By Guy Harvey

Leeds found themselves back at AMT Headingley rather than local amateur side Stanningley’s home due to the wet weather, however although the sun was shining bright the torrential wind ensured it would be a tough game for both sides although it would be the visitors that dealt best with said conditions.

Starting the game confidently, Leeds looked to break down Warrington’s defensive line when full back Alfred Edgell broke through before offloading to Kyden Frater however the referee brought the winger back, blowing his whistle for a forward pass. Leeds was then penalised for a ball steal in the tackle and with excellent field position Warrington took full advantage when Bobby Shingler crashed over taking the short pass from close range, Joseph Hickey adding the extras.

The Rhinos responded moments later, owing to Warrington knocking the ball on taking the drive forward from the kick off. With the ball in Sinfield’s possession running at the Warrington line, choosing to hit Ben Littlewood on the short pass rather than the option out back fooling the visiting defenders and allowing Littlewood to drive over with three Wolves players in tow, Sinfield successful with the conversion making the score six all.

Leeds began to struggle to exit their own half for quite the while and Warrington utilised these errors in the fifteen-minute mark in the shape of Frank Sergent spotting the space in front of him and going from dummy half to dive over for the four pointer and Hickey successfully converting from the right touch line. Leeds immediately put themselves back under pressure kicking the ball in to touch directly from kick off. However defending the first set well, Leeds then coughed up possession on the second tackle allowing Zac Bardsley-Rowe to collect the ball and race in to score the try on the left edge, with another successful touchline conversion from Hickey pushing Warrington further ahead at 18-6.

Both sides then began a ten-minute period of error after error with not many completed sets. But with nine minutes remaining in the half Warrington pushed themselves further, when half back Whalley put forward Lucas Green through a hole in the Rhinos defence twenty metres out from the try line leaving Green a comfortable run in for the try. Hickey with an easy conversion put the lead to 24-6 and the away side looked to be cruising to victory. But Leeds were not laying down and accepting defeat and just as the half time hooter sounded Olly Smart crossed the whitewash on the right edge following a quick play the ball in the middle, hooker Corbett got the ball to Sinfield who quickly sent the ball out back to Smart with space ahead enough to race in for the try, but with a missed conversion it put the score at 24-10.

What ever was said in the changing rooms at half time from Tony Smith certainly stuck with his side because the Rhinos improvement was clear to see. Taking only six minutes to score their first points of the half, Fergus McCormack showing his talent with his footwork to make the half break but needing support which came from Riley Lumb who raced on with just the full back to beat found support in Alfie Edgell with the comfortable run under the posts ahead of him and Sinfield adding the conversion making it 24-16 and the Rhinos well and truly back in the game,

Warrington hit back however, kicking off and finding touch gave then great field position allowing loose forward Ben Whitehead the opportunity to run at the line from close range and after throwing the dummy pass stepped off his left foot to dive over for the try taking would be tacklers with him, Hickey successful with the conversion again. Leeds kept banging at Warrington’s door but either unforced errors or brilliant defence frustrated the home side and with twenty minutes remaining Warrington scored the try that turned out to be the final nail in the coffin. Ben Hartill racing out from dummy half spotting Leeds’ tiring defence, reached the space behind the markers and with just the full back ahead of him he used Cai Taylor-Wray in support to score under the posts and again Hickey successful with the conversion leaving the score at 36-16.

Leeds scored again when Kyden Frater dived over in the left corner, but the touch judge ruled, he had gone in touch before grounding the ball. Ben Littlewood also had the opportunity to double his try tally on the day but the offload to him being adjudged to have been forward. But it was be too little too late for Leeds and a loss for Tony Smith’s side. The reserves are next in action on Saturday 20^th April when they travel to Hull to face Hull KR at Sewell Group Craven Park with a 1pm kick off scheduled.

Leeds Rhinos Reserves

1. Alfie Edgell
   
2. Riley Lumb
   
3. Dylan Proud
   
4. Oliver Smart
   
5. Kyden Frater
   
6. Fergus McCormack
   
7. Jack Sinfield
   
8. Freddie Brennan-Jones
   
9. Mason Corbett
   
10. Leo Aliyu
    
11. Ben Littlewood
    
12. Harrison Gilmore
    
13. Ashton Robinson
    
14. Shane Tuohey
    
15. Sam Webb-Campbell
    
16. Toby Warren
    
17. Joe Phillips
    
18. Taylor Stephenson

Warrington Wolves Reserves

1. Cal Taylor-Wray
   
2. Francis Sergent
   
3. Rodrick Tai
   
4. Zac Bardsley-Rowe
   
5. Matthew Russell
   
6. Joseph Hickey
   
7. Adam Whalley
   
8. Bobby Shingler
   
9. Benjamin Hartill
   
10. Lucas Green
    
11. Peter Scott
    
12. Nolan Tupaea
    
13. Thomas Whitehead
    
14. Zack Gardner
    
15. Stephen Antrobus
    
16. Scott Parnaby
    
17. Jamie Reddecliff
    
18. Thomas Mckinney