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Leeds Rhinos: London calling lifts Rhinos
Mr Hyde began the show but Dr Jekyll stole it as Leeds Rhinos came up with a capital performance at Twickenham Stoop.
A 48-14 thrashing of form side Harlequins was ample revenge for the 21-4 defeat inflicted by the Londoners at Headingley Carnegie two months ago.
The champions were abysmal in the opening 15 minutes but were then transformed for an hour either side of half-time, producing some stunning attacking rugby.
Rhinos have struggled to play at their preferred tempo this season as opposition teams have tried – often successfully – to slow them down, but when they do get into a rhythm Leeds are a hard team to stop.
Quins' line was breached eight times, by as many different players, and some of the tries were almost impossible to defend against.
Probably the best was the 48th minute touchdown started and finished by outstanding full-back Brent Webb.
His clever ball sent Ali Lauitiiti away. The big back-rower offloaded magnificently to Keith Senior, who blasted down the left flank, drew the defence and then put the supporting Webb over with an inside pass.
Leeds' pivots were on song, Webb, halves Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow, hooker Danny Buderus and loose-forward skipper Kevin Sinfield all having big games.
With Matt Diskin a late withdrawal due to injury Buderus played the full 80 and bagged his first try for the club when he arrowed in from dummy-half on 54 minutes.
Sinfield scored Leeds' opening try, handled in the build up to four others and kicked beautifully, landing eight goals from as many attempts, three off the touchline.
McGuire crossed for the second touchdown, kicked through for the first and was directly involved in a couple of others in a fine all-round display.
Burrow also featured in most of Leeds' best moments and his pace left Quins flat-footed.
As good as the playmakers were, it was one of the enforcers – Jamie Peacock – who was most influential in snapping Leeds out of their lethargic start.
Quins had four sets in possession before Rhinos handled the ball, thanks to a repeat set off Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a drop out and a penalty conceded by Jones-Buchanan.
Weight of pressure told when Chris Melling crossed from Danny Orr's long pass after four minutes.
Leeds turned the ball over in each of their first three sets, McGuire and Jones-Buchanan messing up before Peacock fumbled – but that clearly got his blood boiling.
For the next quarter, he was superb, rattling Quins with some ferocious hits, driving the ball in with real power and setting up McGuire's try, when he accepted Sinfield's pass and got the ball away to Webb, who put the stand-off over.
The home side hit back when David Howell got on the end of Orr's cross kick, before Lauitiiti dropped the ball over the line, then – at the other end – Peacock and Webb combined brilliantly to hold Daniel Heckenberg up.
Leeds led 12-8 on 35 minutes and were 30 points clear 20 minutes later, after a 14-point blitz either side of the break knocked the stuffing out of Quins.
Buderus, Sinfield and Burrow carved out a try well-taken by Jones-Buchanan on 37 minutes, then Sinfield booted a penalty on the hooter.
At the end of the opening set of the second half, Will Sharp collected a Burrow kick then hurled the season's worst pass straight into touch and from the scrum base, Sinfield, McGuire and Webb linked to send Donald diving over at the corner through Tony Clubb's attempted tackle.
Quins felt he had put a foot in touch, but Donald deserves some luck and video referee Phil Bentham gave the green light for only his fourth try of the season.
Webb and Buderus scored next, then Lee Smith crossed in the right corner – from Sinfield's pass – at the end of a thrilling set Ryan Hall had begun on his own line at the other side of the pitch.
Leeds defended strongly, though Chad Randall managed to force his way over from acting-half on 69 minutes, Orr converting.
Hall's 17th try of the season, from an excellent pass by Smith, completed the scoring as – with Sinfield off the field – Burrow missed the conversion.
Despite their dominance, Rhinos lost the penalty count yet again, referee Ian Smith awarding Quins eight to Leeds' six.
Leeds reshuffled before the game when Diskin and Ryan Bailey withdrew, back-rower Simon Worrall being drafted in on the bench.
Harlequins: Wells, Melling, Gafa, Howell, Sharp, Orr, Gale, Temata, Randall, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Williamson, Clubb, Golden. Subs (all used) Heckenberg, Ward, Mbu, Gardner.
Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield. Subs (all used) Lauitiiti, Burgess, Worrall, Watkins.
Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).
Attendance: 4,378.
Ends
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
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