Round 4
Leeds Rhinos 16 d. Huddersfield Giants 12

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Leeds edge out Huddersfield in fiery game
Mon March 5, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Huddersfield Giants slipped to their fourth straight engage Super League defeat at Leeds Rhinos in a fiery game which saw four sin-binnings.

Jon Sharp's men remain the only side without a single point this season but they could hardly be accused of lacking fighting spirit.

Giants veteran Paul Reilly and centre Jamahl Lolesi were both shown the yellow card either side of the break, while Leeds full-back Brent Webb was also sin-binned twice.

The action taken by referee Ian Smith reflected the niggling undercurrent which flowed throughout a hard-fought encounter in which Huddersfield could perhaps consider themselves unfortunate to again come away pointless.

Sharp's men were hammered 50-0 at Headingley in a pre-season encounter one month ago but they were up for it this time around.

That only four points separated the sides at the final whistle confirmed as much ? and with a little luck the Giants could even have even pilfered the points at the death.

On a dreadful surface, Huddersfield skipper Chris Thorman got the visitors off the mark in the ninth minute with a penalty.

But Leeds, who slipped to defeat against Catalans Dragons in France last weekend, responded strongly.

A meticulous piece of dummy-running from Matt Diskin took him to within inches of the line in the 11th minute and six minutes later Leeds claimed their first try after brilliant play from Rob Burrow.

The diminutive scrum-half, at 5ft 5in the smallest player in engage Super League, collected possession 20 metres out and darted through the slenderest of gaps in the visitors' rearguard.

His pace took him clear but, with the line beckoning, he unselfishly offloaded for Clinton Toopi to touch down in the right corner for the easiest of tries.

Skipper Kevin Sinfield failed to convert and, with the Giants clearly up for the fight, it came as little surprise when they claimed a try of their own in the 22nd minute.

An exquisite long offload from hooker Brad Drew found former Bradford Bulls favourite Robbie Paul and his short pass allowed giant prop Eorl Crabtree to burst clear and crash over the line.

Crabtree is the nephew of former wrestling legend Big Daddy and his fighting spirit came to the fore in an increasingly fractious opening half.

After Thorman converted Crabtree's try, Leeds regained the lead when Danny McGuire showed wonderful hands to collect Diskin's pass and send Jamie Jones-Buchanan over in the 26th minute.

Sinfield added the extras to put Leeds 10-8 ahead and then embarked on a strong run down the right flank before slipping in young winger Lee Smith in the corner.

The score proved the catalyst for an unseemly melee between both sets of players which resulted in Webb and Reilly being sent to the sin-bin after a bout of fisticuffs.

Leeds were 14-8 in front at the break and two minutes before the hour-mark they extended their lead after an indiscretion by Lolesi.

The centre's high shot on Burrow saw him sent to the sin-bin and Sinfield's penalty extended Leeds' advantage by another two points.

However, the Giants refused to surrender and, after Webb's dissent earned him another spell in the sin-bin, Keith Mason sent Thorman over the in closing stages to reduce the deficit to four points.

Thorman missed the conversion but the Giants could not quite manage a precious late winning try.

Leeds Rhinos (14) 16
Tries: Toopi, Jones-Buchanan, Smith
Goals: Sinfield 2

Huddersfield Giants (8) 12
Tries: Crabtree, Thorman
Goals: Thorman 2

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Peacock, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield.
Replacements: Lauitiiti, Thackray, Leuluai, Tansey.

Huddersfield Giants: Thorman, Gardner, Lolesi, Nero, Reilly, Brown, Paul, Mason, Drew, Skandalis, Jones, Crabtree, Wild.
Replacements: Raleigh, Griffin, Hudson, Snitch.

Referee: I Smith

Att: 15,703

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Smith: Giants made it tough


Diskin, Bailey and McGuire back for Rhinos
Sat March 3, 2007
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Leeds Rhinos have been given a boost ahead of their game against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday at Headingley Carnegie, ko 3pm, with their three injury doubts all cleared to play.

Matt Diskin (groin), Ryan Bailey (chest) and Danny McGuire (fractured finger) have all come through final training on Saturday to be named in Tony Smith's 18 man squad for the game against the Giants.

The two players to miss out from the initial 20 man squad are Carl Ablett and Ian Kirke who are both in action for the Rhinos Senior Academy side as they begin the defence of their title at Stanningley ARLFC against Huddersfield on Saturday at 1pm.

The 18 man squad in full is:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
3 Clinton Toopi
4 Keith Senior
5 Lee Smith
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
9 Matt Diskin
10 Jamie Peacock
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12 Gareth Ellis
13 Kevin Sinfield (c)
14 Ali Lauitiiti
15 Jamie Thackray
16 Ryan Bailey
20 Ashley Gibson
23 Jordan Tansey

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com

Fri March 2, 2007
• Headingley Insight: Leeds v Huddersfield
  

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