RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS:
| Engage Super League XV opening round games | ||
| Written by: Simon Reuben | ||
| January 31st 2010 09:19 AM | ||
Crusaders RL 6 Tries: Raynor Goals: Witt Leeds Rhinos 34 Tries: Donald, McGuire, Lauitiiti 2, Sinfield, Delaney Goals: Sinfield 5 Att: 10,334 Champions Leeds Rhinos scored five tries in the last 15 minutes to deny a plucky Crusaders in the opening game of Engage Super League XV. Played in snowy conditions in front of a full house at the Crusaders new home in Wrexham, North Wales. The hosts opened the scoring thanks to penalty goal from ex Warriors and new signing Michael Witt, who was playing his first game of Rugby League for two years. A kick thorough by ex Gold Coast centre Brett Delaney set up Scott Donald to score the first try of the 2010 season as the Rhinos took a 6-2 lead. Despite not having a warm up game pre-season, the Welsh side played their part and they levelled the game up when Witt’s bomb set up ex Hull winger Gareth Raynor to score out wide. Crusaders continued to hold Leeds out and they deservedly went into the break on terms at 6-6. The Champions dominated the early stages of the second period and despite having the territory and possession they could not break down the plucky host’s defence until with 15 minutes remaining Danny McGuire finished off a flowing move from within his own 20 to break the deadlock and go into the lead 12-6. As the home-side tired Leeds took control and ran in four quick-fire tries from Kevin Sinfield, Delaney and a brace for Ali Lauitiiti to complete a comprehensive victory as the visitors got their season off to the best possible start. Harlequins RL 10 Tries: Jones-Bishop 2 Goals: Orr Wakefield Wildcats 18 Tries: Millard, Jeffries, Murphy Goals: Brough 3 Att: 3,688 Wakefield Wildcats gained a hard-fought victory over Harlequins RL at the Twickenham Stoop. The visitors started the stronger and the pressure told on 15-minutes as Daryl Millard went over to score on his debut. Quins hit back after good work from Chad Randall and Luke Gale set up on-loan singing from the Leeds Rhinos, Ben Jones- Bishop to score. Just before the break the Wildcats increased their lead to 12-4 after a weaving run from Aaron Murphy led to a Ben Jeffries touchdown. Early into the second half, the Londoners got back into the contest as Jones-bishop evaded three tackles to score his second try of the match. Quins goal-line defence kept them in the game but eventually the pressure told as Murphy took an inside pass to score and effectively win the game for the Wildcats. In the last 10-minutes the game boiled over and both Wakefield's Richard Moore and the home side's Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook were shown red card in the closing stages of the game. |
