Mighty Rhinos charge on
Super League leaders Leeds made it seven wins from eight with another hugely impressive display in a 30-4 win at Hull.
By Ben Sullivan
Last Updated: 25/03/08 1:03pm
Super League leaders Leeds made it seven wins from eight with another hugely impressive display in a 30-4 win at Hull.
The Airlie Birds had won their last two clashes with the Rhinos at the KC Stadium but this time they had no answer to the power and skill of the visitors.
Leeds were simply superb with ball in hand and almost as impressive in defence as they choked the life out of what attacks a completely overwhelmed Hull could muster, until Gareth Raynor's consolation score four minutes from time.
The champions demolished Bradford in Friday's derby clash and carried on in similar fashion. They look every inch world-beaters and next week's Grand Final re-match with St Helens is a mouthwatering prospect.
An already-depleted Hull were not helped by an injury before kick-off to Richard Horne but that can hardly be said to have affected the outcome.
Broke
Hull did not have the ball in the Leeds half for the first 12 minutes and after bravely repelling waves of Leeds attacks, they finally broke when Kevin Sinfield's grubber kick was missed by Kirk Yeaman and Rob Burrow touched down.
Sinfield added the extras to become the first Leeds player to score in 50 consecutive games.
On 20 minutes the Rhinos doubled their advantage after the Hull defence failed to wrap up Jamie Peacock, Danny McGuire took the offload and Brent Webb was on hand to burst through and score beneath the sticks.
Three minutes later it was Ellis who made the break and McGuire's brilliantly quick pass put Lee Smith in.
With an 18-0 lead the intensity of the attack dropped, but crucially the defence upped its levels.
Ryan Bailey knocked on deep in his own half, but Hull just could not find any penetration despite plenty of quality possession.
Masterpieces
Leeds added two more tries early in the second half and both were masterpieces.
First 11 pairs of hands kept the ball alive in a mesmerising move and when it was finally halted, Carl Ablett arrived on the angle to take the pass from dummy half and crash over.
The Rhinos' fifth try was even better, a string of offloads completed by Sinfield who added his fifth goal.
Leeds treated the rest of the match almost like a training run but they will have been disappointed to concede their first try for 233 minutes when former Leeds winger Raynor hacked on and won the chase for the ball.