5th Round
Harlequins 26 l. Leeds Rhinos 36

2008 Challenge Cup Index [Draw] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: Challenge Cup

McGuire boosts Leeds
Tue May 13, 2008
Source: www.therfl.co.uk

Danny McGuire's hat-trick broke Harlequins' hearts and sent Leeds Rhinos into the quarters-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup by 36-26 after a thriller at The Stoop.

Quins had battled back from 24-4 down to take a 26-24 lead with three minutes remaining but Great Britian captain Jamie Peacock and McGuire spared the Rhinos' blushes with late tries to stun the brave hosts.

The Rhinos went in front in the ninth minute when young full-back Ben Jones-Bishop, deputising for Brent Webb who has been away on international duty with New Zealand, seized on Will Sharp's error and sprinted 70 yards for his first senior try.

Skipper Sinfield added the conversion but Quins hit back 10 minutes later when Tony Clubb muscled his way over from close range.

But the engage Super League champions were soon back in front when McGuire tricked his way through the Quins defence for an easy try.

Winger Scott Donald gave the visitors an 18-4 half-time lead when he got on the end of Kallum Watkins' brilliant offload to sprint over and Sinfield successfully added his third conversion.

Leeds extended their lead when McGuire crossed for his second try of the afternoon in the 42nd minute but Quins refused to lie down and Danny Orr began the fightback seven minutes later when he scrambled over from close range.

Henry Paul added the extras before the former Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls star reduced the deficit to 24-16 when he converted his own try with 25 minutes remaining.

Paul soon crossed for his second and, when Orr added another after 62 minutes, Quins had scored 22 unanswered points in 18 minutes.

But the world champions responded and were back in front three minutes from time when Peacock powered his way through sloppy defending to crash over.

And McGuire completed his hat-trick and Leeds' win in the dying seconds with another smart finish and captain Sinfield added his sixth goal as his side sneaked through.

Report Source: www.therfl.co.uk


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Harlequins
Sat May 10, 2008
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds Coach Brian McClennan looks ahead to his side's trip to Harlequins RL this Sunday in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CARNEGIE CHALLENGE CUP TO YOU?
The Carnegie Challenge Cup is massive for us as a team and a club. We have got a huge heritage in the competition and we are hoping, as with every competition we enter this season, to do as well as we possibly can in it.

The Cup is a really big challenge for us especially because we are in a period now where we face a bit of adversity as far as injuries and players who are unavailable. That makes it an even greater challenge for us but one we are looking forward to.

HOW DANGEROUS WILL HARLEQUINS RL AFTER THEIR NARROW DEFEAT LAST WEEK?
They are going through bit of adversity themselves and I am sure they will take a lot of motivation from the last couple of weeks. They are on home ground so we know they are going to be a formidable opponent. They are a big, athletic team across the side and they are well led by some very experienced players in key positions. Scott Hill, Henry Paul, Chad Randall and Danny Orr add that bit of experience to push them around the field and the talent they have in the rest of the side means they present a major hurdle for us in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

HOW IS YOUR TEAM SHAPING UP FOR THIS WEEKEND?
We welcome back Gareth Ellis which is a huge bonus for us. We'll make a final assessment tomorrow morning on him but we are confident he will be available. Unfortunately, Luke Burgess broke down with groin strain during training on Wednesday so he misses out and Eric Anselme is also unavailable because he was signed after the Cup deadline. But that is the challenge that is in front of us, we have always said that whatever 17 we put out on the field is our best 17 and that remains our philosophy. We are going down there with a plan that we believe can work, if we do it to the letter we believe we can come back with the win but we must do that.

RHINOS WELCOME BACK ELLIS
Great Britain international Gareth Ellis returns for Leeds Rhinos for their Carnegie Challenge Cup Fifth Round tie at Harlequins RL this Sunday.

Ellis replaces Eric Anselme in the squad, who is unavailable because he only joined the club after the Challenge Cup registration deadline had passed.

Brent Webb is unavailable as he has been away with New Zealand whilst Luke Burgess has been ruled out with a groin strain.

Young full back Ben Jones-Bishop has been drafted into the squad as has young forwards Danny Williams and Danny Allan.

The squad in full is:
2. Scott Donald
4. Keith Senior
5. Lee Smith
6. Danny McGuire
7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai
9. Matt Diskin
10. Jamie Peacock
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield
18. Nick Scruton
19. Carl Ablett
21. Jordan Tansey
22. Ryan Hall
23. Danny Williams
25. Danny Allan
28. Simon Worrall
32. Kallum Watkins
34. Ben Jones-Bishop

News Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Fri April 25, 2008
• Harlequins drawn Leeds in Challenge Cup 5th Round
  

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