Leeds (6) 21
Tries: Clarkson, Hall, McGuire Goals: Sinfield 4 Drop-goal: Sinfield

Huddersfield (4) 20
Tries: Lunt, D Hodgson 2, Patrick Goals: Brough, Cudjoe

Sinfield kicked four goals and a drop-goal at Headingley

Kevin Sinfield's last-gasp drop-goal gave defending champions Leeds a narrow win over local rivals Huddersfield.

After Chris Clarkson and Shaun Lunt exchanged tries in a dour first half, David Hodgson went over twice in quick succession after the break.

Hodgson's brace took his tally to 21 for the year, a Huddersfield record, before Ryan Hall closed the gap.

Larne Patrick restored the Giants' advantage but Danny McGuire tied it at 20-20 and Sinfield's boot settled it.

A defensive first half, which saw Leeds go in 6-4 ahead, gave no hint of what turned into a thrilling game between two sides fighting it out for a play-off place.

Huddersfield turned the two-point deficit around with Hodgson's two tries within five minutes of the restart.

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The first came in highly contentious circumstances, as a grubber kick from Danny Brough looked to have been guided into touch by Lee Smith, but Hodgson got a fingertip to the ball and referee Ben Thaler gave the try.

Hodgson was on the scoresheet again four minutes later, but Leeds hit back when Hall scooped up possession and burrowed his way over the line.

Patrick raced clear for a fine score with Leroy Cudjoe adding the extras to put the visitors 20-14 ahead with five minutes remaining.

But the stage was set for Sinfield, who first converted McGuire's late try and then applied the coup de grace, to earn Leeds victory deep into added time.

Leeds assistant coach Francis Cummins:
"We had a few drop-goal attempts and Huddersfield defended them really well.

"They were desperate and we were almost all over the place, with players almost fighting amongst themselves at times.

"But Kevin stepped up again to give us the win when we could have quite easily have been sat here with a draw or a loss."

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown:
"I feel for the players because the effort was outstanding.

"I actually think there's a lot of good to take out of the game because we showed that there's a lot of fight left in us for the rest of the year.

"In the last six minutes Leeds moved the ball about to break up our defence and showed they have the ability to score a try, whereas we played to lose the last six minutes."

Leeds: Smith, Donald, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan, Clarkson.
Replacements: McShane, Kirke, Burgess, Lauitiiti.

Huddersfield: Grix, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Gilmour, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Brough, D. Griffin, Finnigan, Wild, Faiumu.
Replacements: Lunt, Drew, Patrick, Horne.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).

Attendance: 15,070

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