Rhinos charge past Hull
Record-breaker Kevin Sinfield helped Leeds Rhinos charge into the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a 38-22 win at Hull FC.
Last Updated: 24/07/11 6:08pm
Record-breaker Kevin Sinfield helped Leeds Rhinos power into the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a 38-22 win at Hull FC.
Skipper Sinfield booted seven kicks to break Lewis Jones' long-standing club record and become Leeds' leading goalscorer with 1,249 successful efforts.
Rhinos scored five second-half tries to swing the game back in their favour at the KC Stadium after Hull had led 16-6 at the break.
Brian McDermott's men will now face West Yorkshire neighbours Castleford Tigers in their last-four tie on August 6/7.
Chance
Fired up Hull, looking eager to avenge last week's 20-0 defeat at Headingley, dominated the opening stages and Kirk Yeaman spurned a great chance when he knocked on with the line at his mercy.
Richard Horne put Leeds under further pressure after gathering a poor Brent Webb kick and charging deep into Rhinos' territory.
Sam Obst finally made the visitors pay as he cut inside and beat two men to open the scoring by the posts.
The Rhinos' problems increased soon after when Richard Whiting intercepted a wayward Chris Clarkson pass and broke clear.
Whiting was stopped just short but Hull were not to be denied as Jordan Turner broke two tackles to stretch out.
Leeds needed a response and got themselves back into the game with a superb piece of finishing from Ben Jones-Bishop.
The winger had little room to play with on the right touchline but managed to evade Tom Briscoe and Cameron Phelps to touch down by the flag.
Seconds before the half-time hooter, Turner grabbed his second of the afternoon but it was the Rhinos who came charging out of the blocks in the second half.
Record
Powerful forward Ali Lauitiiti crossed for the first of three unanswered tries and was quickly followed over by Brett Delaney and Carl Ablett in a devastating 12-minute spell.
Sinfield missed the chance to break the record of club legend Jones, who retired in 1964, when he failed to add the extras to Delaney's try.
But the 30-year-old made no mistake when he was given another chance with a penalty attempt moments later.
The Black and Whites moved the ball forward courtesy of a couple of penalties of their own and Joe Westerman brought them back within two points as he spun over.
Yet Leeds found an extra gear when needed and Ablett took a smart ball from Webb to run through a challenge from Will Sharp and claim his second.
Sinfield curled over a conversion from near the touchline to give the Rhinos an eight-point advantage with ten minutes remaining.
He added another penalty and a late conversion after Jones-Bishop crossed in the last minute.