Wakefield beat rivals Leeds with late Lino drop-goal

Betfred Super League

Wakefield (8) 15

Goals: Jowitt (3), Lino, Walmsley

Leeds (8) 14

Wakefield improved to a sold-out Belle Vue with the exception of Mason Lino’s dramatic last-play drop goal, which gave them a slim lead over Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos.

After Jarrod O’Connor’s late try, the Rhinos looked poised to win, but Matty Storton ran over with just under an hour to equalize.

Brodie Clark’s drop goal attempt for Leeds was almost on point, but Lino, who had been outstanding all evening, fired from close range to earn the win for Trinity.

The outcome places Daryll Powell’s side in the top six, while Leeds missed out on a chance to share the spoils with Wigan in second place.

After a free-flowing attacking set, Wakefield changed the situation, with Lachlan Walmsley advancing towards the line.

Leeds immediately responded, but Sam Lisone was used as a battering ram to storm over to level the scores in place of the hosts’ attacking flair.

O’Connor dribbled for the line for his first try of the season in the second half despite having less possession but using it more effectively in the second half.

The second 40, which was Wakefield’s lowest possible threat, resulted in equal scores going into the final ten minutes thanks to Storton’s late finish, which was converted by Matt Jowitt.

With only ten minutes left, Clark’s attempted drop goal for Leeds, which was dragged just to the left of the posts, left the 10, 000 capacity crowd in Belle Vue on the lookout for an extra 10 minutes of rugby.

With just a few seconds left, Lino, who had been combining brutal physicality with speed and agility all night, kicked from 35 meters to seal a thrilling victory.

Head coach Powell and chairman Craig Barrass were filmed celebrating wildly in the stands as Wakefield beat their close friends for the second time this season while the Samoan was mobbed by his team-mates.

Victory places them sixth, significantly improving their chances of winning.

Nikotemo, Atoni, Storton, and Rourke are exchanges.

Leeds: Hall, Handley, Newman, Edgell, Croft, Connor, Palasia, O’Connor, Jenkins, McDonnell, Bentley, Watkins, and others.

Changes: Littlewood, Lisone, Cassell, and Sinfield