Leeds Rhinos 30 Catalan Dragons 6: Youngster Hardaker strikes late to continue Leeds’s rise

The Rhinos were clinging to a 14-6 lead until 19-year-old Hardaker swooped in dramatic fashion with two tries in a decisive four-minute spell.

Scrum-half Rob Burrow then touched down in injury-time to condemn the Dragons to their first defeat in eight matches.

The Catalans are still looking for first win at Headingley but it was not for the want of trying as they gave as good as they got.

The visitors had captain Thomas Bosc at scrum-half in the absence of influential playmaker and leading scorer Scott Dureau, and what they lacked in creation they made up for in spirited defence that restricted their hosts to a solitary try in the first half.

England winger Ryan Hall went over in the first minute after Leeds had gained possession from their own kick-off, courtesy of Kevin Sinfield’s superb punt, but he was brought back for a foot in touch.

The Rhinos had the bulk of possession and kept the visitors pinned back with the aid of four goal-line drop-outs in the first 15 minutes, but their only reward came midway through the half when Hall went over unopposed at the corner from Sinfield’s cut-out pass. The Leeds captain added the difficult conversion to make it 6-0 at the break.

Defences remained largely on top in the second half but the home side doubled their lead after 52 minutes when Jamie Peacock combined with Sinfield to get prop Kylie Leuluai charging through a rare gap to score his second try of the season.

The ever-willing Hall then lit up an otherwise drab game with a thrilling 60-metre run in which he swatted off defenders like flies until being eventually being bundled into touch 20 metres short.

That only served to strengthen the resolve of the visitors, though, and they struck back after 62 minutes when lively hooker Ian Henderson forced his way over from dummy-half after Jason Baitieri had been held short.

Bosc added the conversion to cut the gap to six points but Sinfield eased any anxiety in the home camp with a penalty goal 10 minutes from the end and Leeds made sure of the victory with Hardaker’s two tries.

The youngster got on the end of a sweeping move involving Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Carl Ablett and Brett Delaney for his first, and then, after a break out of defence by Buderus, collected Sinfield’s pinpoint kick into space.

Burrow then put the seal on another impressive victory with a solo try and Sinfield took his goal tally to five from six attempts.

Leeds: Smith, Hardaker, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Pitts, Ablett. Substitutes: Hauraki, Kirke, Burgess, McShane.

Catalan Dragons: Stacul, Blanch, Baile, Pala, Vaccari, Sa, Bosc, Ferriol, Henderson, Fakir, Raguin, Mounis, Baitieri. Substitutes: Gigot, Simon, Martins, Touxagas.

Referee: R Hicks (RFL).