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Page last updated at 21:09 GMT, Friday, 13 August 2010 22:09 UK

Castleford Tigers 6-38 Leeds Rhinos

Castleford (0) 6
Tries: Snitch Goals: Westerman

Leeds (18) 38
Tries: Clarkson, McGuire, Burrow, Lauitiiti, Hall 2, Donald Goals: Smith 5

Ryan Hall
The first of Ryan Hall's two efforts was a 70-yard interception try

Ryan Hall took his haul of Super League tries to 20 this season as Leeds romped to one of their biggest wins of the campaign against neighbours Castleford.

Chris Clarkson, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow all crossed before the break as the champions went in 18-0 up.

And there was no let-up as Leeds added four more tries in the second half.

Hall crossed twice, along with Ali Lauitiiti and Scott Donald, centre Lee Smith adding five conversions to help crush Cas's play-off hopes.

Leeds' hopes of moving into fourth were robbed by a last-minute penalty winner for Hull against Crusaders.

There was also a concern over an injury to his right knee which forced off Jamie Peacock late on.

And there was also a sickening late collision with Castleford forward Jonathan Walker that left Leeds replacement Luke Burgess with a suspected broken jaw which, if confirmed, would put him out of the Challenge Cup final in a fortnight's time.

But, essentially, it was another good night for Leeds, who were in the same stunning form that did for St Helens in last week's Challenge Cup semi-final.

Chasing fourth place, in a bid to improve their hopes of retaining their Super League crown for a fourth straight year and end the season with two trophies, the Challenge Cup finalists soon made it clear that they had revenge on their minds for a shock 24-10 home derby defeat by their West Yorkshire neighbours way back in February.

They took a quarter of an hour to break the deadlock, McGuire's darting run setting up second row Clarkson for his third try in four games.

McGuire then breezed in himself for try number two, set up by Matt Diskin's reverse pass before bursting clear and throwing a superb dummy as he raced in for his 18th Super League try of the campaign.

McGuire's half-back partner Rob Burrow added a third try before the break to all but seal victory for Brian McClennan's Wembley-bound side.

With Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield given the night off after last weekend's exertions against Saints, Lee Smith was handed kicking duties and he converted all three first-half kicks with ease.

The closest Cas came to scoring before the break was when St Helens-bound centre Michael Shenton was held up over the line.

And the home side then enjoyed a spirited start to the second half when they camped on the Leeds line, only to be held up by some stunning tackling.

But Cas were quickly made to pay - Leeds killing the game off with two tries in five minutes.

First Paul McShane wriggled his way through to set up Lauitiiti before Hall ran 70 yards for an intervention try.

And his fellow winger Donald got in on the act six minutes later when he finished off a sweeping, cross-field move at the right corner.

The loss of England skipper Peacock, who fell awkwardly in a tackle, took a bit of the wind out of Leeds' sails.

And, just when Cas threatened to be 'nilled' at home for the first time in four seasons, Steve Snitch pulled a try back seven minutes from time.

But the real damage was done when Burgess sustained that suspected broken jaw after clashing heads when hit hit by a powerful shoulder charge by young Tigers prop Walker.

After several minutes' delay, the 23-year-old forward was carried off on a stretcher before being taken straight to hospital.


Leeds coach Brian McClennan said:

"Luke Burgess has been rushed to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.

"That is what we suspect, although we hope that that's not so.

"It was a shoulder charge. That's the outcome when two young blokes collide at such speed.

"We are all feeling devastated for Biffa because we have got some big games coming up and he's been working really hard. He had a good stint out there tonight.

"Jamie Peacock got a knock to the knee but we think he's going to be okay. We'll assess it on Monday and scan it then if we need to."

Tigers coach Terry Matterson said:

"Jonathan has got a shoulder charge on him, although there was certainly no malice in it.

"But I feel for Luke Burgess because it's going to cost him a Wembley appearance.

"The result sort of pales into all significance after that."


Castleford: McGoldrick, Dixon, Shenton, Arundel, Wainwright, Westerman, Chase, Huby, Hudson, Sargent, Snitch, Clayton, Ferres.
Replacements: Jones, Widders, Walker, Higgins.

Leeds: Webb, Donald, Senior, Smith, Hall, Burrow, McGuire, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Kirke, Eastwood, Clarkson.
Replacements: McShane, Burgess, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).

Attendance: 7,901.



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see also
Leeds 12-26 Wigan
30 Jul 10 |  My Club
Hull KR 28-26 Castleford
01 Aug 10 |  My Club
Leeds 10-24 Castleford
05 Feb 10 |  My Club
Rugby League on the BBC
15 Oct 10 |  Rugby League
Rugby League commentaries
03 Apr 10 |  Rugby League


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