Leeds defeat Huddersfield for fifth straight win

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (0) 0

Leeds (8) 26

With a 26-0 win over Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos increased their chances of placing second in the Super League.

With Harry Newman’s only attempt to support their early dominance, the Rhinos initially struggled to put pressure on themselves before two Jake Connor penalties put an 8-0 lead at the break.

Morgan Gannon’s opportunistic score on the hour finally gave Leeds the edge over their attacking dominance.

Brodie Croft advanced with a second straight victory thanks to Lachlan Miller’s magic, before Mikolaj Oledzki burrowed over to add to Leeds’ point total.

Although not particularly clinical, Leeds still managed to clinch second place and avoid a Super League play-off berth.

The Rhinos started off strong, holding the home side to a halt and stealing yards with their expansive running rugby, but handling errors let them down.

For Newman’s ninth try of the season, Croft snuck a super kick through the Giants’ backline just 11 minutes into the breakthrough.

In a protracted stretch of territory and possession, Huddersfield regrouped and threatened with their own as a forward pass from Joe Greenwood, who made his 100th appearance.

However, Leeds’ improved defense endured just as well, and the hosts’ growing disdain led to poor discipline that gave the Rhinos a two-score lead at the break.

The stand-off slotted a penalty through Jack Billington’s shoulder charge on Connor, who had already gotten it. And Connor was able to split the posts from 40 meters later thanks to an off-the-ball challenge from Woolford.

As the second half proceeded in a similar pattern, with Leeds battling back while battling to convert possession and territory into points, Giants had to recoup more early pressure.

When Gannon intercepted a poor Miller pass to burst through the middle and cross, home hopes were still in the future, and the Rhinos needed a stroke of luck to extend the lead.

Three Giants were dragged over the line by Sam Lisone as the visitors sought to give the scoreline some more gloss.

Golding, King, Rogers, and Land are the exchanges.

Leeds: Ackers, Gannon, McDonnell, Watkins, Hall, Newman, McCormack, Hankinson, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Ackers, Gannon, McDonnell, and others.

Cassell, Bentley, Lisone, and O’Connor swaps.