By Guy Harvey

Leeds Rhinos Reserves travelled to the east coast to complete their fixture list with an away day at Hull KR. The play offs were out of reach for the Rhinos however with a number of players from the reserves in Rohan Smith’s first team squad for the trip to Catalans, it was an opportunity for some players to put themselves in Tony Smith’s thoughts heading into next season.

The game started with a ferocious tempo to the game with both sides completing sets well but it was the home side to get on the scoresheet first when full back Phoenix Laulu-Togagae ran at the line and threw the dummy pass and step to break the Rhinos defensive line and dive over from close range but the conversion was missed making the score 4-0 after fifteen minutes.

Leeds responded shortly after taking advantage of a penalty on half way conceded by Hull KR for stripping the ball, Riley Lumb kicked the ball deep in to the Hull half and after reaching the final tackle Fergus McCormack put in a grubber kick end the kick through on the last tackle and Riley Lumb raced on to score the try which he also converted to make it 4-6 to the Rhinos.

With the game becoming quite scrappy and errors creeping in for both sides neither could really take advantage of the territory given from each other's mistakes including the Rhinos defending a full set of six on their own line, but with the half time hooter seconds from sounding the home side found a gap in Leeds’ defensive line as they hit the left flank finding centre Connor Barley with space ahead of him was able to race over for the try but with the conversion missed it made the score 8-6 as the sides headed in for half time.

The second half began much like the first with a few errors from both sides but after ten minutes Hull got the scoreboard ticking again scoring in much the same fashion as they did on the stroke of half time, hitting the left flank but this time in the shape of full back Phoenix Laulu-Togagae breaking the defensive line and diving over in the corner and this time scrum half Jack Townend was successful with the conversion making the score 14-6 with half an hour left to play.

Leeds responded next albeit ten minutes later after a great break on half way from Bailey Aldridge and with support from Riley Lumb Leeds were in a dangerous position and after Leeds were given a penalty Bailey Aldridge was dangerous again going from dummy half to dive over from close range and score just beside the posts giving an easy conversion for Riley Lumb making the score 14-12 with fifteen minutes to go.

Leeds went back to and score again after another break from half way from Bailey Aldridge and with Ashton Robinson in support and just the fullback to beat Robinson would run in from twenty metres out to score under the post Riley Lumb converted with ease to make the score 14-18 with fifteen minutes left to play.

With minutes to go though Hull crossed for the try again down the left side which had become their go-to in the game and with the try making the score 18 all the conversion was crucial but it was missed, resulting in a tense final minutes. Leeds were the first to attempt the drop goal but the Hull defence was up so quickly Lumb didn't get the opportunity to get the kick away. Hull KR then used their set to go the length of the field and scrum half Jack Townend would be successful with his one point effort making it 19-18 with seconds to spare. Leeds however weren’t defeated and went short with the kick off and Dylan Proud was there to collect the ball, another drive was taken to get the Rhinos central on the field and from the play the ball Aldridge got the pass straight to Fergus McCormack and even with what seemed to be every Hull KR player racing towards him dealt with the pressure and kicked the drop goal from over thirty metres out to level the game just as the referee blew the final whistle.

Hull Kingston Rovers Reserves

1. Phoenix Laulu-Togagae
   
2. Ethan Ryan
   
3. Louix Gorman
   
4. Connor Barley
   
5. Harvey Horne
   
6. Jack Potter
   
7. Jack Townend
   
8. Leo Tennison
   
9. Korben Pratt
   
10. Owen Maull
    
11. Luis Johnson
    
12. Harvey Reynolds
    
13. Yusuf Aydin
    
14. Zachary Fishwick
    
15. Charlie Beet
    
16. Oliver Forsyth
    
17. William Wilson
    
18. Kieran Smith

Leeds Rhinos Reserves

1. Riley Lumb
   
2. Dylan Proud
   
3. Mackenzie Turner
   
4. Ned McCormack
5. William Todd
   
6. Fergus McCormack
   
7. Shane Tuohey
   
8. Thomas Worthington
   
9. Bailey Aldridge
   
10. Ben Littlewood
    
11. Jack Johnson
    
12. Joseph Gibbons
    
13. Benjamin Hursey-Hord
    
14. Mason Corbett
    
15. Ashton Robinson
    
16. Freddie Brennan-Jones
    
17. Thomas Stevens
    
18. Lewis Peacock