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Fri February 20 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Hull KR 10 l. Leeds Rhinos 19 at
Craven Park, Hull (UK)Crowd: 8,623
Fri February 20 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Wigan Warriors 22 l. Castleford Tigers 28 at
JJB Stadium, Wigan, UKCrowd: 12,079
Sat February 21 2009, 6:00PM GMTSat: Celtic Crusaders 20 l. Hull FC 28 at
Brewery Field, Bridgend, Wales, UKCrowd: 5,272
Sat February 21 2009, 6:00PM GMTSat: Warrington Wolves 20 l. Les Catalans Dragons 40 at
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, UKCrowd: 7,947
Sun February 22 2009, 3:00PM GMTSun: Huddersfield Giants 6 l. St Helens 23 at
Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, UKCrowd: 11,338
Sun February 22 2009, 3:30PM GMTSun: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 29 d. Salford City Reds 10 at
Belle Vue Stadium, Wakefield, Yorkshire (UK)Crowd: 6,578
Sat August 8 2009, 3:00PM GMTSat: Harlequins 18 l. Bradford Bulls 42 at
The Stoop, Twickenham, UKCrowd: 3,112
Sat February 21, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.ukLeeds Rhinos recovered from a half-time deficit to maintain the 100% start to their engage Super League title defence with a 19-10 win at Hull KR.
The champions trailed 10-4 after the impressive Shaun Briscoe cancelled out Carl Ablett's early try and Michael Dobson kicked three goals.
Ryan Hall led the fightback with a try early in the second half and youngster Kallum Watkins settled a tight battle eight minutes from time.
It was Leeds' third successive win and ensured they would go into next week's Carnegie World Club Challenge against Manly Sea Eagles in good heart.
The only downside was a serious-looking injury to prop Ryan Bailey late on while Lee Smith also failed to finish.
The Rhinos had gone into the game at Craven Park without hooker Danny Buderus, their star winter signing from Newcastle Knights.
The former Australia international suffered a knock on debut against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats last week and was not risked by coach Brian McClennan, possibly with one eye on the Manly clash.
His absence gave an opportunity for Matt Diskin to underline his value to the club while captain Kevin Sinfield returned from injury to play at half-back in the absence of Rob Burrow.
Things did not go according to plan for Diskin as he conceded a penalty that allowed Rovers to hit back and claim their half-time lead.
Leeds had gone in front after just four minutes when they were rewarded for a strong early attack with Ablett's second try of the season.
Rovers had repelled several tackles in front of their posts but after a Sinfield kick hit a defender, Leeds earned a repeat set.
Ablett applied the killer touch after a long pass from Danny McGuire but Sinfield was unable to add the conversion.
Rovers replied after Diskin was penalised for interference close to halfway.
The hosts quickly moved the ball down field and got on the scoresheet as Daniel Fitzhenry found Paul Cooke and the stand-off's well-weighted kick was pounced upon by Briscoe.
Dobson landed the conversion and then added two more points from a penalty.
Hull KR had opportunities to establish a more commanding lead before the break but failed to take advantage of a spell of dominance.
Dobson twice declined further shots at goal after penalties conceded by Diskin and Luke Burgess and then failed to find winger Peter Fox with a long pass.
A break by Kris Welham then stretched the visitors' defence but Keith Senior just got back to deny him.
Dobson finally gave Rovers more reward for their efforts with another penalty in the final minute of the half.
Leeds' first half chances were few and far between but Scott Donald did have a try disallowed by the video referee after he failed to gain control of a Sinfield kick.
Rhinos full-back Smith, man of the match in last season's Grand Final win over St Helens, appeared in discomfort early in the second half and switched positions with winger Hall.
Hall immediately got into the thick of the action and was on hand to score the 48th-minute try that brought Leeds back into the game.
Rovers failed to hold down Senior after the centre gathered Sinfield's high kick and the ball was worked out for the onrushing Hall to touch down.
Sinfield levelled the scores and Leeds moved up a gear, forcing a drop-out soon after.
Leeds were denied just after the hour when Senior was held up over the line by three Rovers players, with Briscoe crucially getting his hand underneath the ball.
The Rhinos then had Danny Allan sin-binned for obstruction and it seemed Rovers had weathered the storm as Jake Webster touched down a Dobson kick after Hall failed to collect.
However, the video referee again intervened and Leeds took advantage of the reprieve to break quickly with Senior and Donald offloading for McGuire.
Fox got back to stop the stand-off but held him down too long and was sin-binned and Sinfield kicked the resulting penalty to put Leeds back ahead.
Leeds then secured the points as they broke quickly and Bailey sent Watkins over in the corner.
Bailey was hit by Briscoe in the move and needed lengthy treatment that led to him being carried off before Sinfield kicked the conversion.
Sinfield then finished the job with a drop goal in the 79th minute.
Fri February 20, 2009
Source: http://www.hullkr.co.ukIn this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds Coach Brian McClennan looks ahead to his side's game at Hull KR this Friday, kick off 8pm.
HOW HIGHLY DO YOU RATE HULL KR?
They will be full of confidence after their draw away at Bradford last weekend and I am sure they will be out for a big performance in their first home game of the season. By all reports there is a going to be a big crowd there so it should create a great atmosphere for both teams to perform in. They are a strong side and I am sure they will be looking to build on their achievements over the past two years this season and we are looking forward to facing that challenge.
WILL YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR SIDE THIS WEEK?
Thankfully Kevin Sinfield and Keith Senior are both back available this week after missing out last week. Both players are extremely professional and know how to look after their own bodies, which is why it was so unusual for both to be out last week. However, we have confidence in every single member of our squad to come in and do the job when required and the 17 who played last week made sure that we improved on our performance from the previous week and helped the team continue to move forward this season.
IS THIS GAME A GOOD PREPARATIONS FOR THE CARNEGIE WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE NEXT WEEK?
First and foremost we know we have got a tough job on our hands against Hull KR. We are looking to improve with every performance however our need to improve quicker than every other team is obvious because we have a big game next week against Manly.
We are very proud to be representing our competition and the city of Leeds in the Carnegie World Club Challenge and our focus will turn fully to that game following Friday nights clash however in terms of performance we can take another step closer to that game by putting in to practise the work that we have been doing in training at Hull KR.
Poching not disheartened by defeatLeeds Rhinos Reserve Academy coach Willie Poching said he was not disheartened after seeing his side lose 52-6 to Warrington in their final pre-season game but admitted that the game was a big reality check for the players and coaches.
The Reserve Academy will start their season against Celtic Crusaders at Stanningley on Sunday 1st March however there will be plenty of work to do following a tough examination by the Wolves for a young Leeds team.
The Rhinos found themselves 30-0 down at the break but showed real determination after the break even though the game was clearly beyond them. Commenting on the match Poching said, "We were too slow out of the blocks at the start of the game and Warrington capitalised on that and took their chances. The scoreline blew out a bit after that and by the team we got into our stride we were facing a massive uphill challenge.
"The energy and enthusiasm that we showed at the start of the second half should have been there from the kick off and this has been a big reality check for the coaches and players as we head to the start of the season.
"However, it is not all doom and gloom and this is what pre-season friendlies are for. We had a young squad and for a lot of these players this was their first chance of to play at Reserve Academy level. The scoreline in the end was not a full indication of the game or where we are as a team at this moment of time and we will look forward to working hard and fixing some of those areas ahead of the game with the Crusaders," added Poching.
Chris Clarkson scored the Rhinos only try in the second half whilst Simon Brown kicked the goal.
Round 2
Hull KR 10 l. Leeds Rhinos 19
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