Round 4
Leeds Rhinos 66 d. Castleford Tigers 14

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Rhinos sweep Tigers aside
Mon March 6, 2006
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

This game was 48 hours delayed from it's proposed kick off due to a frozen pitch but the intense heat of a return of the local derby between Leeds and Castleford was certainly in plenty of evidence. The Rhinos made the best possible start with a try after 4 minutes when Lauitiiti broke out 15 metres from his own line then fed Danny Williams. The young winger, making his home debut, burst upfield before passing back inside to the supporting Rob Burrow who cantered over from 40 metres out.

Castleford nearly replied straight away but Waine Pryce knocked on in the corner under pressure from Richard Mathers.
The Rhinos doubled their lead after 16 minutes when Rob Burrow put Willie Poching away on the South Stand side. Burrow was taken out after the tackle but Poching was away to score. Sinfield added an excellent conversion to make it 12-0 on a sunny afternoon at Headingley Carnegie.

Castleford then had former Rhino Danny Sculthorpe sin binned for what looked like backchat to the referee after he was penalised for ball stealing. However, the Tigers, who had had the majority of possession in the opening quarter, were not daunted by being a man down and struck back soon after when Tom Haughey held off two would be tacklers to touch down. Huby added the conversion and then struck a penalty two minutes later to make it 12-8 after 22 minutes.

The Rhinos responded in fine style though with four tries in less than ten minutes. The first came from Chev Walker who intercepted a pass by Paul Handforth before racing 95 metres untouched to score. Then Ian Kirke, who had come on to replace Ali Lauitiiti for his debut, was on hand to score his first try for the club from close range before a brilliant solo try by Burrow. He ran from dummy half then cut inside the cover to score from 15 metres out.

Walker then joined Burrow with a brace when he worked a great opening with Richard Mathers from his own line before running 70 metres to score in the corner. Sinfield converted all four to make itr 36-8 after 38 minutes.

However there was still time for Walker to complete his hat trick and he duly did, making the extra man outwide to touch down. Sinfield added the conversion to make it 42-8 at halftime.

The Rhinos continued where they had left off with a try inside the first five minutes. Richard Mathers produced a great step inside his own half before racing up field, he drew the last man before passing back inside to the supporting Danny McGuire to score. Sinfield added the conversion to make it 48-8 after 45 minutes.

Castleford got a try back shortly afterwards through Ryan McGoldrick but normal service was resumed after 56 minutes when Richard Mathers darted through a gap for the Rhinos ninth try of the game. Sinfield kept up his 100% record with the boot to make it 54-14.

The next try came in bizarre circumstances. Matt Diskin had been held up over the line on the last tackle so the ball was tackle back to the 10 metre line but when the Castleford player played the ball there was no in support and Diskin leaped on the loose ball. Leeds then fed the ball wide and Lauitiiti held off three would be tacklers to touch down.

Ryan Bailey then scored a great individual score when he bumped off a tackle in midfield before racing 35 metres to score under the posts. Sinfield converted both to make the final score 66-14.

Report Source: www.leedsrugby.com

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