On this Day - 28th March

On the 28th March in 1999 Leeds booked their place in the Wembley final of the Challenge Cup with a win over Bradford Bulls and in 2003 Leeds held on to claim a 20-14 win at Halifax

The 28th March has been an eventful date in the history of Leeds Rhinos in the summer era with big wins over Bradford and St Helens alongside a dramatic draw and our first ever Golden Point win.

ON THIS DAY in 1999 Leeds booked their place in the Wembley final of the Challenge Cup with a win over Bradford Bulls. Already in the competition Leeds had seen off Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Widnes Vikings to make it to this semi final clash and in this game beat another Super League big gun thanks to tries from Iestyn Harris, Ryan Sheridan and Marcus St Hilaire. Sheridan also scored a goal and Harris added the rest with 5 more goals which ensured the crowd of 23,438 saw the Rhinos the 23-10 winners.

ON THIS DAY in 2003 Leeds Rhinos held on to claim a 20-14 win at Halifax, despite a strong comeback from the home side. Coming into the game Halifax had only won once in the opening four weeks of the season, but in this game they managed to keep the Rhinos to their lowest score of the season so far. The Rhinos went in front through a Kevin Sinfield penalty on five minutes, but Halifax hit back with the opening try through Stuart Donlan. Three penalties conceded by Halifax gave Leeds the platform to respond, and Chris Feather took Burrow's inside ball to crash over under the posts, Sinfield converting.

Dane Dorahy then cut the gap for Halifax with a penalty. Leeds then extended their lead seven minutes after the break through a Barrie McDermott try which Sinfield converted. Halifax then pulled back two points with a penalty, but the Rhinos grabbed a seemingly crucial try just after the hour, when Matt Diskin's inside ball sent Sinfield away and, while Finnerty took him down, the ball was moved blind and Chev Walker held off Greenwood to score at the corner, Sinfield adding an excellent touchline conversion to push Leeds into a 12 point lead.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan's off-the-ball tackle on Daryl Cardiss later saw the Rhinos reduced by a man on 68 minutes, however they held on through good defensive play but they eventually cracked when Moana bounced off Danny McGuire following a scrum and Dorahy took his offload to score his fourth try in as many games under the posts, his goal gave them hope of snatching a point at 20-14, and a penalty against Mark Calderwood for obstruction on Cardiss gave the home side the position, but the substitute knocked on and Leeds held on for the win.

ON THIS DAY in 2005, Wakefield Wildcats stunned Leeds Rhinos at Headingley by running in eight tries in a 44-28 romp to inflict the champions’ first defeat of the season.

Wakefield began brightly, although they were caught cold when Rob Burrow grounded from close range after seven minutes following good work by Kevin Sinfield, who converted to make it 6-0.

The visitors hit back with tries from Steve Snitch, Jason Demetriou, Colum Halpenny and David March, who crossed the line from acting half shortly before the hooter. Jamie Rooney added the extras to hand his side a shock 22-6 advantage. 

Wakefield continued to defend like demons and they deservedly extended their lead five minutes after the restart when March grabbed his second try of the game from close range, Rooney again adding the extras to make it 28-6.

Gareth Ellis, against his former club, got a try back for Leeds but it was soon cancelled out by a score from Semi Tadulala.

Darrell Griffin extended Wakefield's lead before late tries for Liam Botham and Keith Senior proved in vain as Demetriou crossed for his second soon after rendering Rob Burrow's late try a mere consolation.

ON THIS DAY in 2008, Leeds travelled to Knowsley Road for one of the most intense games in the Super League regular season with a Grand Final re-match against Saints.

Leeds opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Super League table with a gritty victory over St Helens. The Rhinos had to work hard in the mud and rain of Knowsley Road and sealed the win with tries in either half from Ali Lauitiiti and Luke Burgess. 

Kevin Sinfield kicked three goals while Saints managed a try from Paul Wellens and three Sean Long goals. The home side threw everything at Leeds in the final quarter but they managed to hold on for a well-deserved win.

ON THIS DAY in 2013 met with Bradford Bulls at Headingley in a dramatic 18-18 drawn derby as Adam Sidlow's last-gasp try earned the Bradford Bulls a share of the points.

Leeds opened the scoring in the first minute through Kallum Watkins, but the Bulls fought back and led with Adrian Purtell and Tom Olbison crossing the try line.

Mitch Achurch's first try for Leeds levelled the scores. Jamie Peacock's second-half effort looked to have won it for Leeds before Sidlow's late score from close range.

ON THIS DAY in 2014, victory for St Helens moved them two points clear at the top of Super League, continuing their 100% start to the season with a dramatic win over third-placed Leeds.

Two second-half tries from winger Tommy Makinson, the second coming in the final seconds, proved the difference.

The two sides were level at half-time, with Saints forward Anthony Walker cancelling out Danny McGuire's score.

Kevin Sinfield kicked two penalties for the Rhinos but Makinson's brace sent Leeds to a first defeat of 2014.

ON THIS DAY in 2015, Leeds Rhinos travelled to Perpignan to face Catalans Dragons. Carl Ablett and Stevie Ward gave Leeds a 10-6 half-time lead, Elliott Whitehead replying for Catalans.

Tries from Whitehead, Eloi Pelissier and Damien Cardace in the first 12 minutes of the second half then turned the match in the home side's favour.

But Brad Singleton and Danny McGuire levelled the game before further scores from Liam Sutcliffe, Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker sealed victory.

ON THIS DAY in 2016 Wakefield made sure that Brian McDermott's side endured a miserable Easter Weekend with defeats to Castleford and Wakefield over a four day period.

The visitors took the lead through Matty Ashurst but Leeds worked their way back through Joel Moon. A Liam Finn penalty made it 8-6 to Wildcats at the break and Jacob Miller extended their lead shortly afterwards.

Tom Briscoe and Mitch Achurch replied for Leeds but Finn's penalty and Craig Hall's 80-metre effort secured their first victory at Headingley since 2007.

ON THIS DAY in 2019 Brad Dwyer scored a dramatic long-range drop-goal in golden-point extra time to help Leeds Rhinos pull off a vital win against Castleford Tigers.

Konrad Hurrell scored a fifth try of the season as he put Leeds ahead early on, but Liam Watts broke back for Cas.

Ash Handley touched down for Leeds on the half-hour mark while Liam Sutcliffe and Trent Merrin extended their lead.

Tries from Greg Minikin, Chris Clarkson and Alex Foster levelled it at 20-20, but Dwyer scored the winning point.