth goal Rob Burrow went over from a trademark jinking run before former Leeds captain Iestyn Harris came up with an interception to set up the position for prop Andy Lynch to crash over.

Webb kept the Rhinos firmly in contention when he hacked the ball on from Gareth Ellis' offload to complete his hat-trick and when Leeds failed to score from 18 successive tackles near the Bradford line, their chance of victory looked to have slipped away.

Platt and Vainikolo even had further tries disallowed by the video referee as the Bulls looked to clinch matters but, when second rower Matt Cook was adjudged to be offside 50 metres out, it gave Sinfield the chance to strike for gold.