Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity verdict as Rhinos hold on in Headingley thriller

Wakefield Trinity’s superb fightback wasn’t quite enough as Leeds Rhinos held on for a 22-18 victory in a Headingley thriller today.

Rhinos almost blew it, having led 22-6 at the break, but in the end, two penalty goals by Jake Connor proved decisive.

Max Jowitt scored a brace of tries in the second half, and the hosts were reduced to 12 players two minutes from time when James Bentley was sin-binned, but the visitors couldn’t find another score to snatch it.

Leeds drew first blood after nine minutes when Connor kicked across the field on the last, and Harry Newman made a superb catch to score his third try in two games.

A brilliant pick up by Josh Rourke from Brodie Croft’s kick denied Newman another, but Leeds extended their lead after 21 minutes when Connor’s footwork close to the line wrong-footed Josh Griffin.

The Rhinos pivot added his second conversion, and Trinity were in danger of being overrun, but they replied almost immediately, off a Leeds mistake.

James McDonnell spilled the ball inside his own half, and Lachlan Walmsley went over from Corey Hall’s pass in the resulting set. Jowitt converted from the touchline.

Wakefield would have been delighted to go in at the break six behind, but Rhinos scored 10 points in the final seven minutes of the half to put clear daylight between the teams.

Riley Lumb touched down at the corner off Ash Handley’s pass after nice work by Lachie Miller and Connor goaled from wide out. A foul by Jowitt on Croft as the Leeds man put boot to ball gave Connor a simple two points, and he added another penalty with the final kick of the period.

Trinity questioned the ruling of a ball steal on McDonnell, but video referee Tom Grant decided the evidence was ‘inconclusive’, so the decision stood and Wakefield retained their challenge. Rhinos lost theirs in the opening quarter after being penalised on their own line for an obstruction.

The outstanding Miller didn’t appear in the second half, and the Rhinos lost their way. Trinity got themselves back into the game through some smart work by Jowitt 10 minutes after the break, the full-back dabbing a kick over the line and following up to ground the ball and then added the extras.

With 15 minutes left, Jowitt scored again, off good work from Corey Hall, and the full-back’s conversion made it a four-point ball game.

Bentley’s yellow card, for a late hit on Jay Pitts, gave Wakefield a last chance, but Leeds held on in their annual motor neurone disease awareness game.

Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity teams

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, R Hall, Newman, Handley, Lumb, Connor, Croft, Palasia, O’Connor, Oledzki, McDonnell, Bentley, Watkins. Subs Holroyd, Lisone, Jenkins, C Smith.

Wakefield Trinity: Rourke, Walmsley, C Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Jowitt, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts. Subs Scott, Vagana, Cozza, H Smith.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield).

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