Leeds (34) 52
Tries: McGuire 3, Hall 3, Burrow, Smith, Delaney Goals: Sinfield 8

Catalans (6) 6
Tries: McGuire Goals: Bosc

Danny McGuire took his haul of Super League tries this season to 21

Leeds warmed up for next Saturday's Challenge Cup final against Warrington with one of their biggest wins of the season against bottom club Catalans.

Ryan Hall and Danny McGuire both ran in hat-tricks as Leeds piled up nine tries against the men from Perpignan.

Rob Burrow, Lee Smith and Brett Delaney crossed too for the reigning champions.

But the main bonus for the Super League champions ahead of Wembley in eight days was a defeat for Hull which moved Leeds into fourth with one game left.

And that sets up a duel as to who will finish there when the teams meet at the KC Stadium in a fortnight's time (3 September, 2000 BST).

Leeds' main work was done before the break, scoring six of their nine tries as they ran up a 34-6 half-time lead.

In-form playmaker McGuire put the reigning champions ahead in the fourth minute before conjuring two brilliant long-range efforts as Leeds made light work of the woeful Dragons.

And, with Hall (twice), Burrow and Smith also going over before the break, the match was effectively over as a contest.

McGuire did not take long to get Leeds off the mark when he played a delightful one-two with Smith before scampering clear down the right flank.

Brian McClennan's men began to build up a head of steam and, in the 12th minute, their second try arrived when Brent Webb's clever pass sent Hall over in the left corner.

Four minutes later, Leeds had their third try when Keith Senior showed intelligence to send Burrow darting over from close range and, in the 19th minute, the Dragons' defence was breached again.

More fine play from the outstanding Webb saw him break from full-back and usher the predatory Hall over in his favourite spot in the left corner.

Catalans finally woke up in the 25th minute when Casey McGuire burrowed his way over from close range and Thomas Bosc added the conversion.

Yet the momentum remained largely with Leeds and Rhinos playmaker McGuire raced from inside his own half to outstrip the visiting defence and cross in the 34th minute.

Smith then went over shortly before the break in the right corner for Leeds' sixth try - the only score which skipper Kevin Sinfield failed to convert.

Sinfield was given the chance to add three more conversions after the break, adding the extras to hat-trick tries from Hall and McGuire, either side of one from Delaney.

Hall struck again in the 48th minute when he dived over in the left corner for his hat-trick.

Eight minutes later, Delaney pounced on a loose ball to touch down and, on the hour, McGuire collected a pass from Senior and sprinted 70 metres for another brilliant individual effort underneath the posts.

But, even allowing for the fact that they were playing a confidence-sapped bottom club, who had David Ferriol sin-binned late on, the French side were utterly outclassed.

And, even without the injured Jamie Peacock, it was still an impressive statement by Leeds ahead of Wembley.

Much has been made of Leeds' unprecedented feat of successive Super League titles in the past three seasons, yet their desire to win the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1999 has been obvious this season.

And it will take a fine performance next weekend by former Leeds coach Tony Smith's Warrington to deny them another Cup win - exactly 100 years on from their first.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan said:

"Danny was jumping around there with great anticipation and scored a great hat-trick.

"He can run and once he gets clear he's hard to stop. He's got good speed endurance and it was a good effort, but Danny wasn't on his own.

"We have come through tonight reasonably okay and were able to rest a couple of guys as the game went on. It was a long second half but it's out of the way now and good to be able to solely focus on our preparation for next week.

"Hull will then be a tough ask the week after Wembley. But to win tonight was very important for us and means we are able to go to Hull with a chance of finishing fourth."

Catalans boss Kevin Walters said:

"We made it difficult for ourselves with some silly penalties and dropped balls.

"But it has been the story of our season."

Leeds: Webb, Smith, Senior, Delaney, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Bailey, Clarkson, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield.
Replacements: Lauitiiti, Diskin, Eastwood, Kirke.

Catalans Dragons: Stacul, Bell, Carlaw, Walker, Vaccari, Bosc, Sherwin, Ferriol, McGuire, Casty, Elima, Gossard, Johnson.
Replacements: Touxagas, K Bentley, Gigot, Sa.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).

Attendance: 15,154.

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