Rhinos charge into Grand Final
Ryan Hall grabbed a brace
Also In The News
|
By Matt Hallam. |  |
Friday, 02, Oct 2009 09:39
Leeds Rhinos eased to a 27-20 win over Catalans Dragons to reach their third successive Grand Final.
Two tries each from Ryan Hall and Danny McGuire in the first half gave the Rhinos an unassailable 22-4 lead at Headingley.
The Dragons were a different team in the second half helping themselves to three tries but fell just short of causing an upset.
McGuire opened the scoring with 14 minutes gone. A break by Brent Webb gave the hosts great field position from which McGuire stepped his way over for the first score. Sinfield's conversion made it 6-0.
The visitors responded immediately with Adam Mogg feeding Vincent Duport who touched down in the corner to make it 6-4.
Three tries in three minutes from the Rhinos left the Dragons with a huge mountain to climb coming up to half-time.
First Rob Burrow found some space and offloaded for Hall's first score before Jamie Jones-Buchanan broke away and fed the winger again for his 32nd try of the season.
Immediately from the restart McGuire broke away from a non-existent Dragons defence to grab his second try and put one foot in the Grand Final.
Sinfield added two conversions to make it 22-4 at the break.
If it wasn't over at half-time it surely was two minutes into the second half. Scott Donald latching onto a long pass to stretch the lead to 26-4.
But the Dragons refused to die wondering and a short side move from the clawed a try back three minutes later. Sebastien Raguin involved as he fed Duport to touch down in the corner for his second of the match.
The Dragons' comeback continued as the French side reduced the deficit to 12.
Mogg evaded the challenges of the Rhinos defence to feed Duport who completed his hat-trick on 54 minutes. Thomas Bosc added the extras to make it 26-14.
Sinfield halted the Dragons comeback with a drop-goal that put more than two tries between the sides with 18 minutes left and virtually secure victory.
Mogg capitalised on a great break from Greg Bird to grab a consolation try for his side with five minutes left with Bosc's conversion bringing the score to 27-20.
It was too little too late though as the Rhinos played out the final minutes to book their place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford next Saturday.
Tom Powell