Wolves hunt down Rhinos
Warrington kept up the pressure on Super League leaders Wigan with a 37-18 victory over struggling Leeds.
Last Updated: 08/06/12 10:17pm
Warrington kept up the pressure on Super League leaders Wigan with a 37-18 victory over struggling Leeds.
The champions remain marooned outside the play-off positions, although they avoided another humiliation of the kind they endured in shipping 50 points at home to Wigan last weekend.
That looked to be on the cards as Warrington raced into an 18-0 lead after just 10 minutes and led 24-0 inside the first quarter.
An error from Leeds full-back Brent Webb gifted the Wolves the opening try in the first minute, his slip attempting to field Chris Riley's grubber handing Trent Waterhouse the score.
Waterhouse's tackle on Jamie Peacock four plays after the kick-off forced a knock-on inside the Leeds 20 and Riley got in at the corner.
The Rhinos were reeeling when Gareth O'Brien slid onto Briers' kick under the posts and to add to their problems, Webb was carried from the field.
The game was virtually over when Briers' reverse kick was brilliantly touched down by O'Brien and Brett Hodgson's fourth goal made the score 24-0.
Before the half hour Riley had his second try after O'Brien burst through the defence and raced 40 metres.
Damage
The final 50 minutes of the game was an even contest, but for Leeds the damage was done.
Robb Burrow's short pass put over Kevin Sinfield just before the interval and the scrum-half's brilliant break from the back of a scrum and Sinfield's second goal cut the deficit to 18 points shortly afterwards.
Briers nudged Warrington four scores ahead again with a drop-goal, but Burrow's second converted try from Brett Delaney's powerful run again cut the deficit.
It was left to Ryan Atkins to show good strength in forcing his way over in the corner to finally snuff out Leeds' resistance, but for all their admirable spirit in defeat, the Rhinos are a club in crisis.