The Rhinos travelled to the Halliwell-Jones looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season against the Warrington Wolves. The Wolves were keen to follow up on their win over Hull KR last weekend and to draw level on points with their visitors.
Warrington welcomed back Chris Bridge but were without. Joel Monaghan for the game of the weekend. The Rhinos also sprung a surprise withe the omission of Zak Hardaker for disciplinary reasons, opening the way for Ash Golding to take the full-back berth.
It was clear from the outset that both sides had spent their week working on defence as from the first whistle the tackling was brutal.
After an end to end opening quarter of an hour it was Warrington who got the first points. A loose pass to the wing was picked up by Penny who then did brilliantly to come in field and beat a handful of Rhinos defenders to bounce over the line under the tackle of Golding. Ratchford kicked the extras for 6-0.
Leeds should have been back on level terms on twenty-five but Ryan Hall dropped the ball under no pressure with the line begging. On thirty-three an O'Brien grubbed under the sticks was grounded by Ratchford and he converted his own four pointer to give his side a 12-0 half-time lead.
Fifteen minutes into the second half and the Wolves increased their lead. Sinfield put in a loose pass and the lost ball found its way to Atkins who went ten metres to score. Ratchford made it 18-0 and the game was Warringtons.
Leeds got some consolation on the hour mark with the try of the game as Sinfield, Hall, and Watkins all played a part in sending Tom Briscoe under the sticks. Sinfield goaled to narrow the deficit to 18-6 but despite throwing everything at Warrington in the last twenty the home sides defence was impenetrable.
Brilliant defence won this game for the Wolves and shattered the Rhinos one hundred percent record. These two sides are now level on eight points, two points behind the Saints who secured a 30-20 win away at Widnes. Wigan also bounced back with a win after last weeks defeat to Castleford as they won by a single point 13-12 at home to a much improved Hull FC.
Wolves: Ratchford, Penny, Currie, Atkins, Russell, Bridge, O'Brien, Hill, Clark, Sims, Philbin, Laithwaite, Westwood. Subs: Higham, Asostasi, Evans, King.
Rhinos: Golding, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Cuthbertson, Aiton, Peacock, Ward, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Burrow, Leuluai, Delaney, Singleton.
Referee: Phil Bentham
Attendance:10,075
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