Round 20
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 30 l. Leeds Rhinos 32

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

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

Donald denies Wakefield first home win in 17 years over Leeds
Sat July 11, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Scott Donald touched down in the dying embers of the game to give Leeds Rhinos a famous 32-30 victory and deny Wakefield Wildcats a first home win over the reigning champions in almost seventeen years.

The Wildcats had not beaten their illustrious neighbours on home soil since a Stones Bitter Championship fixture in October 1992 - four years before the advent of summer rugby.

They led 30-28 with a minute remaining but Australian wing Donald capped a glorious late comeback by the Rhinos when he went over in the right corner to give his side a 15th straight win at Belle Vue.

Leeds had been reduced to 12 men when Brent Webb was sinbinned with 10 minutes remaining but they refused to surrender and ultimately outscored John Kear's side by six tries to four to underline their quality.

Wakefield, for whom scrum-half Danny Brough landed seven goals in an impressive display, fell behind in the sixth minute when stand-off Danny McGuire, back in the side after injury, brilliantly engineered the space to find Carl Ablett with a short offload on the right flank.

Ablett showed admirable athleticism and no little skill to advance at pace down the right touchline before finding the supporting Jamie Jones-Buchanan with a perfect pass which sent him clear.

Kevin Sinfield added the extras but Leeds came under the cosh five minutes later when Ali Lauitiiti was placed on report following a challenge on Matt Petersen as tensions began to rise.

In the 21st minute, Wakefield drew level when Blaymire grounded a kick from Obst and Brough added the extras to make it 6-6 before adding two penalties to give his side further breathing space at 10-6.

Leeds hit back in the 30th minute when Keith Senior showed brute strength to cross the line in the left corner, despite the attention of Petersen and Atkins, but Sinfield failed to convert.

And Wakefield forged ahead again shortly before half-time when Obst used his small frame to devastating effect by scampering through a gap in the Leeds rearguard to touch down and Brough added the extras.

Leeds caught their opponents cold within seconds of the restart when Senior's delicate offload out of a tackle fed Ryan Hall and he showed blistering speed to race down the left wing before finding Rob Burrow who dived over in the corrner.

Sinfield added the conversion with aplomb but Wakefield edged 18-16 in front minutes later when Brough landed a routine penalty.

And Belle Vue erupted in the 51st minute when Brough's delightful kick into the left corner was caught and grounded by the onrushing Grix and Brough again converted.

It got even better for Wakefield four minutes later when another high kick from Brough caused Hall to spill possession and Atkins grounded the loose ball.

Brough added the extras but Leeds hit back in the 65th minute when Lauitiiti waltzed through for a fine score and Sinfield added the extras.

The Rhinos were dealt a blow four minutes later when Webb was shown a yellow card for holding down but they continued to probe and Burrow claimed his second before Donald dived over in the right corner in the closing stages.

Lee Smith converted Burrow's effort but could not add to the extras to Donald's - yet victory was already in the bag for Leeds.


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Wakefield
Thu July 9, 2009
Source: www.therhinos.co.uk

In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight Leeds Coach Brian McClennan looks ahead to his side's trip to Wakefield this Friday, kick off 8pm.


HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS WEEK'S GAME?
We are looking forward to going to Belle Vue on Friday night. There is a great atmosphere there and they have got a great pitch too so it should make for a great contest. They have shown this season that they are capable of beating any team in Super League and we will go there knowing that we are in for a tough game. Our game at Headingley Carnegie earlier in the season was a hard fought match and I think Friday will be no different.

WHO DO YOU SEE AS THEIR DANGERMEN?
Danny Brough and Brad Drew are two key players for them. Drew is dangerous out of dummy half whilst Brough has a good kicking game that can cause any team problems. They organise their play and move them around the pitch so we will have to be wary of them. However, they have strike players across the team and I am sure they will be keen to bounce back from their defeat to Huddersfield last week.

They will also be out to perform well against Leeds on their home ground in another local derby for us and we must be ready to match that desire.

WHAT IS THE MOOD LIKE IN YOUR CAMP THIS WEEK?
We were pleased to get another win last Saturday at Hull to maintain the momentum we have been building up in recent weeks. Having reviewed the game this week we know that we have work to do on our defence but we are moving in the right direction at this time of the season.

We are pleased to have Brent Webb back in training this week as he recovers from his neck injury and he has a chance of featuring on Friday night. The mood in the camp is good and we are looking forward to the challenge of taking on Wakefield this week.

Thu July 9, 2009
• Webb in line to return for Rhinos
  

Advanced Search