Although they were pushed close by Salford Red Devils, Leeds Rhinos Reserves got back to winning ways at AMT Headingley as they recorded a 20-12 win over the Red Devils.

The Rhinos named an experienced lineup for the Red Devils’ visit, including forward James Donaldson, who played his first minutes since February, as well as first teamers Luis Roberts, Kieran Hudson, Leon Ruan and Tom Nicholson-Watton. Full back Kai Taylor-Smith played his first minutes of the year too after his recovery from injury, in a spine that was made up of all Under-18s players.

A scrappy start from both sides saw Leeds get the best of the early possession, but the Salford defence held Tony Smith’s side at bay. Despite not being able to turn their early efforts into points, the Rhinos made their breakthrough on the scoreboard through Luis Roberts. George Brown was the architect of the play as he took Tom Nicholson-Watton’s offload and evaded two Salford tackles to shift the ball wide to Roberts, and the winger quickly got up to full speed to breeze passed Red Devils defenders to score under the posts.

Within minutes, Josh Gillespie secured the home side’s second of the game to give them a foothold in the contest. A knock on from Leunbou Bardyel Wells allowed Brown and Fergus McCormack to test themselves close to the try line, before Brown’s last tackle kick for the corner connected with Gillespie for a well worked try after 15 minutes.

The Rhinos kept up their attacking flair but struggled to add more points as the half progressed. Ben Littlewood put a pass from Brown down as the back rower tried to hit a hole, and then a wet ball played havoc with McCormack, as he couldn’t keep hold to the ball passing out of the back, and Leon Ruan as the visitors survived. With ball in hand, the Red Devils managed to post points on their first attack close to the Leeds line as Kieran Tyrer barrelled his way over to close the score to four points.

In need of a response, Leeds brought changes from the bench, and they made an instant impact. Shane Tuohey made one of his trademark breaks out of dummy half and found another sub Ashton Robinson on his shoulder, but Salford’s desperate defence stopped the forward short of the line. Aliyu followed up with a dart out of dummy half himself, but was judged to lose the ball as he tried to ground it.

Coming out after the break, both sides were quickly down to twelve players as Leeds’ Roberts and Salford’s Charlie Glover were both sin binned for fighting. Off the back of the yellow cards, Charlie McCurrie found his way to the line to give the Red Devils a two-point lead as Morgan added the extras.

Like in the first half, Leeds stayed lively but couldn’t get over the line. Tuohey continued to look for opportunities out of dummy half but his pass ricocheted off Littlewood’s hands. Ruan also made a half break through the Red Devils line but threw a wild offload over the sidelines. Finally they made the breakthrough as Tuohey dived over after a strong carry from Kieran Hudson to put the home side back ahead.

A second try for Gillespie followed in quick succession as the winger was on the receiving end of an almost impossible offload from Taylor-Smith as the Rhinos regained their ten point advantage, which they held until full time.

There was no lack of trying for more points from the young Rhinos though; Tom Nicholson-Watton was pulled up on a forward pass that should have seen the loose forward power over. Dylan Proud also suffered the same call go against him as he touched down in the corner, only for the referee to judge that Jack Smith’s pass in the build up was forward.

Although the Rhinos eventually finished the game with twelve men as Roberts was sin binned for a second time, they came through with the result in a 20-12 final score.

Match Facts

Rhinos Reserves

1. Kai Taylor-Smith, 2. Josh Gillespie, 3. Luis Roberts, 4. Jack Smith, 5. Dylan Proud, 6. Fergus McCormack, 7. George Brown, 22. Kieran Hudson , 9. Mason Corbett, 21. James Donaldson, 11. Ben Littlewood, 12. Leon Ruan, 13. Tom Nicholson-Watton

Subs: 14. Shane Tuohey, 15. Harrison Gilmore, 18. Ashton Robinson, 17. Leo Aliyu (18^th Man – 19. Freddie Brennan-Jones)

Tries: Roberts (7), Gillespie (13, 60), Tuohey (56)

Goals: Smith 2/4

Sin Bin: Roberts (44, 79) – both fighting

Red Devils Reserves

1. Ethan Fitzgerald, 3. Mackenzie Turner, 2. Billy Glover, 4. Joshua Wagstaff, 5. Joseph Coope-Franklin, 7. Kieran Tyrer, 22. Kai Morgan, 8. James Pye, 9. Finley Yates, 15. Leunbou Bardyel Wells, 12. Henry Davies, 11. Charlie McCurrie, 13. John Hutchings

Subs: 6. Matthew Rudd, 17. Scott Egan, 14. Charlie Glover, 10. Alexander Davidson (18^th Man – 19. James Shields)

Tries: Tyrer (30), McCurrie (45)

Goals: Morgan 2/2

Sin Bin: Glover (44) – Fighting