Huddersfield Giants U18s 10 Leeds Rhinos U18s 62

A twelve-try performance saw Leeds Rhinos Academy seal back-to-back wins in the league as they downed Huddersfield Giants 62-10 at Laund Hill.

After losing out to the Giants earlier in the season, Leeds made sure that they made a strong start as Riley Lumb crossed the try line within five minutes. A nice pass from Fergus McCormack sent Harrison Gilmore straight through the Huddersfield defence and as he found himself one-on-one with the full back, it was an easy option for Gilmore to pass inside for Lumb to score.

After Sinfield also threatened to break, the home side reacted as Darius Carter connected with a deft kick by Leo Ward to bring the scoreline to within two. Sinfield got his scoring chance though shortly after; the half back stepped through a hole in the Giants to finish under the posts to make the score 12-4.

For ten minutes, the Rhinos kept up the pressure on their opponent's line as they crossed for two more tries. Off the back of a great kick from Sinfield that forced Oliver Whitford to take the ball over the sideline,  brothers Fergus and Ned McCormack combined to put Ned over for the third try of the night, before the whole Rhinos spine connected to put Kyden Frater over for his first try since coming back from injury. Sinfield’s conversion of the latter clinked off the uprights, but the visitors looked comfortable with a 22-4 scoreline.

With the break looming, Giants half back Jack Ward capitalised from an error by Lumb that saw the full back juggle a kick in behind, and the Huddersfield man was there to plant it down. Substitute Harley Firth looked to draw the score closer with his drive for the line, but the referee called him short to give Leeds a 22-10 half time advantage.

Leeds quickly picked up where they left off in the first half as Jack Johnson got the opening try of the second half. An element of luck saw Sinfield’s attempted grubber kick come back off the heel of a Huddersfield player and into the path of Johnson, who had a straightforward score.

The best try of the night went to Mason Corbett, thanks to some great build-up play. Ben Littlewood did well to keep a hold of Bobby Hartley’s offload and the prop went a step better as he passed back to set Fergus McCormack free in the backfield. With chasers coming back, the half back did well to find Corbett in support for the hooker to score a great try.  

An attempted break by Carter threatened the Leeds defence and Tony Smith’s side retaliated with Lumb’s second of the game. Ned McCormack quickly followed suit too as straight from the restart, the ball found its way wide for Frater to break and the winger timed his pass to perfection to put McCormack in again.

Jack Smith added his name to the list of growing scorers on the 58-minute mark, along with Fergus McCormack who finished a classy try after breaks by Frater and his brother Ned.

Frater went from try creator to try scorer as the returning winger showed his speed for a solo finish, before Joe Phillips rounded off the result with his first try for the club. Sinfield converted to round off a 62-10 result for the young Rhinos.

Rhinos Academy

1. Riley Lumb, 2. Dylan Proud, 3. Jack Smith, 4. Ned McCormack, 5. Kyden Frater, 6. Fergus McCormack, 7. Jack Sinfield, 8. Joe Phillips, 9. Mason Corbett, 10. Ben Littlewood, 11. Jack Johnson, 12. Harrison Gilmore, 13. Declan White

Subs: 14. Shane Tuohey, 15. Bobby Hartley, 16. Leo Aliyu, 17. Tom Stevens

Tries: Lumb (5, 51), Sinfield (15), N.McCormack (20, 53), Frater (28, 75), Johnson (43), Corbett (45), Smith (58), F.McCormack (63), Phillips (80)

Goals: Sinfield 7/12  

Giants Academy

1. Oliver Whitford, 2. Adam Robinson, 3. Matty Hanley, 4. Harrison Dodd, 5. Jayden Billy, 6. Jack Ward, 7. Leo Ward, 8. Kameron Siddique, 9. Aahren Scott, 10. Charlie Land, 19. Darius Carter, 12. Luke Breedon, 13. Matthew Thornton

Subs: 14. Billy Stead, 15. Charlie Bahan, 16. Harley Firth, 17. Tyler Ellis

Tries: Carter (10), J.Ward (32)

Goals: Whitford 0/1, L.Ward 1/1