A sensational night at Leigh Sports Village saw Leeds Rhinos overturn a 16-0 half time deficit to beat Leigh Leopards 22-16, thanks to two tries from Ash Handley for the second week running.

A horror first 40 minutes saw the Leopards score three times to open up a lead, but the Rhinos clawed their way back into the contest with two tries from Man of the Match Handley, as well as scores from Rhyse Martin and a first Leeds try for Matt Frawley.

Team News

Rohan Smith made two changes to his side for the trip to the Leopards Den. Mikolaj Oledzki, who had missed games against Catalans and Hull KR, made his return to the team and went straight in to start at prop. James McDonnell also moved into the starting 13 as James Bentley served his one-match ban.

Winger Ash Handley entered the fixture with five tries in his first three games of the season, including two last time out against the Dragons. Hooker Andy Ackers celebrated his 250^th career game in blue and amber.

On the bench, Justin Sangare joined Leon Ruan, Jarrod O’Connor and Tom Holroyd after the French international started the week before.

For the Leopards, injuries to Tom Briscoe and John Asiata saw Umlya Hanley come in to play his first game of the season, along with forward Tom Amone who missed the loss to St Helens. Zak Hardaker, Brad Dwyer and Owen Trout took on their former club as Leopards players.

1st Half

Both sides marched up field quickly to have chances on each other's try line in the opening sets. Helped on by a Leigh penalty, the Rhinos admirably kept the ball alive through the hands of Brodie Croft, Paul Momirovski and Ash Handley, before Croft’s last tackle kick was taken by Gareth O’Brien on his own line. The Leopards retaliated as Lam looked to gather his own grubber kick, which bounced back off the leg of Oledzki, but fortunately the half back fumbled the ball going over the try line.

Oledzki almost made up for the small disgression as he found a hole to charge through but was dragged down metres short of the whitewash. Free flowing attack from Harry Newman and Luis Roberts saw Rhyse Martin come close to scoring too, but referee Chris Kendall caught the PNG international offside in the buildup and turned possession over.

For all their hard work, the visitors conceded the opening score as Gareth O’Brien took a pass from Lachlan Lam to slice through Croft and Newman to score.

The Leopards were soon two tries up on the scoreboard as Adrian Lam’s side punished errors from the Rhinos. Momirovski ended a chance as he lost the ball tussling with opposite number Hardaker, and on the next set, Frawley’s kick on the last was diffused in goal by Leigh and led to Umyla Hanley breaking the line. Although the winger was stopped in his tracks by Lachie Miller, the danger wasn’t over as Moylan and Lam combined to put Kai O’Donnell over.

After helping create the second try, Hanley was the recipient of Leigh’s third try; the winger finishing a move through the hands of Moylan and O’Brien. Tom Amone also threatened to go over from short range, but the Rhinos survived as he knocked the ball on.

Substitutes Tom Holroyd and Jarrod O’Connor were introduced into the action, but a high tackle from O’Connor led to the home side extending their lead as Moylan opted to kick a penalty goal to take the score to 16-0 with under 10 minutes remaining.

The pressure continued on the visitors as the half reached its closing stages. Amone crashed over for what Leigh thought was a convincing try, but the video referee took a closer look and pulled the decision back for a double movement. Then a fumbled pass from Momirovski looked to let Leigh off the hook again, but the half time siren ended proceedings with the score at 16-0.

2nd Half

The second half started shakily for the Rhinos as Croft was penalised for taking O’Brien out in the air, and Hanley almost extended the Leigh lead off the back of it, only for video referee Ben Thaler to spot that the winger’s foot was in touch in the process of scoring.

Down at the other end of the pitch, Leeds finally made the breakthrough on the scoreboard thanks to Martin’s try. Using a penalty from Dan Norman to fuel their attack, Ackers tested Leigh’s defence with a dive out of dummy half before Croft followed up with a short pass for Martin to spin out of Moylan’s tackle and keep the ball in the air long enough to get to the try line.

Leeds’ fortunes got better as a break involving Ackers, Miller and Croft led to Leigh’s O’Brien going to the sin bin for a professional foul. Unfortunately, the visitors couldn’t make the extra man count as Leon Ruan obstructed a Leigh defender as the Rhinos tried to attack the edge.

The Leopards tried to turn the course of the half back in their direction from a Roberts knock-on, but a forward pass for Halton handed the ball back to Leeds.

It was the Rhinos’ turn to capitalise on their opponent's mistakes as they scored back-to-back tries to open the game up. A brilliant play from Frawley saw the half back dummy his way passed Halton and finish a solo effort under the posts.

Seconds later, Martin wasn’t prepared to kick long on the last tackle and instead, the back rower dabbed a creative kick down the line for Handley, who collected the ball and exchanged passes with his centre partner Momirovski to score his sixth try of the season. Martin’s kick crossed the face of the posts as the score remained level at 16-16.

A grandstand finish was set up with 15 minutes on the clock, and advantage went the way of Leeds when Handley finished a fantastic team try. Starting with Miller, who kept the ball alive to put it over the top for Handley, the next play saw Croft light up the Leigh turf as the half back released Martin into the backfield before taking his teammate’s pass to set up Handley for what would be the game-winning try.

Martin’s conversion extended the lead to 22-16, which was the Rhinos’ first of the night, but Leigh didn’t lie down, even with Lam going down the tunnel through injury.

High shots from O’Connor and Sangare led to the latter going to the sin bin, but even with the try line in front of the Leopards, resilient defence from the Rhinos saw Newman and Roberts both make important tackles in the closing stages to ensure back-to-back wins for Smith’s side.

Next Up

Be at AMT Headingley next Friday night to see the Rhinos take on St Helens in round four of the Betfred Super League, kick off 8pm.

The match will see the Rhinos celebrate the life and career of Lewis Jones as two heavyweights of the Super League competition go head to head.

Ticket prices start at £25 for adults, £20 for concessions and £13 for juniors, with prices rising by £3 on matchdays.

To buy tickets go to tickets.therhinos.co.uk or call the ticket office on 0371 423 1315. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm (excluding Bank Holidays). Tickets also available to purchase from Leeds Rhinos Club Shop at AMT Headingley Stadium (CLICK HERE to check opening hours before travelling).

Match Facts

Leigh Leopards

1. Gareth O’Brien, 24. Umyla Hanley, 3. Zak Hardaker, 4. Ricky Leutele, 5. Josh Charnley, 6. Matt Moylan, 7. Lachlan Lam, 12. Jack Hughes, 33. Brad Dwyer, 10. Robbie Mulhern, 11. Kai O’Donnell, 16. Frankie Halton, 8. Tom Amone

Subs: 14. Dan Norman, 15. Matt Davis, 18. Ben Nakubuwai, 17. Owen Trout  (18^th Man: 19. Ed Chamberlain)

Tries: O’Brien (13), O’Donnell (20), Hanley (26)

Goals: Moylan 2/4

Sin Bin: O’Brien (51, Professional Foul)

Leeds Rhinos

1. Lachlan Miller, 24. Luis Roberts, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Paul Momirovski, 5. Ash Handley, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Andy Ackers, 18. Mickael Goudemand, 16. James McDonnel, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith

Subs: 10. Tom Holroyd, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 17. Justin Sangare, 23. Leon Ruan (18^th Man: Alfie Edgell)

Tries: Martin (48), Frawley (60), Handley (62, 69)

Goals: Martin 3/4

Sin Bin: Justin Sangare (73, Repeated Penalties)