Hull KR 18 Leeds Rhinos 20: Gritty Leeds do enough to edge tight contest

LEEDS RHINOS' remarkable sequence of close results continued as they held on to win another nail-biter at Hull KR.
Jamie Jones-Buchanan celebrates scoring Leeds' second try.Jamie Jones-Buchanan celebrates scoring Leeds' second try.
Jamie Jones-Buchanan celebrates scoring Leeds' second try.

Rhinos scored three tries to two, but their excellent defence in the second half – coupled with some poor options by the hosts – was what secured a 
20-18 success.

Five of Leeds’ last six matches have been decided by two points or fewer: a draw, two two-point successes and back-to-back losses when a drop goal separated the sides.

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Hull KR led twice and will feel they deserved something from the game, but Leeds did just enough after the break, following a poor first-half performance.

Joel MoonJoel Moon
Joel Moon

Both teams scored two tries in the opening 40, but Rhinos conceded the equivalent of a converted touchdown in penalty goals and that allowed Rovers to take an 18-12 interval lead.

Rhinos had little ball because of the penalties and failed to apply much pressure other than in a five minute spell when they scored both their touchdowns.

Leeds needed to improve after the break and cut out the penalties, both of which they did.

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The penalties in the second period went three-two in Leeds’ favour and, crucially, Rovers had a player sin-binned, Rhinos squaring the scores when the hosts were down to 12.

Ryan Hall scores Rhinos' third tryRyan Hall scores Rhinos' third try
Ryan Hall scores Rhinos' third try

Rhinos aren’t starting games well and they were 8-0 down early on. Rovers went ahead after eight minutes through a Ryan Shaw penalty goal after Richie Myler held down Danny McGuire.

Then McGuire kicked a superb 40-20 in the next set, took a quick tap and sent Robbie Mulhern, another ex-Leeds player – between the posts for a try which Shaw improved.

Chris Clarkson was also playing against his former team and he had to react quickly to drag Kallum Watkins down after Rhinos’ captain intercepted almost on his own line.

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If he had got past the Rovers prop he would have gone the length of the field.

Stevie Ward is halted by Rovers pair Junior Vaivai and Chris Clarkson.Stevie Ward is halted by Rovers pair Junior Vaivai and Chris Clarkson.
Stevie Ward is halted by Rovers pair Junior Vaivai and Chris Clarkson.

Other than from a knock-on by Mose Masoe on the first carry of the game, Leeds didn’t mount a serious attack until the end of the first quarter.

Then Joel Moon scored a fine try, some footwork taking him into a gap, with Myler in support and he cut past the last man to set up a simple conversion for Watkins.

Five minutes later Matt Parcell teed-up Myler, who got through the line and slipped out a pass smart to send Jamie Jones-Buchanan over.

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Watkins’ conversion made it 12-8, but Leeds were behind again by the break. Back to back penalties carried Hull KR upfield.

Joel MoonJoel Moon
Joel Moon

They turned down an easy two points from the second of them, but after the tap Masoe rumbled over from Tommy Lee’s pass.

That was a soft try for Rhinos to concede and – after Shaw added the extras – they gifted the hosts four more points

Adam Cuthbertson and then Carl Ablett were both penalised in front of the sticks – for second efforts on James Greenwood and James Donaldson respectively – and Shaw took the two both times.

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The first half penalty count was seven-one in Rovers’ favour, but even so referee Scott Mikalauskas was booed off the field at the end of it, possibly because he spotted the pass which send Justin Carney into open space after the hooter was forward.

They were even more upset two minutes into the second period when Masoe was sin-binned for a high tackle on Ashton Golding. It was a foul – Masoe apologised to Golding immediately – but the yellow card seemed harsh and Leeds got back on terms when Rovers were down to 12.

They missed a chance when Brett Ferres, who had a strong game, dropped the ball over the line, from Myler’s pass, but they did cut the gap on 48 minutes.

Ryan Hall scores Rhinos' third tryRyan Hall scores Rhinos' third try
Ryan Hall scores Rhinos' third try

Rovers turned over the ball inside their half and Ryan Hall got over at the corner off slick passing by Cuthbertson, Myler and Moon.

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It was a good try, but Watkins’ conversion from the touchline to level the scores was even better.

The captain is kicking well at the moment and he then edged Leeds in front with a penalty after interference by Danny Tickle on Parcell.

That was 25 minutes from time, but – unexpectedly – it completed the scoring. Rovers put Leeds under huge pressure after that and a try – or at least an equalising penalty – seemed inevitable, but the visitors dug deep to hold out.

Justin Carney twice went close to winning it for the Robins.

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Ferres and Myler combined to make a stunning tackle on the former Castleford Tigers winger just short of the line, when he looked a certain scorer.

That came after Chris Atkin had pounced on a loose ball to race over following a forward pass by Leeds, but Rovers had knocked-on and the touchdown was ruled out and a scrum awarded to the hosts.

There was another let off when Adam Quinlan kicked ahead off Junior Vaivai’s break, but Tom Briscoe, who was strong at the back, got back to snuff out the danger. Ash Handley also did well in the second half and reacted quickly to ground a kick by Quinlan in goal and then Watkins, Myler and Parcell combined to deny Carney.

Having survived that onslaught, Rhinos had enough late pressure to make the game safe, but their attack didn’t click and Robins muscled up in defence. They had a stroke of fortune when Ablett’s pass – which sent Ferres over – was forward, five minutes from time and Handley almost scored a breakaway try on the hooter, but was tackled.

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There was one change to the Rhinos side which lost at Hull in their previous game, Brad Singleton returning at prop. Brett Delaney dropped to the bench, but suffered a shoulder injury late in the first half and did not return. Cameron Smith was left out for the first time in eight games.

It was arguably Rhinos’ strongest line-up of the season, certainly since the win at Warrington Wolves in round one. Fourteen of Rhinos’ top 17 – in terms of squad numbers – played, the ones missing being injured trio Liam Sutcliffe, Brad Dwyer and Mitch Garbutt.

Jack Walker was also on the casualty list. Nathaniel Peteru, who was injured on his debut at Warrington, made his comeback as a dual-registration player for Featherstone Rovers against Batley Bulldogs yesterday, alongside Leeds’ Jordan Lilley and Josh Walters.

Leeds Rhinos made it two wins from two in Women’s Super League with a 
20-14 victory away to Wigan Warriors, after trailing 14-12 at half-time.

Debutant Courtney Hill and captain Lois Forsell crossed in the first half, Rhiannon Marshall kicking two goals.

Shannon Lacey and Charlotte Booth added tries after the break.