Rhinos Blittz Dragons!

McGuire Magic

Leeds: (18) 54
Tries: Webb 3, Toopi, Sinfield 2, Ellis, Donald, Burrow
Goals: Sinfield 9

Catalans Dragons: (4) 8
Tries: Charles, Mogg

We were confident from last weeks win over Saints and boy did it show. After Catalans beating Leeds at the start of the season in France, we were also looking for revenge. In the Dragons season so far they have been beating the likes of Bradford and Warrington to prove their efforts.

In just the first 5 minutes of the game, Jamie Peacock made his way to the bench after twisting his ankle (replaced by Jamie Thackray) and it got worse when Catalans winger Charles scored on 8 minutes after Ellis was penalised for a high tackle.

With high expectations after last week at the Headingley Carnegie, the fans were expecting a huge win, and that was what they got when the Rhinos scoring began - A great offload from Gaz Ellis to Kevin Sinfield sent Brent Webb through for his seventh try of the season right underneath the sticks. Sinfield added the extras and made the score 6-4 after just 10 minutes.

12 minutes later Keith Senior made a line break and Brent Webb seizied on a delightful inside pass from Danny McGuire to claim his second try of the evening. Sinfield's conversion made it 12-4.

26 minutes saw the Dragons reduced to 12 men after 26 minutes when Adam Mogg was sin binned for persistent infringements at the ruck.

Kylie Leuluai set up the next try for Leeds shortly after he was denied a try. He powered the ball ten metres upfield despite spinning out of four tackles but then managed to get the ball away in the tackle. McGuire passed to Toopi who cut back inside the defence and strained for the line to score his third try in three games even though he still doesn't have the full support of the fans. Sinfield's conversion made it 18-4 to Leeds at half time.

leedsrhinos.biz MoM

leedsrhinos.biz man of the match Kevin Sinfield started off the secound half well by scoring a try and then converting it. After putting pressure on the French side's defence, Sinny pushed from close range over the whitewash. With the conversion, the score was now 24-4 to the homeside.

Gareth Ellis collected a bouncing ball from a kick from Sinfield. Ellis one handedly powered his way over the line. Once again he converted making the score 30-4.

It was a rude awakening when Alex Chan ran 40 metres up field for the Dragons after shattering the Leeds deffence. Adam Mogg eventually scored the try but Catalans could not add the extras.

Still with 16 minutes remaining Ellis barged through a gap and passed to the superb New Zealand international, Brent Webb for his hatrick.

On 72 minutes Brent Webb was held up when he looked certain to get his fourth try. The line moved back 10 metres and Sinfield collected the ball and put in a superb cross field kick which sent Donald over the whitewash unmarked. Sinfield converted from the touchline to make the score 42-8.

Just 2 minutes later, Toopi made a break and took the option of a inside pass to Burrow who went under the posts. Kevin kicked the conversion but surely we were done now?

The win was cemented when the Dragons skipper dropped the ball under no pressure from the Leeds deffence. Sinfield pushed forward before scoring. He then ended the scoring for the night converting his own try to make the score 54-8.

The third big test of the season will come next Sunday in Cardiff when we take on the Bradford Bulls in the Millenium Magic weekend.

The whole team seemed to of once again gell with Toopi, Kirke, Bailey, Ellis, Leuleui, and Sinfield all being sensational after shakey starts to the season.

Ref: Ben Thaler

Crowd: 15,581