BBC Sportrugbyleague

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 21:17 GMT, Friday, 20 May 2011 22:17 UK

Leeds Rhinos 40-20 Harlequins

Leeds (22) 40
Tries: Hardaker, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Lauitiiti, Leuluai, Hall, Clarkson
Goals: Sinfield 6
Harlequins (14) 20
Tries: Melling, Dorn, Calderwood, Bolger
Goals: Gale 2


Kevin Sinfield
Sinfield converted six of Leeds' seven tries

Leeds had to come from behind as they ran in seven tries to book their place in the last eight of the Challenge Cup.

Zak Hardaker, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Brett Delaney and Ali Lauitiiti all went over for first-half tries.

Kylie Leuluai, Ryan Hall and fit-again Chris Clarkson scored after the break, Kevin Sinfield kicking six goals.

But Leeds now face an anxious wait to discover the extent of the right knee injury sustained by veteran centre Keith Senior five minutes from the end.

Harlequins also suffered an injury blow when full-back Luke Dorn suffered a recurrence of the hamstring problem that forced him to miss the club's two previous matches

The visitors won 36-26 on their last trip to Headingley back in February.

And, although their form has tailed off badly since (they have not won in nine Super League games), they briefly threatened to repeat that shock victory over the Rhinos.

After trailing to teenage forward Hardaker's early try, Quins ran in three first-half tries in an 18-minute spell through Luke Dorn, Chris Melling and Mark Calderwood to lead 14-6.

But Leeds, still without Danny McGuire and Brent Webb, weathered the storm.

And they hit back with tries from Jones-Buchanan, Delaney and a superb effort from Lauitiiti inside 10 minutes to lead 22-14 at the break.

Leuluai and Hall made Leeds' passage to the quarter-finals in July safe before Bolger's late consiolation.

But there was still time for Clarkson to mark his return with a try, just a fortnight after being helped off with a suspected broken ankle in the 30-20 fourth-round win over Crusaders.

Sinfield kicked that for a return of five from seven conversion attempts, before adding a last-minute penalty to round off the scoring for last year's Wembley runners-up.

Leeds assistant coach James Lowes still paid tribute to struggling Quins for pushing their former coach Brian McDermott's Rhinos all the way.

POST-MATCH REACTION

Leeds assistant coach James Lowes:

"We're in the hat. We got there eventually but it was not our most accomplished performance. We had to grind one out and it's good that we can do that.

"We were not at our best but a little bit of credit has to go to Harlequins for never giving up. They were still only two scores away from us with a few minutes to go.

"Keith Senior's got an ice pack on and he's having checks now. We'll have a clearer picture in the next 24 or 48 hours."

Harlequins coach Rob Powell:

"The guys have come away frustrated. I thought we were in control of the game and were certainly winning the arm wrestle.

"But there was a period when we made three errors near our line and they scored off them. As a group, we've got to learn to defend if we make an error.

"There times when we were really dominant we shot ourselves in the foot. But we still put in 100% effort and there are lots we can build on for next week."

TEAMS

Leeds: Smith; Hardaker, Delaney, Senior, Hall; Sinfield, Burrow; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Clarkson, Ablett.

Replacements: Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, McShane.

Harlequins: Dorn; Melling, Howell, Clubb, Calderwood; Gale, Bailey; Temata, Randall, Ward, Burnett, Wilkes, Krasniqi.

Replacements: Ambler, Bolger, Ellis, Williams.

Attendance: 7,147.



Print Sponsor


see also
Leeds 30-6 Catalan Dragons
13 May 11 |  Rugby League
Wigan 54-6 Harlequins
13 May 11 |  Rugby League
Leeds 30-20 Crusaders
07 May 11 |  Rugby League
Gateshead 0-70 Harlequins
06 May 11 |  Rugby League
Leeds 26-36 Harlequins
25 Feb 11 |  My Club
Rugby League on the BBC
15 Oct 10 |  Rugby League
Rugby League commentaries
03 Apr 10 |  Rugby League


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites