Round 25
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 12 l. Leeds Rhinos 14

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Leeds end losing run with nervous win
Mon August 21, 2006
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

The Rhinos were looking to avoid an unwanted milestone and a sixth straight defeat for the first time in 48 years. A trip to Wakefield looked like a good opportunity to do that as Leeds have never lost at the Wildcats home in the summer era.

Leeds had Chev Walker ruled out by a late fitness test after he twisted his ankle in the final training session. Nick Scruton was drafted into the squad to cover for Walker with Jamie Thackray coming into the starting line up.

The Rhinos got off to the perfect start with a try after 46 seconds. Jamie Peacock released Matt Diskin who pushed off the attempted tackle by March. The hooker then fed Senior who burst upfield before releasing Ali Lauitiiti, who put in the final pass to Jordan Tansey to touch down. Sinfield added the conversion to make it 6-0.

Wakefield managed to settle the ship with a penalty after two minutes from Rooney after the Leeds backline had been caught offside in front of the posts.

Wakefield mounted plenty of pressure on they Leeds line and had Korkidas held up over the line to deny them their first try. Gibson then had to take a brilliant catch under pressure on his own line to stop another move.

The home side were looking the more likely next scorers and so it panned out. Rooney dummied to kick through on the last tackle and created a gap for David March to race through and he stepped passed Tansey to score. Rooney added the conversion to make it 8-6 to Wakefield after 25 minutes.

Leeds then managed to gain possession for a concerted period and were able to force a repeat set. A good kick through by Burrow was well chased by Gibson and Atkins had no option but to kick dead under pressure from Burrow.

They got their reward after 33 minutes when the video referee awarded a try to Matt Diskin. Ryan Bailey made the initial drive from dummy half then got a quick play the ball which Diskin used to his full advantage and forced his way over passed three would be defenders. Sinfield added the conversion to make it 12-8.

Halpenny missed a gift opportunity to retake the lead for the home side when he failed to collect a pin point perfect kick by Obst next to the posts. Kirke had earlier in the set stopped a certain try with a great last gasp tackle.

Leeds finished the half in the ascendency, earning a 40:20 with the last play of the half but time run out and they were unable to take advantage.

The Rhinos continued where they had left off at the start of the second and earned a repeat set after good work by Kirke and Bailey but the Wildcats were level within seven minutes.

Solomona released Jeffries with a sublime offload on half way, he broke downfield but was stopped by Tansey. However, Wakefield continued to move the ball wide and Obst passed to Saxton to touch down in the corner. Rooney missed the conversion so the scores remained 12-12.

Sinfield re-took the lead two minutes later with a penalty after interference on Toopi by Halpenny.

The Rhinos were denied what looked like a perfectly good try after 59 minutes when the video referee inexplicably penalised Leeds when Semi Tadulala had deliberately stepped into the path of Jamie Jones-Buchanan to stop him getting to a kick ahead by Rob Burrow. Scott Donald picked up the loose ball and raced in for the try only to see it chalked off.

Both sides were living on their nerves with a crucial win so important to both teams for differing reasons. Leeds managed to have a long spell in the Wakefield quarter but were unable to get across the line. Then as the Wildcats broke free Ali Lauitiiti produced a great tackle to drag White into touch.

Report source: www.leedsrugby.com

Article: Rhinos restore pride - Smith

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