Leeds Rhinos Reserves made it two wins from two to start the new Reserves season as they convincingly beat Huddersfield Giants Reserves 32-14 at Stanningley.

A week after opening the 2025 season with a result on the road against Leigh Leopards, Chev Walker’s side were put under pressure in the early stages of their first home game as the Giants came out to attack the Leeds defence. Consecutive sets for Huddersfield turned the Rhinos over on their own try line, but an error allowed Shane Tuohey to escape. Off the back of the error, the young Rhinos managed to find some rhythm in attack and Harry Smith sliced through a hole to score the first try of the game on 10 minutes.

Huddersfield’s early work was rewarded when ill-discipline from Leeds allowed Logan Blacker to fire a pass out for Connor Carr, who set up Beau Morrison to score in the corner to make the score 6-4 after 20 minutes. After a chance for Leeds went begging as Presley Cassell was judged to be held up as the loose forward drove for the try line, the Giants answered at the other end of the field. Try scorer Morrison was called into action again to score the visitors’ second try, as a direct scrum play saw the winger score in the corner again to give Liam Finn’s side the lead with ten minutes to go.

The Rhinos kept pushing until the end of the half to try and regain the lead. Joe Diskin was held up short in the dying minutes of the half before a short kick in behind from Harry Smith looked for a favourable bounce, only to fall into the hands of Leo Ward as the Giants took an 8-6 lead into the break.

A contrasting second half performance saw the young Rhinos find a different gear as they turned the game's momentum in their favour. Harley Thomas was in the right place to support a half break by Jack Smith as the winger got Leeds’ nose in front two minutes after the restart. Shane Tuohey also found joy when attacking the Giants line from short range as he burrowed his way over for four points to take the Rhinos lead to 16-8 with ten minutes of the new half played.

Walkers’ side had found their gear and Huddersfield had nothing to stop it. No sooner had the game restarted, the home side found themselves back over their opponents try line as Tuohey jinked back inside and found a hole to race through for his second try of the game. Jack Smith also added his name to the list of try scorers as he took the ball from dummy half and forced his way through the heart of the Giants defence to race away and score a great solo effort. Thomas converted from in front to take the score to 26-8 heading into the final 20 minutes.

A consolation score for Huddersfield came after Leeds’ Callum Webster was unable to take in Ward’s high kick, and Logan Blacker took advantage to close the scoreline to 26-14, but the Rhinos made sure they had the final say in the result. An error from Darius Carter was inviting for the home side and off the back of a drive from Cassell, substitute Alex Cowley took the ball over the line himself to close out a 32-14 result.

Teams

Rhinos Reserves

1. Alfie Edgell, 2. Callum Webster, 3. Jack Smith, 4. Ethan Clark-Wood, 5. Harley Thomas, 6. Shane Tuohey, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Joe Butterfield, 9. Joe Diskin, 10. Toby Warren, 11. Oliver Smart, 12. Noah Whittingham, 13. Presley Cassell

Subs: 14. Alex Cowley, 15. Zak Lloyd, 16. Lore Jones-Buchanan, 17. Jayemm Oladipupo(18^th Man – Dax Millington)

Tries: H.Smith (10), Thomas (42), Tuohey (47, 50), J.Smith (59), Cowley (72)

Goals: Thomas 4/6

Giants Reserves

1. Logan Blacker, 2. Beau Morrison, 3. Connor Carr, 4. Darius Carter, 5. Roman Sherma, 6. Leo Ward, 7. Marshall Land, 8. Jacob Algar, 9. Monty Lumb, 10. Tom Hardy, 11. Charlie Land, 12. Max Merta, 13. Archie Sykes

Subs: 14. Charlie Newton, 15. Zach Brown, 16. Noah Broadbent, 17. Sam Beety (18^th Man – Lewis Bottomley)

Tries: Morrison (18, 31), Blacker (69)

Goals: L.Ward 0/2, Blacker 1/1