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Bradford ends dry run Bulls sink Leeds Rhinos in Challenge Cup final
Posted: Saturday April 29, 2000 01:53 PM
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -- Henry Paul's boot set up three tries as the Bradford Bulls won rugby league's Challenge Cup for the first time since 1949 by beating the Leeds Rhinos 24-18 at Murrayfield on Saturday. Paul's kicks created two tries for winger Michael Withers and one for prop Stuart Fielden as the Leeds four-try star of last year's final, Leroy Rivett, blundered under the high ball. The Kiwi stand-off half also kicked two penalties and a conversion although he missed with four other kicks. Unbeaten in 10 league and cup games this season, the Bulls, who led 20-4 before a second half Leeds fightback, outscored the Rhinos by four tries to two. The first final ever to be played in Scotland in the competition's 103 year history went ahead despite a deluge of rain on Thursday night that left the Murrayfield surface covered up with up four feet (1.2 meters) of water. A massive cleanup operation on Friday made sure the game went ahead on time and, although the field cut up, it did not spoil the flow of the game. After kicking his team ahead with a 7th minute penalty Paul launched a high kick into the corner. It was caught by Tongan winger Tevita Vaikona who slipped it out to Withers to go over in the corner. Paul missed the conversion attempt but set up the second try in the 16th minute with a replica kick into the corner. Two Leeds players failed to catch it and Withers stole in behind them to cross the line for the score. Paul missed conversion attempt again. Iestyn Harris kicked a penalty for Leeds first points but the Bulls went 14-2 up when Nathan McAvoy collected the ball wide on the left from David Boyle, kicked ahead, caught the ball and crossed in the corner. Paul hit the post with conversion attempt. Harris reduced the lead to 10 points with another penalty but then came Fielden's try, converted by Paul. The prop caught another high kick ahead by Paul and the officials, wondering whether Fielden had been offside, eventually gave the score after calling for video replay. The conversion put the Bulls 16 points ahead before the Rhinos launched their comeback. Andy Hay scored a try after Francis Cummins had taken Ryan Sheridan's kick. Harris converted and then landed a penalty and Marcus St. Hilaire went over for a try, converted by Harris, as the Rhinos cut the lead to four points with six minutes remaining. With the Leeds fans roaring their team on for one more try, Paul atoned for his earlier misses by landing a penalty to clinch victory for the Bulls.
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