Leeds rediscovered their form with a dominant second-half display against Bradford to gain sweet revenge for last October's Grand Final defeat.

The Rhinos found their scoring touch with four tries in 35 minutes to turn a tight, tense contest into a flattering victory which enabled them to pull three points clear of the champions.

The triumph will be especially satisfying for Rhinos coach Tony Smith, whose older brother Brian returned to the backroom staff of the Bulls this week.

Bradford, 20-18 winners at Headingley six weeks earlier, have now lost four of their six games under new head coach Steve McNamara but this was a much-improved performance following their cup debacle at St Helens.

It took a flash of brilliance from man-of-the-match Rob Burrow to break the deadlock three minutes before half-time, and Leeds demonstrated more clinical finishing after the break to wrap up the points.

The Bulls were forced into a late re-shuffle after losing full-back Michael Withers and second-rower Brett Ferres, scorer of their last-gasp match-winning try at Headingley, through illness.

But they matched the Rhinos blow for blow in a thoroughly entertaining match which remained delicately poised at half-time.

Both sides displayed some brilliant handling skills but defences were largely on top throughout a match played at break-neck speed.

Leeds had first use of a stiff breeze and former Bradford captain Jamie Peacock, back at Odsal for the first time since his close-season move to Headingley, was brought down just short of the line as the visitors created the first scoring chance.

As play swung from end to end, Bulls centre Shontayne Hape lost the ball going for the line and then Leeds winger Scott Donald pulled off a timely interception to set up the position for full-back Lee Smith to cross, only to have the try disallowed for obstruction.

Bradford centre Ben Harris then thought he had scored after intercepting Keith Senior's pass, but pacy Burrow chased back to make the crucial tackle.

The lively Burrow caused all sorts of problems for the Bulls defence with his electrifying pace and mazy running and it was fitting that he should open the scoring.

Senior set up the half-chance by offloading from a two-man tackle and Burrow did the rest, jinking around second-rower Paul Johnson and evading the tackle of full-back St Hilaire on a thrilling run to the line.

The try was just the spur Leeds needed and they extended their lead three minutes into the second half, although they were aided by a stroke of good fortune.

Kevin Sinfield's grubber kick on the last tackle rebounded off the legs of Johnson into the grateful arms of the onrushing Willie Poching, who demonstrated exceptional strength to force his way over the line.

Sinfield's second conversion made it 12-0 but Bradford were in no mood to buckle and a couple of runs from blockbusting winger Lesley Vainikolo raised hopes of a comeback.

As the thrills and spills continued, Bulls skipper Iestyn Harris went on a scything run only to lose the ball in a promising position and he was made to pay for the lapse when the visitors immediately scored their third try.

Peacock drove his former team-mates back with a determined run and centre Chev Walker squeezed over at the corner, with Sinfield adding another superb goal to extend his side's lead to 18-0.

Their resistance finally broken, Bradford's defence visibly withered in the last 10 minutes, allowing prop Ryan Bailey to force his way over from close range and Senior to race in from 40 metres.

Sinfield piled on the agony for the Bulls by converting all five tries.