Round 17
Harlequins 28 d. Leeds Rhinos 24

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Harlequins upset Leeds
Sun June 15, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Will Sharp's double ensured Harlequins Rugby League toppled engage Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos at The Twickenham Stoop.

Winger Sharp ? who had not scored a try all season for Quins ? crossed the whitewash either side of the half-time interval for Brian McDermott's men.

Leeds' Scott Donald took his try tally to 21 for the season to reduce the deficit to four points late on but it was not enough to save the World Club champions ? who had lost just twice in Super League all season - from defeat.

Leeds ? who triumphed 36-26 over Harlequins in the Carnegie Challenge Cup last month ? took just three minutes to open their account when Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock burst through to score.

Kevin Sinfield added the extras for the Rhinos but Quins were soon on level terms as Sharp evaded Leeds full-back Brent Webb to cross the try line.

Scott Hill's close-range try after a quarter of an hour put McDermott's men in control.

Leeds thought they had reduced the deficit when Danny McGuire offloaded the ball for Rob Burrow to score under the posts. But the visitors were denied the points when Sinfield was penalised for obstruction.

And to rub salt into the wounds, Henry Paul's 40-metre field goal from the resulting penalty increased Harlequins' lead to eight points.

Quins' lead was cut down to 14-12 on the stroke of half-time when Burrow's searching pass found Donald who crossed for his first try of the game.

After the break, Chad Randall's converted try stretched Quins' lead back to eight points but Leeds refused to be denied and Keith Senior ensured Leeds remained within a score.

But after Senior and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook ? on his return from an arm injury ? had been sin-binned for fighting, Sharp made it 28-16 with a try in the corner.

Burrow finally got his name on the scoresheet just a minute later while Donald reduced the arrears, but skipper Sinfield failed to score either conversion and cost the league leaders a point.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: McClennan expects Rhinos to respond


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Harlequins
Fri June 13, 2008
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds Coach Brian McClennan looks ahead to this Saturday's game at Harlequins RL, kick off 5pm at the Twickenham Stoop.

ARE YOU EXPECTING ANOTHER TOUGH GAME DOWN IN LONDON?
It is only five weeks since our last game down at Harlequins and they gave us a really tough challenge that day in the Carnegie Challenge Cup. They are a good side with quality half backs who can ask questions of any defence in Super League. I am sure they will draw some confidence from how they performed against us last time and likewise we know that we have to produce our best performance to compete with them. We are looking forward to the challenge and building on last week's game.

HOW HAVE PREPARATIONS GONE THIS WEEK?
We were pleased to come through a tough game against Hull with no new injuries and the players have been in good shape this week in training. We are pleased to have Jamie Peacock back on board this week and he will be keen to get back out there come Saturday evening. JP was immense for us in the Carnegie Challenge Cup Quarter Final a fortnight ago and it is great to have him in the squad this week. It was an enforced rest for him last week because we needed to let his injury heal but we are also mindful of JP's commitments to the national side as well and we want him in the best possible shape for Leeds and England. Likewise, Jamie Jones-Buchanan is building up his fitness after returning last week and this Saturday will be another chance for him to get back to full fitness.
Ali Lauitiiti is not quite right yet but he is recovering well from his knee injury and will be back in action sooner rather than later.

HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS WEEKS GAME?
We are starting to build up our game again starting this week and we will be looking to step up our performances over the next couple of weeks. We have had two good games against Quins, even the game at Headingley Carnegie when we won 48-0 was a tough challenge for us and we had to produce probably one of our best performances of the season that night. We have got a lot of respect for Quins and we are looking forward to going down there. Fortunately, the game is a 5pm kick off which should mean that it is not as hot as our last game there but it is a fixture that presents you will different challenges that you have to overcome.

News Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Thu June 12, 2008
• Peacock returns for Rhinos
  

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