Confidence Builder - Harl. V Leeds - Match Report
By leedsrhinos.biz
August 6 2007
It's all about keeping up the pressure. Awful in the first half - superb in the second. It was a tale of two halfs. We bring you the full match report of how the Rhinos kept the pressure at the top of the table whilst blitzing the capital's rugby league team
Harlequins: (16) 20 Leeds: (6) 54 The same eighteen was chosen to take on London in the capital with Nick Scruton sitting on the bench. Leuleui and Bailey were named props and Jamie Peacock started in the second row as skipper Kevin Sinfield replaced injured Diskin at hooker - and it seemed to work. The temperature was reaching over 30 degrees C as the teams entered the playing field broadcasted to the masses in HD quality on Sky Sports. In the first sets of the game, it looked like Leeds were going to take this game easy, as Brent Webb managed to break the Harlequins line. But it wasn't Brent Webb's day in the first half of the game as a few lazy arms resulted in two reports and a sin bin, but boy did he turn that around in the secound half with two tries. After our world class full-back gifted a penalty to Harlequins right on our line, Sykes hit the white-wash yet failed to convert his own try. On thirteen the little scrum half Rob Burrow seemed to be holding his ribs after a tackle which consequently saw him out for the rest of the game. We could struggle next week in attack against Salford (who beat Bradford just a few weeks ago) if Webb gets banned and Rob Burrow is still injured. The players had to soldier on. But Thackray came up with the goods as he side-stepped out of a tackle and hit the deck to edge us back in front with the help of the two points added via Sinfield's boot. But Brent Webb struck again - not in attack but in the face. His over-enthusiasim cost him ten minutes in the bin. Things were not looking good. Webb in the bin and facing a ban whilst key attacker pocket-rocket was out injured. God help us. Seconds later Scott Hill went over the white wash for 'Quins RL. With the conversion added by Sykes they were not two points ahead. Brent was still off the field when he watched in horror as a brilliant pass from Danny Orr sent McLinden over the line for four more. Two more points were gained off the conversion and the score was 16-6. Tony Smith really did have to do something in that changing room. A new half - a new tale. Webb was back. And what a difference he made. On forty-six minutes and after a knock on by Harlequins we were on their ten metre line. Just two tackles later and a great offload from Thackray saw Brent Webb take a superb side step to go over the line. Sinfield added the extras and we were now only four points behind Quins. Just before the fifty mark in the game, a superb kick from McGuire on his own thirty metre line reached Londons ten metre line to complete this seasons best forty twenty. On the fifth tackle Tansey just grubbered the ball behind the defence and as it bounced up, it hit his chest and he scored. The man who scored the controversial try against the Bulls at the Millenium Stadium came up with the goods once again. Kevin Sinfield slotted the kick in between the posts and we were in the lead - 18-16 in the capital. Just minutes later and the lads struck again. This time the penalty came after Danny Orr stole the ball from Lauitiiti whilst another defender was in the tackle. A few tackles later and whilst Kevin Sinfield was trying to force a penalty he had the strength to stretch over the line. The score was 24-16 as the try scorer converted his own try. The next try came in the midpoint of the half when a neat pass from Danny McGuire found its way to Garreth Ellis. Kevin Sinfield kicked the goal bang in front of the sticks. It was the end for Harlequins. On sixty-four, it was looking like Harlequins had done enough to score a try and create an almost impossible comeback but it was looking even more un-likely when Sheriffe knocked the ball on and Scott Donald collected and ran. It was obvious no Quins' player could catch one of the fastest wingers in SL. It was again an easy conversion attempt from Kevin Sinfield with his 100% record in the game. Four minutes later and after Paul Sykes lashed out and tripped up Tansey which resulted in a penalty just twenty metres from the line. An inside pass from McGuire to Webb and then a sensational long pass to Peacock saw him cross the line in a Leeds shirt. Sinfield goaled again. 42-16. On seventy-three Danny Orr kicked the ball through the Leeds line of defence to score. No cheers from the home fans and no celebration from the try scorer. How did they let this game get away from them? But the lads weren't over yet - Danny Orr once again tried to dribble the ball through the Leeds defence but they weren't going to let it happen again. Senior collected and after a fifteen metre run, Keith had enough and Danny McGuire recieved the pass to score on the wing. Jordan Tansey, bound to bethe recognised kicker some day if he stays at Leeds throughout his career goaled from the touchline in his first ever conversion attempt in the engage Super League. In the next set of six, an offload from Peacock found its way to Jordan Tansey who passed to Senior who juggled and then again to Webb who went all the way to score. Stevo was sure that Webb should never be on the park. Tansey converted again. It was a brilliant comeback by Leeds Rhinos. In the sweltering heat the Leeds heroes managed to create a huge comeback. 16-6 in the first half. 20-54 in the second. Now we'll all be waiting a praying for Tuesday where we'll find out if Brent Webb will have a match ban. It's all about keeping the pressure on Saints and not slipping to third. It was certainly a confidence builder but at what cost? Brent Webb and Rob Burrow by the looks of things.
Tries: Sykes, Hill, McLinden, Orr
Goals: Sykes 2
Tries: Thackray, Webb 2, Tansey, Ellis, Sinfield, Donald, Peacock, McGuire
Goals: Sinfield 7, Tansey 2