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Match report: Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers stunned their arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos with a shock victory at Headingley Carnegie.
Trailing 10-6 at half-time, Cas roared back as tries after the break by Joe Westerman, Brent Sherwin and Dean Widders capped a memorable night for the visitors who were hammered 76-12 on their last visit to the ground.
Rhinos coach Brian McClennan made two changes to his starting line-up, with fit-again New Zealand international Brent Webb replacing Kallum Watkins at full-back and England skipper Jamie Peacock returning at prop in place of Kylie Leuluai.
On the interchange bench, Luke Burgess came in for Ian Kirke, while Tigers coach Terry Matterson handed debuts to his two close-season signings, prop Paul Jackson and second-rower Steve Snitch.
But Leeds' plans were thrown into disarray early on when second row Carl Ablett limped off after six minutes to be replaced by Greg Eastwood, – making his home debut – and immediately gained the approval of the home fans with a couple of bullocking runs at the Tigers' defence.
But by and large the action was confined to the midfield and although Rhinos enjoyed more of the possession both teams looked a little rusty, with uncharacteristic handling errors by both sides spoiling the fluency of the game.
Leeds put together their first serious attack on 19 minutes. Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire were heavily involved but having failed to find a way through himself, the scrum-half threw the ball wide to Scott Donald but he was forced into touch by Michael Shenton and Michael Wainwright.
Cas almost got on the board after 20 minutes when on a rare foray deep inside the Leeds half, prop Liam Higgins was held up just short.
Rhinos eventually broke the deadlock on 23 minutes and like the previous week against Crusaders, there was an element of luck about it.
Skipper Kevin Sinfield dabbed the ball into the in-goal area and as the Cas defence hesistated, Danny McGuire nipped in to touch the ball down before it went dead.
Referee Ian Smith initially signalled a Cas restart on the 22, but after consulting with the in-goal touch-judge he changed his mind and awarded the try to the delight of the home fans and the consternation of the Tigers fans behind him.
Sinfield added the goal and minutes later the Rhinos loose-forward was denied his side's second try when Jamie Jones-Buchanan made a great break up the middle, the ball was switched right but the visitors turned Sinfield on his back and possession was handed over.
But Tigers were right back in it on 35 minutes when a good set of six saw them progress deep into the Leeds half and a lovely kick by skipper Ryan Hudson deceived the home defence and centre James Evans won the chase to touch the ball down.
Again referee Smith consulted with his in-goal touch-judge and again the verdict went in favour of the attacking side.
Substitute Craig Huby, Tigers longest-serving player, added the goal but his side were unable to keep Leeds out and they regained the lead just before half-time.
Tigers prop Paul Jackson knocked-on 20 metres from his own line, Rhinos ran the ball back and McGuire's pass found Brett Delaney who had the speed and strength to hold off Shenton and touch down. Sinfield could not add the extras.
Rhinos could have extended their lead further with the first set of the second half as Matt Diskin made a break up the middle and offloaded to Jones-Buchanan in support.
The forward again stepped through the cover like a rampaging centre, this time finding Diskin in support, but he knocked on as the cover came across.
Ten minutes into the half Delaney limped off moments after Burrow had been flattened by the Cas defence as he tried to chase his own kick, but referee Smith waved away Leeds' protests.
Cas were still refusing to lie down and debutant forward Steve Snitch was held up over the line as the visitors pressed.
But they were not to be denied and after completing another set and forcing the drop-out, Tigers again drove the ball in and a smart reverse pass by scrum-half Brent Sherwin sent loose-forward Joe Westerman over the line for a try by the posts. He also got up to convert and give Cas the lead for the first time.
Soon after more Tigers pressure forced another drop out. Snitch was held up short on the fifth tackle but the ball was played back to Rangi Chase whose inch-perfect kick sat up nicely between the posts for half-back partner Brent Sherwin to score.
Westerman added the goal and at 18-10 down the champions were rocking.
And when substutute Dean Widders went over from a Chase pass with a couple of minutes to go, the Leeds fans poured out of the exits as Westerman's goal wrapped up the win.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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