70 mins

Leeds Rhinos U16s 16 Castleford Tigers U16s 40

By Guy Harvey

Simon Brown’s scholarship side welcomed Castleford Tigers to Stanningley, with the visitors having managed just a single win all season. The Rhinos, by contrast, headed into the game on the back of a mixed campaign - three wins and three losses - but with momentum firmly behind them after back-to-back victories, including a win over Wakefield and an impressive away performance at Wigan.

Castleford ran out convincing 40-16 winners over Leeds at Stanningley, racing into an early lead and never looking back despite a spirited second-half rally from the Rhinos. Tries from Joe Hinde, Kayden Craig Anholm, Bobby Sharp (2), Finlay Ramsey, Bradley Chocholski and Bradley Skene condemned Leeds to defeat, with Joseph Gill, Laike Smith and Noah Sheriffe scoring in reply.

Castleford started the stronger of the two sides, crossing for a try within minutes. A well-placed kick to the corner was collected superbly by Joe Hinde, and Deravairere added the conversion from the touchline to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.

It was no fluke, as Castleford extended their advantage soon after. An overlap on the right edge sent winger Anholm through, evading the covering defence to score in the corner. Deravairere’s conversion made it 12-0.

Leeds hit straight back, however. As Castleford spread the ball wide again, Rhinos centre Joseph Gill produced a superb interception deep in his own half and raced the length of the field to score, though the conversion drifted wide of the posts.

Castleford responded immediately. Dummy-half Bobby Sharp took it upon himself from the play-the-ball, beating the marker and the full-back to touch down under the posts. Deravairere’s conversion stretched the lead to 18-4.

With half-time approaching, Leeds finally found a way back into the contest. Castleford failed to deal with a high kick on the last tackle, and their attempt to force it dead cannoned off the post straight into the arms of Laike Smith, who gratefully accepted the gift to score. Noah Sherriffe’s conversion brought the score to 18-10.

But Castleford had the final say before the break. With seconds remaining, stand-off Bradley Chocholski sliced through the Rhinos’ defence on halfway and found support from Finlay Ramsey, who stumbled over the line to score. Deravairere’s conversion made it 24-10 to the visitors at half-time.

The Rhinos started the second half the brighter of the two sides and, more importantly, scored first. Noah Sherriffe forced his way over down the left edge, dragging a number of Castleford defenders with him but still managing to ground the ball. He added the conversion to his own try, making it 24-16.

That would prove to be Leeds’ final score of the afternoon, and it seemed to reawaken the Tigers — though it took the visitors until midway through the half to cross again, with both sides struggling to complete sets as unforced errors crept into the contest. It was Chocholski who turned from provider to scorer, running hard at the Leeds line and forcing his way over as the Rhinos defence began to tire. Deravairere converted again to extend the lead to 30-16.

Castleford were now firmly in control, ferocious in defence and sublime in attack, and extended their advantage further when quick hands through the middle sent centre Bradley Skene over in the corner — Deravairere’s only missed kick of the afternoon. With seconds remaining, the Tigers had one final effort in them, as hooker Bobby Sharp spotted lazy markers and raced away from dummy-half, comfortably beating the full-back to touch down. Deravairere added the extras to complete the scoring at 40-16, sealing a comfortable win for the visitors.

Leeds will need to find answers quickly as they regroup and head to the Brewdog Stadium next week to face St. Helens RLFC.

Leeds Rhinos Scholarship

Eli Kirrane Perrin

Toby Baker

Noah Sheriffe

Joseph Gill

Alfie Quinn

Henry Brough

Vincent Oliver

Kazimierz Ciuraj-Davison

Charlie Hagan

Benjamin Smith