Round 24
Leeds Rhinos 34 d. Hull KR 18

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Donald scores double as Rhinos out class Rovers
Sat August 18, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Scott Donald scored twice as Leeds ran in six tries in a 34-18 win over Hull KR to keep pace with engage Super League leaders St Helens.

The Australian wing touched down in either half as the in-form Rhinos outclassed a Rovers side who found themselves 16-0 down at the break after an abject display.

Scores from Donald, Ryan Hall and Matt Diskin were the least Leeds deserved for their stunning superiority against a Rovers side who barely managed to escape their own half.

But Rovers coach Justin Morgan reminded his men they could actually perform and two quickfire tries after the break from Rhys Lovegrove and Luke Dyer encouraged hopes of a famous fightback.

That it did not materialise was largely due to Leeds' potency in attack, and further tries from Clinton Toopi and Donald put Tony Smith's title hopefuls home and dry.

Despite bottom side Salford losing at home to Saints, Rovers are not yet safe from relegation, though they played like they were in the opening period.

In the 14th minute Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield and second row Jamie Jones-Buchanan combined to send Donald scuttling over in the left corner.

It was indicative of the Rhinos' early control and the visitors' hopes were hit further in the 17th minute when Chris Chester was sent to the sin-bin for deliberately slowing play down.

With Sinfield dictating play for Leeds, Rovers' line began to lead an increasingly charmed existence.

It came as no surprise to anyone when Academy product Hall, 19, claimed their second try in the 24th minute.

The lightning-quick winger collected Jamie Thackray's neat offload and raced 40 metres down the right flank, outstripping Mark Lennon before diving over in the corner.

Sinfield failed to add the extras but they stretched their lead on the half hour mark when Diskin advanced forward at pace from close range to claim Leeds' try third which Sinfield garnished with an additional two points.

Leeds' 16-0 interval advantage looked commanding enough but they had not bargained for a stirring fightback from the visitors, who played like a side transformed after the break.

The Rhinos were caught napping in the 42nd minute when Ben Fisher and James Webster linked up to send replacement Lovegrove burrowing over from point-blank range.

Paul Cooke added the extras to spark hopes of an improbable fightback.

That prospect gained further credence as Rovers, playing like a side transformed, cut the deficit further in the 49th minute.

Mark O'Neill's teasing grubber kick into the right corner was seized upon by Dyer and Cooke produced an exquisite touchline conversion to reduce Leeds' advantage to four points.

But Leeds remained a danger on the counter-attack and Carl Ablett's fine break down the right flank sent Toopi racing clear and Ian Kirke's delightful long offload gave Donald his second on the opposite flank.

Rovers hit back through Ryan Tandy - which Cooke converted - but McGuire's last-minute score gave Leeds the final say, while Sinfield claimed his fifth goal from six attempts.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Smith hails charging Rhinos


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Hull KR
Fri August 17, 2007
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds coach Tony Smith looks ahead to the Rhinos game against Hull KR this Friday at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, kick off 8pm.

HOW PLEASED WERE YOU WITH LAST WEEKS RESULT?
It was a good result for us last week most importantly because we carried on some of the good work we had done the previous week. We have been looking for consistency in our performance, which we got, and we want to continue that now this week against a strong Hull KR outfit. There are still some areas for us to work on but the only criticism that could be levelled at the players from last week was that we were probably guilty of trying too hard at times to score tries rather build our performance which inevitably leads to tries.

WAS IT PLEASING TO SEE THE TRIES SPREAD AROUND LAST WEEK?
It was very pleasing especially given that we will be without Brent Webb and Rob Burrow once again this week. It was good to see Kylie Leuluai and Ali Lauitiiti get over for their first tries of the season and Jamie Thackray going over for two tries was special. I thought we scored one of the best tries you are likely to see this year at the start of the second half when the ball went through plenty of hands before Scott Donald finished it off. Our attacking options are looking good with good work between the forwards and backs and hopefully we can continue that in the coming weeks.

HOW BIG A THREAT WILL HULL KR BE THIS WEEK?
We saw last week how competitive Super League is this year with the team that was in tenth beating the team that are top and it just goes to show that no result these days are unusual. We need to make sure that we don't fall victim to a results like that. With no game next week, we want to finish this section of the season with a positive so we can roll up our sleeves for the remaining games ahead of the Play offs. Hull KR have done really well in their debut season in Super League and we will need to be at our best against them. They have got a lot of experienced players who have gelled well together and they will have no fear coming to Headingley Carnegie.

BURROW MISSES OUT FOR RHINOS
Great Britain scrum half Rob Burrow has been ruled out for this Friday's game against Hull KR at Headingley Carnegie, kick off 8pm.

Burrow suffered a rib injury a fortnight ago against Harlequins which has not healed sufficiently for him to be considered this week however there is good news for Head Coach Tony Smith with the return of Ryan Bailey in place of the injured Nick Scruton. Bailey missed last week's win over Salford with an abdominal injury.

Carl Ablett replaces Michael Ratu in the 18 man squad from last week to complete the squad.

The 18 man squad in full is:

2. Scott Donald
3. Clinton Toopi
4. Keith Senior
5. Lee Smith
6. Danny McGuire
8. Kylie Leuluai
9. Matt Diskin
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield
14. Ali Lauitiiti
15. Jamie Thackray
16. Ryan Bailey
18. Ian Kirke
22. Carl Ablett
23. Jordan Tansey
25. Ryan Hall

Next Fixture: Rhinos v Hull KR on Friday 17th August 2007, KO 8:00pm.

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com

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