Match Report

Leeds Rhinos 38 Hull FC 22 

Friday 6th June 2008, Headingley Carnegie Stadium 

Leeds secured victory over Hull at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Friday, with thirty-four points scored in the second half, including arguably the try of the engage Super League season so far, from the winger, number 2, Scott Donald. The Rhinos came back from eighteen nill down, limiting the airlie birds to four points in the second half.

Every Rhinos supporter must of had a grin on their face entering this game, with JJB and Eric Anselme both returning to Headingley. Jamie Peacock was given a breather this week ahead of next weeks trip to the capital, because he has a bad gash in his elbow, and was unable to have more stitches. Toopi was still unavailable for selection because he is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder from when Leeds were crowned World Club Champions at Elland Road.

Hull's new head coach Richard Agar has his fair share of injuries too - Danny Washbrook, Gareth Raynor, Shaun Berrigan and Tommy Lee were just a few of the names that weren't available for Friday nights clash, just one week after they secured their place in the CCC semis.

The opening exchanges were even, with both defences dominating. But it was the visitors that broke the strong defensive line first. On nine minutes, Willie Manu beat Ryan Hall to take Adam Dykes' simple crossfield kick. Manu went over the whitewash, and Danny Tickle added the extras to start the scoreboard ticking, 6-0.

The black and whites were in again on eighteen minutes; centre Keith Senior couldn't manage to pick up a loose ball, which enabled Horne to take advantage of the gap, bursting through a sliding Leeds defence, to go over the whitewash. Tickle again converted, bringing the score to 12-0.

The attacking Hull side again took advantage of a crossfield kick. Danny Tickle collected the ball from the touchline and jumped over the line in front of the shocked Leeds supporters in the Carnegie stand. Tickle converted his own try, 18-0.

Noting was going right for the Rhinos in the try scoring department, until the clock surpassed the thirty five minute mark. It all started off when the home team earned a penalty for a Hull knock on: then, from the resulting scrum, the ball moved right, to Senior, who sidestepped, and then ran the remaining ten metres to score. Sinfield missed the relitavely easy conversion attempt by his standards, maybe the pressure of becoming the second highest scorer in Leeds RL history if he converted was too much for him?

As the Rhinos came out for the second half more determined than ever. The players had to think they could do it, and they did - although it was the black and whites that got the scoreboard going first in the last forty five minutes. Danny Tickle elected to kick after Brent Webb was judged to have not got up from the tackle to play the ball quick enough in his own twenty, although these were obvious delaying tactics. The score was now 20-4, too big of a challenge for the World Champs?

It seems that nothing is too big of a challenge for the World Champs. Whatever the opposition throws at them, they do it bigger, and better. The players had confidence, and this only showed with two superb tries in the same amount of minutes. The pocket-rocket Robbie Burrow ducked and weaved through the defence, dodging three attempted tackles whilst running on the angle. After running twenty metres, the smallest player in top-level rugby league dived over to make the score 20-8 to the black and whites.

From the following Hull kick off, super Scotty Donald received the ball from NZ international full back Brent Webb to set off on a breathtaking sprint downfield. This spine tingling move from winger Donald included him sidestepping about five incoming defenders, and switching direction several times. The move culminated in him crossing over the line in the left corner, and with over 15,000 Rhinos fans having the memory of one, if not the best tries of the Super League era. Sinfield then added the extras and write himself into the record books, becoming the second highest points scorer in Leeds history, scoring 1885 points in blue and amber. 20-14 after forty nine minutes.

As Adam Dykes was strolling off the pitch, having been sent off for tap tackling a Leeds player whilst he (Dykes) was still on the floor from the previous tackle, the Rhinos posted another four points. This time it was Ellis to score on fifty six. Leeds had the momentum and as the ball was fed wide, Gareth Ellis powered his way over. Sinfield converted from the touchline and the score was now lever after fifty six minutes, twenty a piece.

With twenty one minutes left, Hull spurred the chance to go for the six and opted for the two when they were awarded a penalty. Tickle did convert, but it was only a two point lead. Surely it was worth risking the two for the six? 22-20 to Hull.

As the rain began to pour, Leeds cracked it up a notch. A long, fast, spinning ball from Burrow opened up a gap for Donald, who dived over to put give Leeds, the lead! Sinfield found the boot and the score was now 26-22, it was the first time the champs were in the lead, but what good timing.

With twelve minutes left, Sinfield found an opening in the Hull defence, before offloading to the on running Ellis, who went over for his second. Captain Kev, the man who created the try, added the extras, making the score 32-22. 

The Rhinos then sealed their ninth successive victory soon after Danny Tickle attempted a short kick off, hoping to get his side back into the game. But the gamble didn’t pay off, and when Sing knocked the ball backwards, Rob Burrow was their to rub the salt into the wound. Rob then sprinted the fifty five metres needed to  score beneath the sticks. Kevin Sinfield inevitably converted, to make the final score 38-22.

Although six points clear at the top of the engage Super League table, this was a game, like every other, we needed to win. Don’t forget, we still have two trips to Wigan and a tough journey to Warrington, as well as a home tie with Saints. 

Great performances tonight again from Bailey, Burrow, Burgess, and Scotty, all of which could have been MOM. The lads once again proved that they can grind out wins when needs be.

Next up for the Rhinos, Harlequins at the Stoop.

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

Hull FC: Byrne, Burnett, Briscoe, Carvell, Dale, Dykes, Dowes, G. Horne, Hall, Houghton, Manu, Radford, Raynor, Sing, Thackray, Tickle, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Yeaman.

Referee: Ben Thaler

Video Referee: N/A

Crowd: 16,886

Live on: N/A

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