The two points were unlikely to improve Warrington’s league
position, given their awful points difference, but it would keep them in touch
with the top six and a play-off place, however, they were up against a
resurgent Leeds Rhinos who themselves wanted to reinforce their claim for third
spot.
The Wolves needed to bounce back from their Challenge Cup
heartbreak last weekend and knew that a win would go some way to do that, but
they also knew that a loss would make the remainder of their season much more
difficult.
Warrington won the previous meeting between the two sides in
March by 16-14 but the bookies favoured the Rhinos this time, handicapping them
by eight points on the coupon.
The opening stages were almost exclusively Leeds pressure
but as the game moved through ten minutes the Wolves started to maintain some
territory.
Harry Newman was held up over the line on fifteen minutes on
the last tackle, the game still awaiting its first points.
On sixteen Lachie Miller broke for the line and was tackled just
short, the video referee had a look but agreed with the on field official that
the ball was grounded short and then lost.
Mikolaj Oledzki prevented a certain Warrington try on twenty
when he got a hand in the way of a pass on the Leeds line and knocked the ball dead
in goal. On the next set, Paul Vaughan was centimetres short of grounding on
the line.
The Rhinos absorbed a Warrington purple patch and somehow
managed to keep their line intact before turning defence into attack. Harry
Newman had a try ruled out on twenty-seven for an obstruction in the build-up.
On thirty-three the Rhinos finally registered their first
points of the game with Cam Smith diving in under the posts after taking a
Jarrod O’Connor pass from dummy half. Jake Connor added the simplest of
conversions for a 6-0 lead.
An attempted drop goal from Connor with ten seconds of the
game remaining was charged down and from the resulting scrum Morgan Gannon was
tackled high and the Rhinos awarded a penalty. Connor kicked the penalty goal
for an 8-0 lead to the Rhinos at half time.
Leeds extended their lead on forty-three, Smith scoring his
second as he took a Miller pass, the full-back having leapt to take a chip to
centre field on the last tackle. Connor added the conversion for 14-0, some
daylight between the two sides.
Inside two minutes the Rhinos were in again, Brodie Croft coming
inside and stretching for the line after great work down the left wing by Ash
Handley, Riley Lumb and Lachie Miller. Connor added the conversion, Leeds with
a 20-0 lead and heading for the points.
Just as it looked like the Rhinos might be running away with
it, Josh Thewlis dropped his shoulder and outfoxed Miller to coast home. Marc
Sneyd added the conversion for 6-20.
The fightback was short-lived, Tom Holroyd hitting a no-look
Connor pass at speed to dodge the post pad and score without a Wolves hand on
him, Connor added the extras again, the Rhinos lead back to twenty.
Just after the hour mark the Rhinos started to cut loose,
this time it was Jake Connor who stepped his way to the line, stretching to
ground one handed. Connor missed his first kick of the evening.
Riley Lumb should have scored the Rhinos sixth try of the
night on seventy after a thirty-metre run down the left wing, but he lost
control of the ball in the act of scoring.
Ben Currie got Warrington’s second on seventy-three after the
Rhinos were pulled for an incorrect play the ball. A flat ball from Thewlis put
his loose forward over and Sneyd added the conversion.
Ninety seconds from full time Gannon got his reward as he
stepped out of a tackle and stretched for the line. Kallum Watkins was given
the chance to kick and added the conversion for a 36-12 win.
This was a big win for the Rhinos, big in the score line, big
in the performance, and big in the message that it sends to those around them
in the table as they set out their stall for a Grand Final spot and to
challenge for silverware. Warrington are in a hole and it looks increasingly difficult
for them to make the top six, Sam Burgess with plenty to ponder.
Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Hall, Newman, Handley, Lumb, Connor (T,
G 5/6), Croft (T), Palasia, O’Connor, Oledzki, McDonnell, Gannon (T), Watkins
(G 1/1). Subs: Holroyd (T), Lisone, Bentley, Smith (2T). 18th Man: Jenkins.
Warrington Wolves: Thewlis Josh (T), Lindop, Tai, King, Wrench,
Williams, Sneyd (G 2/2), Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Fitzgibbon, Holroyd, Currie
(T). Subs: Harrison, Crowther, Philbin, Wood.
18th Man: Russell.
Half-Time: 8-0.
Full-Time: 36-12.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 8-0 : HT: 12-0, 14-0, 18-0,
20-0, 20-4, 20-6, 24-6, 26-6, 30-6, 30-10, 30-12, 34-12, 36-12 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Leeds.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
