Leeds Rhinos U18s 34 Huddersfield Giants U18s 6

Leeds Rhinos Under-18s extended their winning streak to five games in 2026 as three tries from Tom Richardson aided Chev Walker’s side to a 34-6 triumph against Huddersfield Giants Under-18s.

The Rhinos set about their intentions early with a try inside the first minutes of the contest. Buoyed by a strong defensive start, one of the opening plays of their first attacking set saw Evan Jones make a half break before offloading for Jack Mears to race free. With Wade White on the hooker’s shoulder, Mears chose the easy pass to send White away to score the opening try.

The young prop Jones quickly shifted from a try assister to a try finisher as the Rhinos’ dominance began to show. Despite several younger squad members deputising in new positions, Walkers’ side showed fluidity as a struggling Giants lineup couldn’t click into gear to stop relentless Leeds attacks. Off the back of another confident drive by Will Wilkinson, the Rhinos utilised their field position again as a short pass from Seth Marchant posted Jones through a hole to finish under the posts.

Up by two scores with under ten minutes played, Leeds threatened to post another high scoreline when a clever 40/20 kick from Mears led to Richardson finishing a wide move in the corner thanks to great ball handling. Sonny Hetherington also continued his hot scoring streak as quick thinking by Marchant from a Max Leach knock on saw the Rhinos half back move the ball wide to Hetherington to stretch out to score. Marchant slotted two of four conversions to make the score 20-0 after as many minutes.

An error from the restart by substitute Ryan Hosier ensured Huddersfield got their only points of the night on the 25-minute mark. Harvey Barker’s desperate drive for the line was held up by strong Leeds goal line defence, but a lapse in concentration allowed Jude Jackson to force his way over the line from dummy half to grab ultimately a consolation score for the visitors.

The Rhinos were unlucky not to have a larger lead at the break as Cobi Ellis’ effort was ruled out for a forward pass in the build up, before Huddersfield’s Barker was halted by White and Wilkinson to send the teams into the break at 20-6.

The second half was a similar story as the home side rounded off a measured performance with three more efforts. Ironically it was the Giants who hit the ground running after the break as they forced Leeds to defend more goal line pressure, but the Rhinos’ rewards came in the shape of Richardson. Jacob Tooala – another to have an outstanding game in Leeds colours – ignited the attack with a break that should have seen the centre score himself, but unfazed by a broken defensive line, Marchant and White combined to put Richardson over in the corner for his second.

Dan Shepherd came as close as the Giants got to points when a hanging kick by Jack Twigg allowed winger Shepherd to rise above White, but great cover defence saw the full back force the Huddersfield attacker out of play. Once again, rewards came in attack as Richardson’s hat trick try all but ended the contest with 20 minutes to go.

Now cruising into another winning result, the Rhinos defence covered and worked well to keep their opponents scoreless even with a rotation in personnel on the field. The desire to find the try line never faded either; Hetherington going for a solo effort but couldn’t beat the Giants’ cover defence for his second of the game.

Jones crowned the win off with his third try of the season, as well as a standout personal performance. Kai Irvine came close to wrestling his way to the ground, but after the Giants defence forced him in-goal to force a 10 metre tap, Jones’ rampaging run caught out tired defence as the Rhinos celebrated a fifth consecutive league win.

Teams

Rhinos

1. Wade White, 2. Tom Richardson, 3. Sonny Hetherington, 4. Jacob Tooala, 5. Bailey Hardy, 6. Seth Marchant, 7. Kai Irvine, 8. Hughie Tinkler, 9. Jack Mears, 10. Evan Jones, 11. Will Wilkinson, 12. Cobi Ellis, 13. Alfie Steel

Subs: 14. Noah Lunn, 15. Charlie Benn, 16. Ryan Hosier, 17. Connor Lawrie (18th Man – Theo Roberts)

Tries: White (2), Jones (8, 70), Richardson (16, 47, 59), Hetherington (21)

Goals: Marchant 3/7

Giants

1. Austin Byrne, 2. Mason Aliogo, 3. Eugene Tinbu, 4. Matthew Leach, 5. Dan Shepherd, 6. Jack Twigg, 7. Woody Potter, 8. Finlay Gale, 9. Jude Jackson, 10. Reuben Tetteh, 11. Harvey Barker, 12. Stanley Hobson, 13. Lucas Earley

Subs: 14. Joshua Cooke, 15. Charlie Newton, 16. Alfie Merta, 17. Regan Lee (18^th Man: 23. Logan Jackman)

Tries: Jackson (25)

Goals: Potter 1/1