Leeds Rhinos Reserves 34 London Broncos Reserves 24

It was an afternoon for the wingers at AMT Headingley as Riley Lumb and Tom Richardson led the scoring for Leeds Rhinos in a 34-24 triumph over London Broncos.

The Rhinos made their mark early as Oscar Brown scored the opening try inside the first two minutes. Using a penalty earned by Ethan O’Neill to work their way into scoring range, Leeds’ half back partnership of Harley Thomas and Harry Smith combined well with Fergus McCormack to open up space for Brown to score in the corner.

London found themselves on the back foot for much of the first half as a young Rhinos side continued to show promise. Leeds were just clicking into gear as Brown’s second score of the game came after a clever kick over the top from Fergus McCormack that was finished off by the centre, despite him pulling up shortly after with a hamstring injury.

The Broncos mustered a response after a spell of pressure close to the try line as Sam Davis darted out of dummy half to get the ball down, but it proved only a consolation as the home side continued to roll through a strong first-half performance. Jacob Stead was unlucky not to find the try line after a break by Zak Lloyd got the Rhinos in range, before a knock on by Tyler Johnson-Thomas close to his own try line was inviting for Richardson, who marked his first Reserves outing with a try. Thomas’ conversion made the score 16-6 after 30 minutes.

Lumb’s strong season for the Reserves continued as the points began to mount with half time in sight. The winger was denied what looked to be a scoring chance when he couldn’t plant down a kick ahead by Qareqare, but he quickly made up for it with a classy finish in the corner as Leeds’ lead grew once again.

With the break in sight, there was one last scoring chance for Chev Walker’s side, courtesy of Tom Nicholson-Watton. A knock on by Eddie Atherton trying to shut down a Fergus McCormack break came back to bite the visitors as a short pass from Joe Diskin found a rampaging Nicholson-Watton, who wasn’t going to be stopped with the line in sight. Thomas converted to make the score 26-6 at half time.

Leeds’ first half antics paid off as a resurgent London side came out to battle in the second half as the visitors closed the scoreline. Lumb’s second score of the game off the back of a great offload by Stead pulled the Rhinos clear of a potential Broncos comeback, but that didn’t stop London from testing Leeds’ resolve.

Atherton’s try on the hour mark caught Leeds napping as a delicate kick in behind by Oliver Winterbottom wasn’t dealt with before the London winger charged through to get the ball down.

Although Thomas mustered a response for Leeds’ seventh score of the game, London kept fighting until the end as Bobby Hartley and a second Davis try closed the score to 36-24 at full time.

Teams

Rhinos

1. Fergus McCormack, 2. Tom Richardson, 3. Oscar Brown, 4. Marcus Qareqare, 5. Riley Lumb, 6. Harley Thomas, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Jacob Stead, 9. Joe Diskin, 10. Tom Nicholson-Watton, 11. Oliver Smart, 12. Ethan O’Neill, 13. Presley Cassell

Subs: 14. Elliott Fox, 15. Dacx Jones-Buchanan, 16. Zak Lloyd, 17. Robin Smith (18th Man – Kai Irvine) 

Tries: Brown (2, 10), Richardson (28), Lumb (34, 42), Nicholson-Watton (40), Thomas (69)

Goals: Thomas 4/6

Broncos

1. Charlie Randall, 2. Eddie Atherton, 3. Henry Lenthall, 4. Teddy Davidson, 5. Will Jones, 6. Oliver Winterbottom, 7. Will Randall, 8. Marcus Stock, 9. Sam Davis, 10. Bobby Hartley, 11. Tyler Johnson-Thomas, 12. Robert Oakley, 13. Jake Ramsden

Subs: 18. Leunbou Bardyel-Wells, 15. Max Nissinen-Le, 16. Eamonn Iheme, 17. Finley Hay (18^th Man – Svensen-Davies)

Tries: Davis (20, 79), Atherton (61), Hartley (74

Goals: Johnson-Thomas 2/2, Winterbottom 2/2