Leeds Rhinos 40 Harlequins 20: Injury to Senior is worry as Rhinos progress

IT WAS hardly the finest way to mark the 50th anniversary of their first league title but Leeds Rhinos, despite some sloppiness, are in Monday’s Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final draw.

They edged their way through a Harlequins minefield last night, overcoming numerous dubious moments to eventually see off a side which, since beating them at Headingley Carnegie in February, has won just once in their last 11 Super League games.

Forceful displays from Kylie Leuluai and Jamie Jones-Buchanan dragged Rhinos out of trouble but there will be concerns this morning over ex-Great Britain centre Keith Senior, who was carried off with a knee injury five minutes from time.

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There were other fears early on last night – of a repeat of the horrors endured the last time Harlequins were in town.

When they trailed 14-6 after Mark Calderwood’s alarmingly easy try on 25 minutes – the deficit would have been greater if Luke Gale had been more accurate with his goalkicking – Leeds assistant Damian Gibson urgently dashed onto the pitch before the re-start to get a message from head coach Brian McDermott to the beleaguered hosts.

The Australian bizarrely gathered them together on the 40m line like an American football-style time-out before referee Ben Thaler reminded him there was a game to be played and such tactics are not actually allowed.

Whatever, the brief meeting of minds seemed to do the trick and lethargic Leeds shook themselves from their slumbers, Jones-Buchanan storming over to give his side the impetus they required to regain control.

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They had got off to a rapid start when 19-year-old winger Zak Hardaker cruised over for his fourth try in three games but Harlequins responded with aplomb, threatening a re-run of that shock 36-26 defeat they inflicted earlier in the season.

Gale, former Leeds Academy half-back, had the run of Headingley once more as he guided the Londoners to an early lead.

His hanging kick saw Calderwood palm possession back and, although they enjoyed some good fortune with the bouncing ball, the finish was slick when Chris Bailey and Dave Howell ushered Chris Melling over in the corner for an eighth-minute try.

A well-weighted grubber by Gale then forced Ryan Hall into conceding a drop-out which led to Harlequins’ second try although Jones-Buchanan was too easily left flat-flooted as Luke Dorn scrambled over from close range.

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His conversions were not as comprehensive as his tactical kicking as he missed both attempts to leave his side leading by just two points.

But, with a strangely subdued Leeds side showing little desire in their defensive line, the confident 22-year-old was allowed to prosper further.

He went untouched to suck in Senior with a dummy on halfway which put Tony Clubb motoring clear and, although the England centre was half tackled, he was still allowed to off-load leaving ex-Rhino Calderwood with a sharp diagonal run to the line and Gale a simpler conversion,

However, when Melling immediately lost possession in the re-start set, the hosts seized the opportunity. After a strong surge from Ian Kirke, Kevin Sinfield’s briefly-delayed pass saw thundering Jones-Buchanan run a helpless Gale over the line for that crucial score.

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When Dorn unforgivably fumbled at the base of a scrum 15m from his own line, Leeds made the most of their second gift, Burrow and Carl Ablett linking wide for Brett Delaney to bustle over.

Sinfield’s conversion put them 16-14 ahead but they created some magic in the next set to hurt the visitors hard just before the break.

Ryan Bailey’s off-load was continued by Buderus to Sinfield who showed great awareness to unleash Ali Lauitiiti, the Kiwi second-row celebrating his return from injury with an audacious basketball-style off-load to Hardaker before taking the return to stroll over and see his captain convert once more.

Leeds came out for the second half with much more urgency and prowess, Bailey being held up over the line after a typically strong surge before Leuluai showed great strength to hit Buderus’s cut-out pass and barge over from close range on 52 minutes.

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The Samoan prop then showed lovely hands to almost put Lee Smith over, something Rob Burrow did achieve with an arrow-like pass for Hall to apply his usual commanding finish in the corner.

Harlequins hit back when replacement Ben Bolger made the most of some sloppiness but Chris Clarkson raced in from 40m to seal the victory, Sinfield adding the conversion and a penalty with the last play of the game.

Leeds Rhinos: Smith, Hardaker, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Clarkson, Ablett. Substitutes: Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, McShane.

Harlequins: Dorn, Melling, Howell, Clubb, Calderwood, Gale, C Bailey, Temata, Randall, Ward, Burnett, Wilkes, Krasniqi. Substitutes: Ambler, Bolger, Ellis, Williams.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).