Sivo inspires Leeds to victory over Castleford

Betfred Super League

Leeds (10) 22

Tries: Brown, Sivo 3 Goals: Connor 3

Castleford (4) 4

Tries: Ravalawa

Maika Sivo continued his sensational start to the Super League season by inspiring Leeds Rhinos to victory over West Yorkshire rivals Castleford.

The Fijian winger, who scored four tries in last weekend's 58-6 thumping of Hull KR in Las Vegas, added another three at Headingley.

The 32-year-old has now scored nine tries in three matches and helped Rhinos make it three straight victories following their opening-round defeat by Leigh which he missed.

Seven days on from their showdown with defending champions Hull KR in Las Vegas, Leeds found the going tougher against neighbours Cas, but still ran out comfortable winners.

George Brown got the ball down superbly under pressure to put Leeds on the board and Sivo stretched the lead following Mikaele Ravalawa's score for Cas.

Sivo added his second shortly after the restart and then went over in the corner to complete his hat-trick following a smart one-handed offload from Chris Hankinson.

Castleford applied plenty of pressure in the final 20 minutes but were unable to find a way through some outstanding and determined Leeds defence.

Both sides had a try disallowed, but it mattered little to the final result.

Cam Smith saw his first-half score for Leeds chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up, and Castleford stand-off Zac Cini's second-half try was ruled out, also for a knock-on.

Cas, who picked up their first victory of the campaign against Huddersfield in the last round, have now lost three of their opening four fixtures.

Both sides are in Challenge Cup action next weekend.

Leeds visit Wakefield on Friday and Castleford host St Helens on Saturday.

Leeds: Miller, Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hall, Brown, Connor, Jenkins, Levi, Palasia, Watkins, O'Neill, Smith

Interchanges: O'Connor, Holroyd, Hankinson, Mata'utia

Castleford: Cini, Ravalawa, McIntosh, Mapapalangi, Qareqare, Asi, Weaver, Atoni, Hood, Westerman, Lane, Hirst, Stimson

Interchanges: Golding, Ashworth, Hall, Lawler

Referee: James Vella.