Lauitiiti leaves it late

Lauitiiti: match-winning try

Leeds battled their way to a 12-7 victory at Crusaders to go fifth in the Super League table.

The Rhinos trailed 6-0 early in the second half and needed a try four minutes from time from Ali Lauitiiti to secure victory at the Racecourse Ground.

Peter Lupton's try was the only score of the first half and, despite Michael Witt's penalty and drop-goal, scores from Danny McGuire and Lauitiiti snatched the win for the visitors.

The Crusaders edged ahead early on after a 40-20 kick, with Gareth Thomas sending loose forward Lupton clear for an easy run-in to the line through a gap in the Leeds midfield defence.

The Rhinos battered away at the Crusaders' defence but were unable to force a breakthrough, as the slippery conditions contributed to 14 scrums in the first half alone.

But, between those set pieces, there were some chances. Crusaders half-back Witt kicked to the corner only for Leeds wing Ryan Hall to scramble back to avert the danger and, when Witt put up a cross-kick to the corner, the Leeds defenders leapt highest to deny home centre Vince Mellars the score.

The closest either side came to another try came when livewire scrum half Jarrod Sammut made a dive for the line, falling just short as replacement Jordan James picked up and dived over the top of his Australian team-mate, but referee Ben Thaler ruled out the try.

Rob Burrow and Lee Smith then came to the Rhinos rescue when Jason Chan had a chance just five yards from the Leeds line before, at the other end, Sinfield chipped over the home defence for Maguire to chase and be denied by a diving Jordan Tansey in front of his own posts.

Scrappy

After the break, the scrum-count continued to rise as the game remained a scrappy affair.

The nearest the match came to a second score was in the 50th minute when Leeds had an attack 10 yards from the home line. It seemed one good pass out to the right would seal it for Leeds but Thomas got a vital touch as the pass approached Brett Delaney to deny the Rhinos centre.

In fact it was the hosts who scored next after the Rhinos infringed 26 yards from their own line and Witt opted to kick for goal for a 6-0 lead.

That looked a solid decision given the conditions, but the Rhinos eventually got the reward for their concerted pressure.

First Maguire went over for a try that Sinfield converted and, after Witt had kicked a drop-goal to put the Crusaders 7-6 in front, Lauitiiti crossed for the crucial score, with Sinfield again converting.