29 Jun 2023

Leeds Rhinos U16s 24 Wakefield Trinity U16s 26

By Guy Harvey

Leeds Scholarship scholarship returned to action on home soil again, however in different settings on this occasion and for the first time this season at Stanningley’s Arthur Miller Stadium. Still with an unbeaten record that they proudly held and looking to continue until the end of the season with only three games to go including this one. With that being said head coach Mark Butterill had looked to give the younger section of his large squad some game time including a debut for Tom Carter but was still in a confident mood to add another win to the record.

The home side got the game underway and the beginning of the game certainly gave a clue into how the game would play out. Wakefield completed their first set and managed to kick on last however the Rhinos would only get through half their set before knocking on the ball. But Trinity we’re unable to take advantage of the territory and would give up possession with unforced error knocking on from the pass out of the scrum. However from Wakefield’s error at the scrum just shy of half way the Rhinos would take advantage and following a couple drives from the forwards hooker Elliott Fox went blind to find Harry Smith who gave the pass out wide to winger Luke Fagan to score in the corner.

Wakefield would hit straight back though after the home side gave up possession in their own half from an error before prop Ellis Lingard went charging over from fifteen metres out just to the side of the sticks which was converted to make the score 4-6. The game became very stop start for a while giving to both sides knocking on the ball and losing the ball in the tackle which will have given both coaches headaches looking at completion rates. Wakefield scored next again through centre Noah Crawshaw after an error from Leeds attempting to catch the bomb from the fifth and last kick which was a tough ask given the low sun causing havoc but it gave the away side a set of six from Leeds’ ten metre line and they would go to the right quickly finding Crawshaw who beat the Rhinos defenders to crash over on the right flank.

This became a go to play for the away regularly kicking to their right edge on the last tackle and taking advantage of the low summer sun. Jack Bailey scored Wakefield’s next try under these circumstances however the kick on the last aimed at the Rhinos winger was knocked back by the Trinity counterpart finding Bailey who twisted away from the Rhinos defenders for an easy dive for the try. Wakefield weren’t finished their however with half time looming and again down their right edge they headed but this time running the ball and owing to a quick play the ball causing the Rhinos markers to fall like dominoes allowed Daniel Hetherington to drive over the try line from a short distance and give the away side a 20-4 lead at half time.

The Rhinos certainly started the second half in better form and again scored first this time from inside their own half thanks to Presley Cassell who threw a great dummy to fool the defence and race through and go the length of the field to score after looking certain to pass to his support to beat the full back threw another dummy pass to race in to score under the post and thanks to Harry Smith’s conversion were only ten points behind and full of confidence to win the game.

After putting tremendous pressure on Wakefield, errors would cost Leeds again giving up possession again this time in their own thirty and Trinity would take full advantage to relieve the pressure with Daniel Hetherington scoring in the corner scooting from dummy half down the blind side which will have certainly angered the Rhinos coaching staff. But with time ticking away Leeds still weren’t defeated and with a move from centre to full back Marcus Qareqare was becoming dangerous to the Trinity defence and Leeds utilised this moving the ball quickly from right to left with both halves combining well to find Qareqare on the left flank beating defenders to score his try. He wasn’t done there though and after taking the ball from the kick on the last a couple of sets later Qareqare went to work using superb footwork to beat the defence a race through to go the length of the field but had to use Harry Smith to finish of the break leaving Leeds eight points behind with ten minutes left.

The Rhinos had their tails up now and had all the confidence they needed to get the win, but with not much time left however with five minutes left ever present captain Presley Cassell was leading from the front again breaking the defensive line on attack racing almost the full length of the field again but this time being tackled just short. The Rhinos had support to the left though and found the waiting Cobi Ellis who was able to score the try under the posts with Harry Smith converting again leaving the scores 24-26 to Trinity. Time however would be to short for the home side who sadly fell to their first defeat of the season but could leave the field with their heads held high giving to a great second half performance from a young team.

The scholarship side are back in action on Thursday 13th July again back at The Arthur Miller Stadium this time facing Warrington Wolves again with a 7pm kick off.

Leeds Rhinos Scholarship