Round 7
Leeds Rhinos 42 d. Les Catalans Dragons 14

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Rhinos bounce back to add to Catalans misery
Sat March 28, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos cruised to a comfortable sixth win of the season to retain top spot ahead of St Helens on points difference.

The Rhinos took full advantage of a fragile defence and even more suspect discipline by Catalans Dragons to return to winning ways in emphatic fashion in front of a 13,423 crowd at Headingley.

They struck with three tries in a decisive eight-minute spell just before half-time to establish a stranglehold on the game against a Dragons side which demonstrated plenty of enterprise on attack but simply cannot defend.

Catalans have conceded 190 points in four visits to Headingley but threatened to pull off a shock when second rower Jason Croker and full-back Clint Greenshields combined to get centre Steve Bell over for his first try for the club after only three minutes.

But the Rhinos, looking to bounce back after losing their 100% record at St Helens, hit their visitors with a two-try burst in five minutes.

Stand-off Danny McGuire tracked across the field to find centre Keith Senior in some space and his pass got winger Ryan Hall racing over at the corner for his seventh try of the season.

Kevin Sinfield, like Thomas Bosc, had the misfortune to watch his conversion attempt bounce back off an upright but he was on target when second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan side-stepped past Greenshields for a second try shortly afterwards.

The Dragons posed plenty of problems for the home side, with skipper Greg Bird demonstrating his undoubted class, but the Leeds defence held firm and they struck three further blows in a devastating spell before half-time.

Sinfield created a try for McGuire, who then produced an inch-perfect kick to the corner for Hall to grab his second try.

Hall looked to be scorching away for a hat-trick after being put in the clear by Senior but unselfishly passed inside to the supporting Brent Webb to finish off a glorious 80-metre move, with Sinfield kicking a third goal.

The Catalans enjoyed another spell on the attack at the start of the second half and winger Vincent Duport reached the line before being turned on his back.

The French side's biggest problems were in defence and they were undone all too easily on 53 minutes when McGuire and Webb combined to get centre Ashley Gibson over for his first try of the season.

The Dragons pulled a try back three minutes later when stand-off Bosc hacked the ball ahead and won the race to touch down.

He also added the goal but Leeds simply stepped up a gear and second rower Carl Ablett touched down for a seventh try after collecting Sinfield's kick off the inside of his boot.

Duport added a third try for the visitors but Leeds finished on top, with hooker Matt Diskin forcing his way over for his side's eighth try just before the end and Rob Burrow added the goal.


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Catalans
Thu March 26, 2009
Source: www.therhinos.co.uk

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds Head Coach Brian McClennan looks ahead to this Friday's clash with Catalans Dragons at Headingley Carnegie, kick off 8pm.

HOW DO YOU RATE CATALANS THIS SEASON?
Catalans have had a tough start to the season but they have been close to wins in their last four games and demonstrated that they still possess the qualities they showed last season when they beat Warrington away earlier this year.

They were not that far off last week against Bradford and they probably consider themselves unlucky not to have got a win out in that game. We know this is another challenge for us and the competition so far this year has shown that any team is capable of knocking any other off, on any given day. We are mindful of that and there is a big focus with us on improving each week and being a better team than last week. They are the markers that we put down for ourselves and that is how we judge our progress.

HOW HAVE THE SQUAD RESPONDED TO LAST WEEKS DEFEAT?
We were obviously disappointed to lose the game and there were some areas that we have worked on in training this week. We played well in patches and we defended well in periods. But we let them in for a couple of poor tries just before half time. We are making progress and we need to improve to face Catalans this week.

The response within the squad to that defeat has been good. The game was not as physical as some we have been involved in, so injury wise we have come through the match pretty well.

We are starting to have more players on board and we are getting there in terms of having a fully fit squad to chose from.

HOW IS YOUR SQUAD SHAPING UP THIS WEEK?
We are glad to have Ali Lauitiiti back available this week unfortuantely however Ryan Bailey has been ruled out by an injury picked up in training this week. Danny Buderus is coming along well with his recovery from surgery and is on course to return in the original timescale whilst Simon Worrall is ready to return to action in the Reserve Academy to help build up his fitness.

Because of our short pre-season for most of the squad, a lot our conditioning is being done in games and we are managing players during the week to help them improve each week. Hopefully people will see the team continue to improve as the season goes on.

Lauitiiti drafted in to replace Bailey
Samoan international Ali Lauitiiti has been added to the Rhinos 19 man squad after Ryan Bailey was ruled out by a groin strain injury picked up in training this week.

Lauitiiti missed last weeks defeat at St Helens with a hamstring injury however he has recovered well this week and has been drafted into the squad.

Otherwise the team is unchanged from the squad that was named for last weeks trip to Knowsley Road.

The revised 18 man squad in full is:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
4 Keith Senior
5 Ryan Hall
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
10 Jamie Peacock
11 Jamie Jones Buchanan
12 Ali Lauitiiti
13 Kevin Sinfield (c)
14 Matt Diskin
17 Ian Kirke
18 Carl Ablett
19 Luke Burgess
20 Ashley Gibson
22 Danny Allan
23 Kallum Watkins

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