By leedsrhinos.biz
June 17 2007

Unbeaten in eight games, super Rhinos remain joint top of the table after beating Huddersfield earlier today. Two tries from Danny McGuire sealed the victory and a late try fest from Tansey and Donald prooving open play. We bring you the match a full match report.

Huddersfield: (6) 12
Tries: Jackson, Nero
Goals: Drew 2

Leeds: (12) 25
Tries: McGuire 2, Tansey, Donald
Goals: Sinfield 4
Drop: Sinfield

Nobody thought when they travelled to the Galpharm were they ever going to see a game like this; a show of sheer determination and guts. The rhinos refused to let the Giants win. All of the points scored by the Rhinos were in the first five minutes and the last. Not something you usually see in a round of engage Super League.

This week we were without the best full back in the world, Brent Webb although Huddersfield Giants were also without their full back, Chris Thorman. Matt Diskin showed class by running out of dummy half whilst Scott Donald and Jamie Peacock were brilliant in defence.

Unbeaten in eight games, is this really the start of a season to remember? We’ve already beaten Saints one this season…only two more to go!

 

Two Danny McGuire tries and late Jordan Tansey and Scott Donald touchdowns helped the current on form side in the engage Super League regain the joint top spot with Saints. The lads put early pressure on the home side within the first two minutes of the game with a Danny McGuire try in the corner. Kevin Sinfield added the extras and the home side thought they were in for a battering. 

McGuire magic was clear to be seen – just a minute later he once again took advantage of the clumsy Giants in the first half by capitalizing on Robbie Paul’s mistake of not being able to cope with a grubber kick. Sinfield failed to convert. 

We couldn’t quite tame the Giants just yet though as in quick reply as Huddersfield pro Paul Jackson made his way over the white wash. Brad Drew added the two points to make the score 12-6 to the visitors at half time as of a earlier penalty which Sinfield this time converted.

Tony Smith denies thinking about Great Britain whilst coaching Leeds but surely it left a bad taste in his mouth when the new boys into the Lions squad made a mess of a glorious chance before half time whilst the Giants were dominant.

Nine minutes after half time and Huddersfield made it twelve a piece with Chris Nero’s converted try. Brad Drew was the creator of the try that cracked the Leeds defence. The fans and the players were never going to let this be a draw – and it wasn’t.

A drop goal with five minutes to go from Kevin Sinfield proved what pressure both sides were under but this was the start of the Rhinos famous late show with two tries in the last five minutes.

It was a great kicking game from Rhinos today with the final tries both collected from kicks. Jordan Tansey who was today playing full back in replacement of Brent Webb (with a injured knee), who is expected to return for the clash in two weeks (because of break from Super League for the Frontline Test Match at Headingley Carnegie) against Bradford at Headingley, collected a Danny McGuire grubber kick to go over the line just like Scott Donald minutes later who also collected a kick, but this time from Kevin Sinfield. 

Tony Smith said after the game that he was pleased with the players efforts. “It was a hard-fought game and there was some brilliant defence from both teams. We played very smartly and were very committed and I'm very proud of all my players.” The players have one week off unlike Tony Smith (also new head coach of GB) who will be coaching the national squad at Headingley against France in just one weeks time.

Tony Smith denies that he 'nicked' the points from the Giants and said this in a press confrence; 

"I thought we finished the game like we started it and the game is over 80 minutes.

"It was a hard-fought game and there was some brilliant defence from both teams, but I don’t think we nicked it at all.

"We played very smartly and were very committed and I’m very proud of all my players." 

It’s now the start at the most important rounds of the season. As you may have seen in our banner, in a fortnight we’ve got Bradford at Headingley and then the week after that its away at Saints – can we do the double over them?

Unbeaten in eight games were joint top of the table with Saints. Another week of before taking on our biggest rivals.

Ref: Klein 

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