Leeds 4-21 Harlequins

Harlequins sent Leeds crashing to their fourth Super League defeat in five outings with a surprise 21-4 win at Headingley.

The win puts Quins sixth in the table, just two points behind second place Leeds, and coach Brian McDermott’s pre-season comments about them being capable of reaching the Grand Final don’t seem too far fetched after performances like this.

Centre David Howell gave them a tenth minute lead out wide, before Chad Randall went under the posts for their second try, giving the visitors a 10-0 half time lead in front of a subdued Headingley crowd, who booed the Rhinos off at the interval.

The second half was scoreless for 25 minutes before Rob Purdham slotted over a penalty to edge Quins out to 12-0, and five minutes later he landed a drop goal to put the visitors three scores to the good.

Leeds winger Scott Donald had a try ruled out by referee Steve Ganson for offside, and Quins rubbed salt in to the wounds of the home side with Howell’s second try just moments later.

Another penalty from Purdham put Quins 21-0, but Leeds saved themselves the embarrassment of being kept scoreless at home when Rob Burrow scuttled over in the closing stages.

McDermott was in bullish mood at the full time whistle. He said: “Leeds are a great team and they certainly don’t let you win easily but we had 17 blokes out there who went out there and did exactly what we asked them to do.

“That performance will say that we are capable of doing anything.

“I still think we can win the grand final as much as anybody.”