On a rainy spring day at AMT Headingley, two tries from Ash Handley led the way for Leeds Rhinos, who secured an 18-10 win over Catalans Dragons to get their second points of the season.

Team News

After he was a late withdrawal last week against Hull KR, Lachlan Miller returned to the full back position in a largely unchanged Rhinos starting lineup. French duo Justin Sangare and Mickael Goudemand, who faced his former club for the first time as a Rhinos, continued in the forwards, alongside James Bentley and Rhyse Martin who both celebrated their 150th career appearances.

The absence of Sam Lisone and James Donaldson on the bench due to suspensions opened space for James McDonnell to come in for his first appearance of the new season, as well as Tom Holroyd.

Steve McNamara’s Dragons named an unchanged matchday team, with the only change seeing Mike McMeeken move into the starting 13 and Julian Bousquet drop to the bench.

1st Half

In a game that the Rhinos defended for the majority, the visiting Dragons applied pressure from the kick off. Going straight on the attack, a knock on from Alrix Da Costa ended an early attempt for points before the hooker was then held up short a few minutes later with some fantastic defence.

Jordan Abdull’s kicking also caused problems for Luis Roberts in the opening ten minutes, but no score was a small win for the Rhinos.

The wet ball proved to be a leveller as the half progressed; Lachie Miller agonisingly fumbling a play of the ball on the turf, only to be relived when Paul Seguier followed suit.

A key turning point came when Brodie Croft put a huge hit on opposite number Theo Fages as the crowd rose to the occasion.

Two sets later, it was try time for the home side as Handley kept up his try scoring record. Good hands in the build-up from Matt Frawley gave Croft enough time to put a perfect kick in behind for Handley to chase, and with Fouad Yaha around his waist, the winger did a great job at grounding the ball.

To the relief of the home fans, who had seen their side tirelessly defend for most of the half, Leeds got a second try in quick succession. A break from Mickael Goudemand set the Rhinos up against a desperate Catalans defensive line, and as the ball moved to the right edge, Harry Newman was steaming through to beat four defenders to the try line.

A bonus for Rohan Smith’s side was the sin binning of Tariq Sims for foul play in the process of Newman scoring, and Rhyse Martin subsequently kicked one of two attempts to make the score 10-0 in favour of the Rhinos.

Catalans needed points before the break and a penalty goal from Arthur Mourgue, following a late hit on Jordan Dezaria, and the full back was good from 25 metres out to make the half time score 10-2.

2nd Half

The Dragons came out after the break and got the quick restart when substitute Chris Satae’s rampaging run saw the forward crash over to bring the scoreline to within two.

Leeds were made to do it even tougher when Justin Sangare was sent to the sin bin for a tackle that caught the face of Da Costa. Mourgue’s penalty goal levelled the score up, but the drama wasn’t over.

Having been down to twelve players once already, Dezaria’s yellow card for a high shot on Croft made it an equal playing field with 20 minutes left and Leeds sensed blood.

Paul Momirovski tried a similar kick in behind to the one Martin did against Salford a fortnight before to set up a Handey try, only this time the ball ran dead. After stopping a Catalans attack in their own half though, Leeds’ try-scoring machine wasn’t going to be denied as he finished off a great move that started with Newman and Ruan.

With the clock still ticking, the Rhinos had turned the tables and were now attacking with ease. The Dragons tried their best to keep up, but frustrations showed when Romain Navarette was sin binned for a professional foul whilst trying to force a slow play of the ball. Martin pointed at the sticks and kicked the penalty to take the game out of Catalans hands.

Match Facts

Leeds Rhinos

1. Lachlan Miller, 24. Luis Roberts, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Paul Momirovski, 5. Ash Handley, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley, 17. Justin Sangare, 9. Andy Ackers, 18. Mickael Goudemand, 11. James Bentley, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith

Subs: 10. Tom Holroyd, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 16. James McDonnell, 23. Leon Ruan (18^th Man: Alfie Edgell)

Tries: Handley (27), Newman (30)

Goals: Martin 3/5

Sin bins: Justin Sangare (48)

Catalans Dragons

1. Arthur Mourgue, 24. Tom Johnstone, 3. Arthur Romano, 21. Matt Ikuvalu, 5. Fouad Yaha, 27. Jordan Abdull, 7. Theo Fages, 16. Romain Navarrete, 14. Alrix Da Costa, 10. Julian Bousque, 11. Tariq Sims, 15. Bayley Sironen, 13. Benjamin Garcia

Subs: 12. Paul Seguier, 6. Jayden Nikorima, 20. Chris Satae, 23. Jordan Dezaria (18^th Man: 4. Matthieu Laguerre)

Tries: Satae (46)

Goals: Mourgue 1/1 

Sin bins: Tariq Sims (30), Jordan Dezaria (59)