Leeds beat Broncos
The Rhinos moved two points clear at the top of the Qualifiers table with a 28-42 victory against London Broncos at the Trailfinder Sports Ground.
Tom Briscoe bagged a hat-trick as Leeds stay unbeaten in the Middle 8s.
The first try of the match went to London – Rhys Williams taking Nicky Slyney’s offload before darting down the field to touch down.
Jamie Soward nailed the conversion to give the Broncos a 6-0 lead.
Leeds replied just over five minutes later, Briscoe touching down in the corner after Kallum Watkins’ pass.
London’s early lead was soon gone, Liam Sutcliffe with a four-pointer after being put in by Jimmy Keinhorst.
James Cunningham was responsible for a brilliant individual effort, showing lightning reaction to break the Leeds defence out of dummy half before diving over.
The see-sawing nature of the first-half continued when Briscoe raced down the far side and grounded the ball for his second try of the afternoon.
Sutcliffe had the chance to carve out a four-point lead for the Rhinos but failed to convert for the second time, the blustery conditions playing their part in the capital.
James Segeyaro ensured the Rhinos did have a cushion going into the interval, dashing across with two minutes left.
Leeds could have started the second half as they finished the first but Watkins, who had dashed over the whitewash, was slow to ground the ball and was ultimately punished after Ben Hellewell’s challenge from behind.
Jordan Lilley spared Watkins’ blushes by touching down four minutes later after an imposing run from Karl Ablett.
Two more quick-fire tries from Mitch Achurch and Watkins saw Leeds strengthen their grip on the match.
Slyney was determined to make sure Leeds didn’t have it all their own way, crashing over after William Barthau’s pass. Soward scored the extras to leave the Broncos 18 points behind with just under 20 minutes left.
Briscoe secured his hat-trick following a poor kick from Barthau who lofted the ball out on the full.
Illiess Macani scored a late consolation for the Broncos, breezing past Sutcliffe with ease before racing across in the corner.
The Rhinos were guilty of switching off late on, Elliot Kear allowed to crash over to further reduce the deficit.
