A disappointing display at Headingley saw Leeds Rhinos lose 13-6 to Leigh Leopards in Round 21 of the Betfred Super League.

A low-scoring affair saw Jarrod O’Connor score Leeds’ only try of the game in the first half, whilst the Leopards sealed their second win over the Rhinos, thanks to a drop goal from Gareth O’Brien in the dying minutes.

The Rhinos named a changed side to the one that lost out to St Helens in round twenty. Following the departure of Blake Austin to Castleford midweek, Corey Johnson was back in the halves for the second time this season. Luke Hooley returned to the starting lineup after featuring for Batley in the Championship, whilst Luis Roberts started at centre as David Fusitu’a continued his return to play protocol from a HIA. Tom Holroyd was the only change in the forwards as he started in place of Sam Walters and on the bench, Jack Sinfield was named for the second time this year alongside Sam Lisone, Justin Sangare on his 100^th career appearance and James Donaldson, who also hit a major milestone as he played his 100^th game for the Rhinos.

Even with their Wembley trip on the horizon, Leigh still named influential spine players Lachlan Lam, Edwin Ipape and John Asiata for the Rhinos clash, as well as debutant Oliver Gildart. It was the home side that applied the early pressure after Ash Handley was tackled in the air by Gareth O’Brien as the pair went up for Aidan Sezer’s high kick. Camped on the Leigh line, the home side thought that Jarrod O’Connor had forced his way over, only for the hooker to be called short by referee Marcus Griffiths.

As the opening stages of the half continued, it was the ultimate game of cat and mouse as neither team were prepared to give the other an edge. An obstruction by Roberts dissipated the pressure that the Rhinos pressure off the back of the O’Connor chance, but as Lam tried to inject speed into the Leigh attack, they ended up giving the ball to Hooley, who almost broke free. Down on the other try line, fomer Leigh man Nene Macdonald had a chance for points but couldn’t keep hold of the ball under pressure from the Leopards defence.

On 23 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken as Edwin Ipape crossed for the visitors. Leeds had been forced into a drop out by Lam, but although they brought Sangare and Lisone on to strengthen the pack, Ipape managed to find a small hole to break through and get the ball over the line to make the score 4-0.

Willed on by the Headingley crowd, Leeds got stronger off the back of conceding. Macdonald was denied again by Nisbett, even though the Leeds man looked to have won the race to Sezer’s high kick, and Handley would have had a walk in if Tom Briscoe hadn’t cut out Johnson’s pass.

Finally the home fans had something to shout about when O’Connor got the Leeds scoring underway with five minutes remaining in the half. James Bentley’s searching run caught the Leigh defence out as he cut his way back infield and before the Leopards could get back set on the try line, hooker O’Connor was already away out of dummy half and over the try line. The video referee, Liam Moore, took a second look and gave the green light. Rhyse Martin stepped up and added the extra two points to give the home side a slender 6-4 lead at the break.

Leeds’ second half got off to a bad start as Leigh hit the front again, along with Sangare leaving the field through injury. The Rhinos had been caught offside in the build up to the Leopards try and as the visitors punched their way towards the try line, Tom Amone hit a hole to get over for his sixth try of the season.

The early try took the sting out of the crowd and Leeds’ afternoon took another hit when Lisone was sent to the sin bin on 52 minutes for a trip on Joe Wardle. Roberts’ high tackle on O’Brien then saw the Leopards call for the kicking tee, much like the meeting between the two sides at Leigh earlier in the season, and Ben Reynolds stepped up to convert as the score ticked to 12-6 with 20 minutes left.

Lisone’s return from the sin bin coincided with Leeds defending their line and they were rewarded for their hard work when Ed Chamberlain was forced into a mistake close to the line.

The home side’s major opportunity of the half came courtesy of O’Connor again, who looked to have his second of the game to set up a tense finish. Off the back a late hit by Matt Davis on Aidan Sezer, Bentley got close to the line again, but after O’Connor had dashed his way over for what looked to be a certain try again, video referee Moore denied the try on closer inspection.

To add salt to the wound, O’Brien’s drop goal five minutes from full time secured the league points for the visitors as they took away a 13-6 result.