|
Superleague XV - Round 10
5th April 2010
Rhinos Fight Hard for French Victory
Bluey shuffled his pack for the visit to Perpignan with Burrow put on the bench and Buderus dropped from the
side. Sinfield moved to stand-off and McGuire to scrum-half with the returning Ablett at loose forward. The
idea seemed to be to soak up the efforts of the French forwards and then blitz them once we'd tired them
out.
Leeds thwarted the early Dragons onslaught for the opening seven minutes but a third consecutive penalty in
short time saw Guisset cross and touch down under a last ditch tackle when the ball seemed to come free in the
act of grounding. Video Referee Cummings gave the TRY and Bosc added the extras. Not the start we'd
imagined.
On ten minutes the Rhinos got a stroke of luck. Upon which games pivot. A kick from McGuire bounced back
towards Leeds and Ali got first to the ball, passed to Leuluai and then took the ball back on the reverse to
cross under the sticks. Sinfield added the extras and we were back square.
On thirteen the home side were penalised for carrying Delaney into touch. A good kick for position was
capitalised on when Diskin fed Sinfield who put JJB through a gap to score. Sinfield kicked the extra two for
12-6, this was more like it.
Two Tries
|
On eighteen and the Rhinos benefitted once again from poor Catalans defence. Diskin was the play maker as Ali
Lauiti'iti gave a short pass to Senior who powered over. Sinfield slid the extras past the post and we were
16-6 ahead.
On twenty we'd started to make it all look a bit simple as Lauiti'iti and Webb put Senior on a run who then
found McGuire in support on his inside to run fifty metres and score under the sticks. Sinfield added the two
for 22-6. It felt like the game was already in the bag.
|
After a thirteen minute hiaitus the Rhinos were in again. We'd soaked up some Dragons pressure before marching
downfield and seeing Delaney pick up a beautiful McGuire grubber to score in the corner. Sinfield failed with
the extras for 26-6.
Four minutes from the break and against the run of play the Dragons got another score on the board. Again a
dubious one. Johnson went over the line but appeared to drop the ball in the act of scoring. Cummings gave the
try and Bosc added the extras.
It had been a good first half but frustrating that we were only fourteen points clear. Both of the Dragons
tried looked dubious at best, perhaps Mr Cummings is developing a sympathy for the Dragons 2010 plight seeing
as he is their video referee for every home game.
On forty-four minutes Kirke went close but knocked-on on the Dragons line while trying to gather the ball. 'NO
TRY' - Cummings saw that one!
On fifty-three Leuluai was sent to the bin for a late charge on Pelo in-front of the Leeds sticks. The Dragons
took full advantage as Touxagas crossed under a weak tackle from Lee Smith. Bosc kicked the extras and against
he odds it was game-on at 26-18.
|
On fifty-seven Leeds got a penalty and Sinfield elected to kick to run down the clock. 28-18 to the Rhinos.
On sixty-eight Sinfield committed a grade A sin as he tried to shepherd a bouncing ball over the dead ball
line. Kane Bentley came from ten metres away and got a hand to the ball just before it hit the dead ball line.
Bosc goaled and the tide was turning towards the home side at 28-24.
|
Binned
|
Leeds were throwing away a match winning position, we needed a really strong last ten minutes.
With five minutes to go Sinfield made amends for the disaster of seven minutes earlier. A brilliant flick
offload put McGuire through a gap, put two steps in and cross for his second try of the game. Sinfield added
the extras for 34-24, game over.
Man of the Match Poll
|
|
|
Points | Player | % |
10 | McGuire | 82% |
8 | Webb | 12% |
6 | Leuluai | 6% |
See here for season standings.
Match Facts
|
No.
|
Player
|
T
|
G
|
DG
|
|
No.
|
Player
|
T
|
G
|
DG
|
|
1
|
Webb
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Pelo
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
Smith
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
Bell
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Delaney
|
1
|
|
|
|
18
|
Carlaw
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
Senior
|
1
|
|
|
|
19
|
Touxagas
|
1
|
|
|
|
5
|
Hall
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
Vaccari
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
Sinfield
|
|
5
|
|
|
9
|
McGuire
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
McGuire
|
2
|
|
|
|
7
|
Bosc
|
|
4
|
|
|
8
|
Leuluai
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
Ferriol
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
Diskin
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
Bentley, K.
|
1
|
|
|
|
16
|
Bailey
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
Guisset
|
1
|
|
|
|
12
|
Lauiti'iti
|
1
|
|
|
|
22
|
Fakir
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Jones-Buchanan
|
1
|
|
|
|
12
|
Mounis
|
|
|
|
|
18
|
Ablett
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
Johnson
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
Kirke
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
Martins
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
Burrow
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
Gigot
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
Burgess
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
Stacul
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
Ambler
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
Bentley, A.
|
|
|
|
|
Kick Off:
|
17:30
|
|
Half-Time:
|
00-00
|
|
Referee:
|
Ben Thaler
|
|
Crowd:
|
8,230
|
| 
