A youthful Leeds Rhinos Reserves side showed plenty of spirit in a tough 26-18 defeat to Hull FC Reserves, as the black and whites scored four unanswered tries in the second half to take home the win.

Rhinos Reserves head coach Tony Smith named one of his youngest sides of the season for the trip east, as Under-18s players Marcus Qareqare and George Brown made their first appearances in the competition, plus Presley Cassell, who was named in Paul Anderson's England Academy side along with Qareqare earlier that week, Joe Diskin and Harry Taylor also appeared in the matchday 17. 

The home side knocked on the door of the Leeds try line early on, after back to back high tackles from the Rhinos helped the black and whites downfield. Going through the hands of full back Jack Walker, Joe Ward thought he had got the opening score in the corner, but a great cover tackle from Marcus Qareqare forced the winger over the sideline in a try saving effort.

Having absorbed the Hull pressure, Leeds made sure they reaped the rewards as Shane Tuohey scored the opening try. Jack Sinfield proved to be the architect as the half back forced his way through a hole to race free, and with only Walker to beat, Sinfield found Tuohey on his outside as the full back scored his fourth try of the season.

A close first 40 minutes saw nothing split the sides as chances went begging. Callum Kemp and  Zach Jebson came close to responding after the Tuohey score, but as Jack Charles chose to go the aerial route with his fifth tackle kick, Charlie Venables was there to comfortably take. Another kick from Charles almost gave Leeds a second try as the half continued, but Sinfield couldn’t outrun Jack Walker after the Rhinos player intercepted Charles’ kick for the in goal area.

The Rhinos did find a second try to extend their lead with over 20 minutes gone on the clock. Mason Corbett tried an inspired drive out of dummy half but was pulled up short of the try line, but a piece of luck kept Leeds on the attack as Sinfield’s kick on the last came off a Hull player and into the arms of Tuohey for a fresh set of six. The visitors didn’t need the full set though as Sinfield and substitute Presley Cassell combined to feed Tom Nicholson-Watton, who crashed on Cassell’s pass to go over under the posts to take the score to 12-0.

Leon Ruan was denied a third try for a double movement as Leeds looked to take a firm grip in the game, but the home side managed to muster a response as Jeylan Hodgson skipped away from Nicholson-Watton and beat Corbett and Cassell to the try line.

The final act of the half belonged the Rhinos though as Nicholson-Watton tried to barrel his way over from short range, but the referee judged that the prop had been held up, forcing the sides into the break at 12-6.

A game of two halves switched in the second period as four tries from the home side saw them come away with the win. Walker and Liam Tindall threatened after the restart of the contest, before quick passing put Ward over in the corner to make the score 12-10 to the Rhinos.

Charles gave Hull their first lead as the half progressed - the half back throwing a dummy at the Rhinos line to get over for back to back scores – and Ward got the home side’s third consecutive try shortly after as he beat Josh Gillespie to Walker’s grubber kick. Charles converted one of the three tries to take the score to 20-12.

Leeds were struggling to get away from their own try line, and Hull continued to add to their score as a knock on from Tuohey invited another chance for the black and whites. This time, Walker was the try scorer as he took on the line and spun out of three tackles to get the ball down under the posts, giving Hull a 14 point cushion.

A consolation effort for the visitors saw George Brown cross the line on his Reserves debut, as the half back managed to keep his feet and force himself over the line. Sinfield added the conversion, but it was too late in the game to force a comeback as Hull took away a 26-18 win.

Hull FC Reserves

1. Jack Walker, 2. Liam Tindall, 3. Callum Shaw, 4. Ryan Westerman, 5. Joe Ward, 6. Jack Charles, 7. Callum Kemp, 8. Will Gardiner, 9. Jeylan Hodgson, 10. Matty Laidlaw, 11. Will Kirby, 12. Kye Armstrong, 13. Zach Jebson

Subs: 14. Jordan Baker, 15. Lennon Clark, 16. Jude Thompson, 17. Elliott Windley

Tries: Hodgson (29), Ward (45, 56), Charles (48), Walker (60)

Goals: Charles 3/5

Leeds Rhinos Reserves

1. Shane Tuohey, 2. Josh Gillespie. 3. Marcus Qareqare, 4. Charlie Venables, 5. Harry Taylor, 6. George Brown, 7. Jack Sinfield, 8. Toby Warren, 9. Mason Corbett, 10. Tom Nicholson-Watton, 11. Harrison Gilmore. 12. Leon Ruan, 13. Ashton Robinson

Subs: 14. Joe Diskin, 15. Leo Aliyu, 16. Freddie Brennan-Jones, 17. Presley Cassell (18^th Man – Bobby Hartley)

Tries: Tuohey (7), Nicholson-Watton (23), Brown (77)

Goals: Sinfield 3/3