Bulls turn up power

Just who can stop the Bulls stampede?

That was the message loud and clear for the rest of Super League as they stretched their unbeaten sequence since the start of the season to 15 games.

The Rhinos' comeback in the cup final at Murrayfield last month and the chance to end the Bulls' impressive run had served to give their rivals every ounce of motivation they might need.

But what followed was a clinical destruction of the side that gave them more problems than anyone last season and the South Stand were stunned into silence long before the finish.

The Bulls have being compared favourably with the great Wigan sides of the late 80s to mid-90s by some pundits and, while it might be a little early for that, the way they went about their business last night was so reminiscent of the superbly drilled Graham Lowe and John Monie outfits.

How many times did you see them soak up attack after attack and then strike out at the other end seemingly to make a nonsense of all the opposition's hard work?

At half-time Leeds had, according to those who have watched them every week, produced one of their best efforts of the season.

But the scoreboard suggested otherwise with the Bulls 20-2 up and even further ahead in the psychological war.

The Rhinos had another crack at it though and, helped by a series of penalties, forced the Bulls back just as they had at Murrayfield.

But weight of possession against them just seems to make this side dig their heels in even more.

Surely the removal of Brad Mackay to the sin-bin would break their resistance we thought.

Not one bit of it.

Ten minutes later their defensive kingpin was back and with Leeds still try-less and thoroughly sickened off, the Bulls set about the task of rubbing their noses in it.

And it was fitting that skipper Robbie Paul should start the process with a try to cap a superb individual show.

Another hero James Lowes slipped him the ball and the scrum-half's dazzling footwork mesmerised Francis Cummins as he raced to the posts.

The Lowes-Paul combination was at it again minutes later and the angled run of David Boyle paved the way for the supporting Stuart Spruce to plunge over for his second of the match.

Then with the party in full swing at the scoreboard end, Justin Brooker sliced through in fine style for Leon Pryce to score the sort of try which helped him make his name last season.

A dip in confidence had seen him score just an opportunist effort at Hull since the opening day of the season but all his youthful impudence came flooding back as he scooped up Brooker's stray pass and cut inside to score.

And there was still time for the Bulls to complete a rousing final quarter when Lowes finished off some nifty footwork from himself and Boyle to bag their seventh try of the game.

There had been a third minute indication of what was to follow when Scott Naylor crashed through several tackles to put Nathan McAvoy over and Robbie Paul dummied through for Mackay to add a second midway through the first period.

The Rhinos had seen Daryl Powell go close only to lose control as he attempted to touch down but their only reward for a wealth of possession was a Ietsyn Harris penalty.

Spruce then twisted the knife just before the break when he snapped up Lowes' neat grubber as it rebounded off a post and there really was no way back for the Rhinos this time despite a big effort.

For the Bulls there was plenty to admire on attack with Robbie Paul setting the lead and Lowes knitting everything together superbly.

But defence is the foundation for their current dominance and they've now conceded just 69 points in ten Super League games.

Their line hasn't been breached in 170 minutes of rugby since old boy Steve McNamara crossed for Wakefield at Odsal earlier in the month and the frustration was etched all over their opponents' faces.

There are more big tests coming up in the shape of St Helens and Wigan but even strike players of the quality of Newlove, Iro, Robinson and Renouf won't relish tangling with this mean machine.

thought.

Not one bit of it.

Ten minutes later their defensive kingpin was back and with Leeds still try-less and thoroughly sickened off, the Bulls set about the task of rubbing their noses in it.

And it was fitting that skipper Robbie Paul should start the process with a try to cap a superb individual show.

Another hero, James Lowes, slipped him the ball and the scrum-half's dazzling footwork mesmerised Francis Cummins as he raced to the posts.