Leeds go third after tight win over Wakefield

Betfred Super League

Leeds (22) 22

Connor 5 tries Newman, Connor, and Lumb

Wakefield (6) 18

In their West Yorkshire derby, the Leeds Rhinos defeated Wakefield Trinity adamantly to move up the table and claim their sixth Super League victory.

As two of the competition’s form teams squared off at Headingley, Jake Connor recorded a personal tally of 14 points as the match became MND Awareness and the anniversary of Rob Burrow’s passing.

Both teams had already won three straight games, but Connor’s home team looked relaxed at halftime as Harry Newman and Riley Lumb added scores.

In the first half, Leeds outperformed Trinity, dominating in the backfield and looking more creative, and building a strong lead with Connor’s clinical mindset.

The Rhinos half-back then claimed his own four-pointer by throwing a dummy and avoiding a gap to extend the lead, which was well done by Newman, who collected Connor’s kick and spin out of a tackle to start the scoring.

Trinity was within touching distance when Walmsley scored its first Super League try of the year, but Leeds continued to advance as a result with Lumb’s skillful passing move and Connor’s conversion and two penalties underlined their territorial and tactical dominance.

After the break, Jowitt, the man who last season broke a new British record by scoring 500 points in Wakefield’s championship-winning campaign, took center stage if Connor had won the first half.

After Corey Hall had broken a sluggish Leeds defense, he was on hand to finish it once more after he had chased down his own grubber kick.

That enabled him to surpass Connor’s 14-point scoring total in the match by nine tries this season.

Interchanges: C. Smith, Lisone, Jenkins, and Holroyd

Wakefield includes Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Jowitt, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts, and Walmsley.

Scott, Vagana, Cozza, and H. Smith swaps.