Match Report

Hull FC 4 Leeds Rhinos 30

 Monday 24th March 2008, Kingston Communications Stadium.

Danny McGuire returned to the bench for this afternoon's game at the KC, as Kevin Sinfield started at stand off whilst Thursday's MOM, JJB played in the skippers usual position, loose forward.  Ryan Bailey and Carl Ablett also returned on the bench for Leeds.

Sharp was confident that his boys could take the 2 points from todays game, and as expected, the Airlie birds threw everything they had at the Rhinos in the opening exchanges of the game. But it wasn't long before Leeds opened the game up. Kevin Sinfield managed to get the ball over the line but it was disallowed by the video ref, Ray Tennant. With a defect in the big Sky screen at the KC, it was impossible to tell why the try was disallowed but after re-watching the game, this time on Sky Sports, Tennant decided that a Leeds player obstructed a defender.

4 minutes later though, the Rhinos finally put some points on the board. Sinfield was involved again, but this time he was the provider. The skipper placed a great reverse grubber kick which bounced before Burrow collected and went over next to the sticks. The provider added the extras and the World Club Champions were 6 points ahead, stretching the captains consecutive scoring run to 50 games.

Just after the 20 minute mark, the Rhinos were passing and offloading the ball which went  through 8 Leeds players hands before Sinfield found an opening and passed inside to Brent Webb. The Hull players looked like they were fishing as they were drawed right, leaving a gap for Superman to score under the sticks. Sinfield converted to make the score a comfortable 12-0.

Only 2 minutes later, Leeds were in again. Ellis passed to McGuire who only held the ball for a few seconds before passing to Smith who crossed the white wash, coming in from the angle. Captain Kev found his boot to make the score 18-0 at half time.

Leeds started the second half attacking the away end of the KC, filled with a couple of thousand Rhinos fans that travelled to Humberside. It only took 7 minutes before the fired up Leeds were in again. This time it was Ablett who added another 4 points to the Leeds tally, after some sensational open play. This time the ball didn't go through 8 pairs of hands, but 11. Carl marked his return after recieving a short, fast, flat pass from on form hooker Matt Diskin. It was 24-0 to Leeds after Sinfield converted.

After the black and whites applied immense pressure on the visitors line, Leeds earned a lucky penalty right on Hull's line. Nick Scruton came so close, but managed to offload which allowed Sinfield to cross the line next to the sticks. Sinny converted his own and Leeds found themselves 30-0 ahead.

Leeds had another chance to score but Tansey opted to come inside, and was taken into touch, even though he had 3 other team mates unmarked.

The final points of the game came from Hull FC and the Leeds line was finally breeched for the first time in 2.5 games. Raynor hacked the ball down the touchline and won the race between him and Smith to the tryline. The conversion attempt was too far out and the ball spun to the right of the post. 

Another enphatic win for the Rhinos against a team which should be challenging, yet find themselves at the foot of the table. Leeds played great rugby, if not quite as good as Thursday. The Rhinos are now 4 points clear at the top of the table over Saints after they lost to Huddersfield earlier today, but only 2 over Warrington who we face at the Headingley Carnegie on Friday 11th April.

Leeds are playing with sheer confidence now. On 2 occasions in this afternoon's game, Leeds in just 1 tackle passed/offloaded the ball 8 times or more. It's all eyes on Friday's clash at Knowsley Road when we take on Saints. Wow, what a game that will be.

Hull FC: Berrigan, Byrne, Burnett, Cusack, Dykes, Fellous, Hall, G. Horne, Houghton, King, Lee, Radford, Raynor, Sing, Tickle, Tony, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Yeaman.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Scruton, Ablett, Tansey, Hall, Burgess, Worrall.

Referee: Phil Bentham

Video Referee: Ray Tennant

Crowd: 14,113

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