Sinfield enjoys record night
Skipper Kevin Sinfield set a new club points record as Leeds Rhinos romped to a 56-16 win at Salford City Reds.
Last Updated: 16/03/12 10:18pm
Leeds Rhinos made it four Stobart Super League wins in a row with skipper Kevin Sinfield setting a new club points record during their 56-16 victory over Salford City Reds.
Sinfield scored a try and booted eight goals from 10 attempts to pass Lewis Jones' tally of 2,920 points for Leeds.
The Rhinos fell behind to a Vinnie Anderson try but rallied to lead 32-4 at half-time and Zak Hardaker also had plenty to celebrate with a hat-trick of tries.
Leeds, fresh from wrecking Warrington's unbeaten record this season, brought in Richard Moore in place of Ryan Bailey, who was starting a three-match ban.
Salford never looked like bouncing back from a heavy defeat at Catalan after winning three matches in a row for the first time since 2006.
They have still never won a home Super League clash against Leeds and badly missed marquee Australian signing Joel Moon with a recurrence of a hand injury.
Former Leeds wingers Danny Williams and Ashley Gibson returned from injury against their old club with Anderson also making a comeback.
Salford started promisingly with a surging Shannon McPherson run and went ahead after nine minutes with Daniel Holdsworth's kick bouncing nicely for Anderson to mark his return with his first try of the season.
Leeds hit back almost immediately with Chris Clarkson racing onto Sinfield's well-timed pass for Hardaker to finish off smartly.
Sinfield's conversion edged the Rhinos ahead 6-4 but they missed the chance to increase the advantage when Brent Webb failed to take Brett Delaney's pass.
Salford's relief was only temporary with Webb sending Delaney over midway through the first half and Sinfield obliged with the conversion to make it 12-4.
Sprint
Danny McGuire's 90-metre sprint was only stopped by a superb Luke Patten tackle but Leeds spun the ball out wide for Kallum Watkins to round Stuart Howarth with ease and extend the lead to 18-4.
Salford's task became even tougher when Sinfield collected Ben Jones-Bishop's kick for his first try of the season but he was off target with the conversion attempt.
Leeds added a sixth try when Carl Ablett gathered McGuire's kick for Liam Hood to notch his third try in three sub appearances.
The Rhinos made it a 28-point advantage at the break with Sinfield and Watkins combining for McGuire to cross in the corner.
Salford, jeered off at the interval, lost concussed Chris Nero early in the second half with Williams and McPherson then forced to quit.
Leeds should have extended their lead but Ryan Hall threw a poor inside pass to Rob Burrow.
Hardaker showed his star potential with a scorching solo run for his second try by waltzing through a pedestrian defence, with Sinfield's conversion making it 38-4.
Hardaker completed his hat-trick after smart inter-passing with Ablett and Webb on the hour with Sinfield booting his record setting goal.
Burrow scooted over for the Rhinos' ninth try before Ablett crossed after 71 minutes in front of 6,891 fans - the Reds biggest crowd at their new stadium.
Salford had to wait until four minutes from time before their second try from Gareth Owen, which was converted by Holdsworth.
Patten then touched down to give the scoreline more respectability.