Wolves stun Rhinos with playoff win
Lee Briers won the battle with Kevin Sinfield to see Wolves through
Also In The News
|
Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie will lead Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup when the tournament gets underway in Ireland tomorrow. |  |
Friday, 22, Sep 2006 10:17
Warrington claimed their first ever play-off win after a shock 18-17 victory over Leeds in the elimination semi-final at the Headingley Carnegie stadium.
A 30-metre drop goal from star man Lee Briers gave the Wolves victory to end a run of nine straight away defeats on the road to the Super League grand final.
Leeds took the lead on six minutes through Rob Burrows, after an error from Stuart Reardon, with Kevin Sinfield converting.
Reardon redeemed himself four minutes later when he set-up Henry Fa'afili to cross the line to make it 6-4.
Burrow continued his impressive season with a dazzling run on 19 minutes before passing to Danny McGuire to score his 25th try of the season.
A minute before half-time, Briers reduced the gap to 12-6 with a drop goal after the Rhinos were penalised for not having their markers square.
The second half began in frenzied fashion with the Wolves crossing the line within a minute through Michael Sullivan following a sublime long range pass from Briers to make it 12-10 to the Rhinos.
Sinfield then kicked two penalties to extend the host's lead to six points with 20 minutes to go.
But Warrington fought back with a try from Ben Westwood which was converted by Briers to leave the scores level.
A drop goal by Sinfield was quickly cancelled out by the visitors as the possibility of extra time loomed until Brier's heroics.