Leeds Rhinos Under-16s suffered a third consecutive defeat of the season as Simon Brown’s side left it late to spark a comeback in a 32-24 loss against Huddersfield Giants Under-16s.

Laund Hill experienced almost every season in the space of 80 minutes as the game started in brilliant daylight before descending into a downpour mid-way through the second half – much suiting what turned into another tough outing for the young Rhinos.

The Giants made a strong start and should have scored inside the first minutes when Riley Dixon was released down the sideline. Leeds were caught short on numbers from a scrum play as Dixon was handed room to roam down the sideline, but a desperate cover tackle from Henry Brough caught the winger before he could score in the corner.

Unfazed, the home side made sure to convert two chances to take a 12-0 lead inside ten minutes. Full back Noah White broke the attempted tackle of Oliver Vincent to dart his way to the try line, before a knock on from Noah Sheriffe was punished as Leo Laycock managed to force the ball over the try line through multiple defenders. White converted both tries to give the Giants a two-score lead.

Leeds remained under pressure as the first half continued, but a break from Sheriffe made up for the centre’s earlier error as it set Brown’s side in a strong position. Shifting across the face of Huddersfield’s goal line defence, Brough’s early pass to Joe Gill saw the Leeds centre drive for the try line as the Rhinos put themselves on the scoreboard at a point when the game could have turned.

Instead Huddersfield’s attack got back to work as two more tries all but took the game away from the Rhinos’ grasp. Shortly after Gill’s try, Leeds allowed the Giants’ restart to bounce in the in-goal and out of play for a goal-line dropout, and yet another chance for points was converted as Callum Halliday strolled into the corner.

Both hooker Laycock and substitute Harvey Hinchcliffe tried to catch out Leeds’ defence was darts out of dummy half, but good work stopped the Giants adding more points to their 16-6 advantage. A break by Dillon Eshun presented the best chance for more Rhinos points, only for Lennon Kelly to not score with the line in sight. Sensing the threat, the Giants found their fourth try of the game in spectacular style as Javae Cupples-Tinker made an inspired break that ended with the centre scoring under the posts. White converted to make the score 22-6 with half-time in sight.

To their credit, tries from Dexter Cooper and Joe Gill either side of half time gave the away side a fighting chance as the Rhinos closed the gap to six points at the start of the second half.

After Sheriffe was held up over the line, a ranging move across the field ended in Cooper finding his second try of the season to send the side ten points behind at the break. Coming out for the second half, Gill showed great strength to turn a short side play into points as the centre’s second score pulled the Rhinos back into the contest.

As the rain descended, so did the Huddersfield chances as Spencer Hartley forced his way to the line to restore the Giants’ eight point advantage before Laycock looked like he had touched down a second try from a chip and chase by James Lee, only to be called offside by the referee.

Cupples-Tinker’s second of the game ended the contest with 20 minutes to go, but the Rhinos refused to let the clock stop them from tightening the scoreline. Helped downfield by a penalty after Huddersfield chased more points, Lewis Kilner marked his first Scholarship appearance as he forced himself over the line after being denied minutes earlier.

Gill’s hat trick try capped a good evening for the outside back, but the fightback came too late as the Giants took a away a 32-24 result.

Teams

Giants

1. Noah White, 2. Callum Halliday, 3. Jack Teale, 4. Javae Cupples-Tinker, 5. Riley Dixon, 6. Max Newitt, 7. James Lee, 8. Kian Russell, 9. Leo Laycock, 10. Spencer Hartley, 11. Oli Knapping, 12. Sam Haley, 13. Ezra Charlton

Subs: 14. Harvey Hinchcliffe, 15. Tristen Hylton, 16. Archie Lunn, 17. Wiktor Hamernik, 18. Owen Neilly, 19. Oli Westall, 20. Riley Lovelady

Tries: White, Laycock, Halliday, Cupples-Tinker x2, Hartley

Goals: White 4/6

Rhinos

1. Toby Wieland, 2. Alfie Quinn, 3. Noah Sheriffe, 4. Joe Gill, 5. Dexter Cooper, 6. Henry Brough, 7. Oliver Vincent, 8. Stan Marriott, 9. Jordan Barker-Day, 10. Thai Hazelwood, 11. Myles Hartley, 12. Dylan Baira, 13. Dillon Eshun

Subs: 14. Charlie Hagan, 15. Lennon Kelly, 16. Laike Smith, 17. Oscar Brown, 18. Oliver Brown, 19. Owen Mara-Jupp, 20. Lewis Kilner

Tries: Gill x3, Kilner, Cooper

Goals: Sheriffe 2/4