Scott Donald touched down in the dying embers of the game to give Leeds a famous victory and deny Wakefield a first home win over the reigning champions in almost 17 years.

The Wildcats had not beaten their illustrious neighbours on home soil since a Stones Bitter Championship fixture in October 1992 - four years before the advent of summer rugby.

They led 30-28 with a minute remaining but Australian wing Donald capped a glorious late comeback by the Rhinos when he went over in the right corner to give his side a 15th straight win at Belle Vue.

Leeds had been reduced to 12 men when Brent Webb was sin-binned with 10 minutes remaining but they refused to surrender and ultimately outscored John Kear's side by six tries to four to underline their quality.

Wakefield, for whom scrum-half Danny Brough landed seven goals in an impressive display, fell behind in the sixth minute when stand-off Danny McGuire, back in the side after injury, brilliantly engineered the space to find Carl Ablett with a short offload on the right flank.

Ablett showed admirable athleticism and no little skill to advance at pace down the right touchline before finding the supporting Jamie Jones-Buchanan with a perfect pass which sent him clear.

Kevin Sinfield added the extras but Leeds came under the cosh five minutes later when Ali Lauitiiti was placed on report following a challenge on Matt Petersen as tensions began to rise.

In the 21st minute, Wakefield drew level when Matt Blaymire grounded a kick from Sam Obst and Brough added the extras to make it 6-6 before adding two penalties to give his side further breathing space at 10-6.

Leeds hit back in the 30th minute when Keith Senior showed brute strength to cross the line in the left corner, despite the attention of Petersen and Ryan Atkins, but Sinfield failed to convert.

Wakefield forged ahead again shortly before half-time when Obst used his small frame to devastating effect by scampering through a gap in the Leeds rearguard to touch down and Brough added the extras.

Leeds caught their opponents cold within seconds of the restart when Senior's delicate offload out of a tackle fed Ryan Hall and he showed blistering speed to race down the left wing before finding Rob Burrow who dived over in the corner.

Sinfield added the conversion with aplomb but Wakefield edged 18-16 in front minutes later when Brough landed a routine penalty.

Belle Vue erupted in the 51st minute when Brough's delightful kick into the left corner was caught and grounded by the onrushing Scott Grix and Brough again converted.

It got even better for Wakefield four minutes later when another high kick from Brough caused Hall to spill possession and Atkins grounded the loose ball.

Brough added the extras but Leeds hit back in the 65th minute when Lauitiiti waltzed through for a fine score and Sinfield added the extras.

The Rhinos were dealt a blow four minutes later when Webb was shown a yellow card for holding down but they continued to probe and Burrow claimed his second before Donald dived over in the right corner in the closing stages.

Lee Smith converted Burrow's effort but could not add the extras to Donald's - yet victory was already in the bag for Leeds.