Crusaders 6 Leeds Rhinos 34: Rhinos hit back to overcome gallant Crusaders

Although the final scoreline may suggest otherwise, the Welsh club under their new guise in Wrexham delivered a performance rich in character, purpose and promise.

Leeds were the ones looking frustrated after being held 6-6 until the 65th minute before a late flurry of tries – arriving as suddenly as the snow that had unexpectedly carpeted the Racecourse Ground yesterday evening – got them home in an unusual start to the season of summer rugby.

Danny McGuire sprinted clear for the first try to ease the pressure and that was quickly followed by efforts from Ali Lauiititi (2), impressive Australian debutant Brett Delaney and captain Kevin Sinfield.

But it was no embarrassment for Crusaders, who considering they had not had a warm-up game and had quickly been put together during a troubled off season, fared relatively well.

A sell-out crowd of 10,334 saw Brian Noble's men, tough up the middle like so many of his sides, offer encouraging signs for the months ahead.

They went in front in only the fourth minute. After Rob Burrow coughed up possession, Leeds – who were without Brent Webb after a late withdrawal – were caught offside and Michael Witt slotted a confidence-boosting two points.

The stand-off controlled matters well early on, his kicking game particularly damaging in continually turning the visitors, who struggled for any sort of rhythm.

With robust forwards such as Jason Chan, who knocked Sinfield flying with one charge, and Frank Winterstein getting into their stride, Leeds soon knew they were in a contest.

It was a sign of the Crusaders' growing belief when they boldly tried to spring a surprise on the last tackle, Keith Senior needing to be alert as former Hull hooker Tommy Lee surged onto a path close to the line.

When Leeds did gain some decent possession, prop Kylie Leuluai spilled on only the second tackle and all was obviously not well.

Witt then danced through while shaping to kick to cause panic in the Rhinos' defence and set off a splendid passing motion. If Winterstein had managed to stay composed the Crusaders suddenly had an overlap but he could not grasp a difficult pass in the freezing conditions and the chance went.

Leeds should have responded when Luluai burst through but McGuire uncharacteristically dropped the offload.

However, the champions struck soon after, Delaney raiding down the right and dinking a kick ahead that Nick Youngquest should easily have controlled but the Crusaders' full-back somehow let the ball bounce past him and Scott Donald did not need a second invite.

Sinfield improved the 19th-minute try but it did not signal an immediate avalanche.

They did find more incisiveness, first Jamie Jones-Buchanan threatening with a clever kick down the blind side before Sinfield sent the second row hurtling through only to see the supporting Burrow illegally held back as he looked to take a try-scoring pass.

But Crusaders continued to defend stoutly and were rewarded with a try of their own through Gareth Raynor, one of eight debutants, in the 27th minute.

Witt a crossfield kick and the centre Vince Mellars beat Carl Ablett in the air before finding the former Hull winger with the crucial pass.

Witts's conversion attempt dropped just short but, despite letting Leeds's restart bounce dead, he continued to aggravate the illustrious foes.

Senior saw an offload go to ground and Matt Diskin knocked on in a promising position then when Delaney did splinter them out wide he bizarrely hacked ahead, ignoring support on either side.

It was the Crusaders who created the best opportunity before half-time, some crisp passing seeing ex-Castleford winger Luke Dyer gain sight of the line, Leeds requiring their England international Ryan Hall to swiftly get across and force him into touch just before the whitewash.

As expected, the Crusaders tired after the re-start as Leeds applied more of the pressure but they did not break the Welsh resistance until McGuire's 65-metre effort, created by some quality handling from Delaney, the burly centre who looked an excellent acquisition from Gold Coast Titans.

And then came the blitz.

Crusaders RL: Youngquest, Dyer, Trimarchi, Mellars, Raynor, Witt, Withers, O'Hara, Lee, Bryant, Chan, Peek, Winternstein. Substitutes: Thackray, James, White, Lupton.

Leeds Rhinos: Watkins, Donald, Delaney, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield. Substitutes: Lauitiiti, Diskin, Eastwood, Kirke.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield)