Rhinos rally to rout Quins

Leeds Rhinos ran in eight second-half tries en route to a 54-20 victory over Harlequins in sweltering conditions at the Stoop on Sunday.

Tony Smith's side moved within two points of St Helens at the top of Super League as a result, as Quins faded in the heat.

The Londoners had led 16-6 at half-time, but the Rhinos emerged a rejuvenated unit after the interval, with Brent Webb (48, 80), Jordan Tansey (52), Kevin Sinfield (55), Gareth Ellis (63), Scott Donald (67), Jamie Peacock (70) and Danny McGuire (78) the try-scorers.

It was an ill-disciplined start to the match in blistering conditions at the Stoop, with New Zealand international Webb guilty of three high tackles, to gift Quins a first-half lead.

The Kiwi was put on report for two over the top challenges in the first 10 minutes, and from the resulting set of six Quins took a 4-0 lead through Paul Sykes' touch down in the corner. Sykes missed the conversion, but the energetic Londoners had a deserved 4-0 lead.

Injury

Leeds lost influential scrum-half Rob Burrows to a rib cartilage injury soon after, but three-quarter Thackray sold Lee Hopkins a superb sidestep to level the scores. Kevin Sinfield then added the extras and the Rhinos had a 6-4 lead.

Webb's third high shot of the match saw him earn a long overdue yellow card, and Leeds conceded 10 points in his absence.

Scott Hill ran in his fourth try of the season on 27 minutes, with a Sykes conversion, and skipper Mark McLinden finished of a fast, sweeping Quins move off with another converted try to take Quins 16-6 up at the break.

Webb moved from full-back to dummy-half to try and get more involved in attack after the interval, which almost paid immediate dividends but for a fine saving tackle just short of the line.

Leeds appeared to have preserved their energy for the second-half and Webb went some way to repaying his debt to the team with a converted try 10 minutes into the second period, closing the deficit to four.

Turning point

McGuire's superb 40-20 gave Leeds field advantage, and Tansey then capitalised, running on to his own dink kick and touching down under the sticks to hand Leeds an 18-16 advantage.

Sinfield got in on the act with a converted try of his own from dummy-half on 55 minutes, and Leeds had a 24-16 lead at that stage.

Ellis, Donald and Peacock's converted tries took Leeds 42-16 up with 10 minutes still to play.

Danny Orr ran in a late consolation try for Quins, but not to be outdone, McGuire raced in for his 22nd try against the London club.

And it was that man Webb who popped up to complete the turnaround and secure a 54-20 win, following more good work from Keith Senior.