Match Report 

Harlequins 28 Leeds Rhinos 24

Saturday 14th June, Twickenham Stoop, London

Brian McClennan selected Lee Smith over Ryan Hall this week, after some promising performances in the reserve grade. Jamie Peacock was cleared to play after he sustained a gash in his arm in the Bradford clash at Odsal. It was a good job Peacock played in this one too, after the leadership and strength he showed in the last meeting with the ‘Quins, at the Stoop, in the Carnegie Challenge Cup. 

In the opening exchanges of the game, Leeds found themselves within six metres of the 'Quins line. Peacock collected the ball from a short, flat pass from Diskin, and strolled his way over the line, past the last defender. Sinfield converted, keeping his consequtive scoring sequence going. We were six nill up, only three minutes into the game.

Harlequins responded almost imediatley, moving the ball wide, on a power play on the last tackle. Lee Smith seemed to have got pulled out of position and 'Quins winger Sharp was their to score in the corner, past a diving Webb. Paul added the extras and it was six a peice.

After sixteen minutes, Leeds were in trouble again; the 'Quins forced a dropout, and on the following set, Scott Hill crossed over the whitewash, stepping over Diskin on the way, as he was on the ground after a poor attempt at a tackle on Hill. Paul converted again - the score was now 12-6. The Rhinos had to score next.

On the twenty fifth minute, what looked like six points for Leeds, became two for the side from the Capital. McGuire broke the line before offloading to Burrow, who sprinted fifty metres downfield to touch down under the sticks. But Klein went to the video ref who ruled that Sinfield had obstructed an on going defender, awarding a penalty to the Harlequins on Leeds' forty metre. Paul was sucessful on his attempt, and it was an eight point turnaround. Without a doubt, this try would have been allowed if the video ref, and Sky were not in attendance.

Just past thirty minutes, Melling knocked the ball on after a kick from Tansey. Leeds gained posession and the following plays culminated in a long cut-out pass from Burrow to Donald which found space, enabling him to go over with ease. Sinfield added the two to reduce the deffecit to two. 14-12 to the 'Quins.

That was the half time score despite considerable pressure from the home side for the remainder of the half. Leeds were probably relieved to go in only two points in arrears.

The Rhinos lacked a little discipline with Senior giving away a penalty, deep in his own half. Three plays later, Randall forced his way over from close range, despite the crowd of Leeds defenders awaiting him. Paul converted yet again, to make the score 20-12

Plenty of time left for the Rhinos, with over half an hour on the clock. But there seemed to be a lack of commitment from some of the Leeds players.

On fifty seven minutes, Senior continued his good run of form: the ball was moved quickly to Leeds' left, Senior dummied, and then forced his way past the remainding 'Quins defendes. Sinfields attempt on goal hit the post, and bounced away. That was a sign of things to come.

The score inspired greater effort from the Leeds squad, applying immense pressure on the oppositions line. A combination of great defence from the Quins and some wrong decisions from the Leeds players, meant that Leeds failed to score.

Some frustrations bubbled up on sixty five, and a meli of most of the players from both sides, resulted in a sin binning for both Senior of Leeds, and McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Leeds needed to score twice after Paul converted a penalty.

Eleven minutes to go and Lee Smith looked out of position again when Sharp touched down after a clever grubber kick from Scott Hill. Henry Paul converted, but Leeds still needed to score two, it just happened that they both had to be converted. 28-16.

Leeds' response was swift - a fine short kick off by Sinfield was caught by Abblett, who turned and made good metres too. After some good offloading, Burrow jinked over the line. But Leeds' second highest points scorer ever, missed again. It meant that Leeds still had to score twice. 28-20.

From the kick off, Harlequins were penalised harshly for interfering with the play the ball. The resulting field position enabled Leeds to get the ball wide to Donald, who went low into the corner, narrowly missing touch. Sinfield missed again, but it didn't matter, another try was still needed with three minutes to go.

Plenty of effort in the last few minutes by the Rhinos, but it was just not to be, when McGuire was caught in midfield, and lost the ball. Harlequins managed to run down the clock, to record one of their most memorable wins.

This has been coming for a few weeks now, and now it's out of their system, hopefully we can get up for the visit of the Saints at the Headingley Carnegie next week.

Harlequins RL: Bryan, Clubb, Grayshon, Haggerty, Hill, Howell, Janowski, Mbu, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Melling, Orr, Paul, Purdham, Randall, Rinaldi, Sharp, Temata, Ward, Worrincy.

Crowd: TBC

Referee: Ashley Klein

Video Referee: Ben Thaler

This game was live on: Sky Sports 1 & HD 1

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