Leeds Rhinos Under-18s produced a stunning second half performance to beat Warrington Wolves Under-18s 30-16 and continue their winning start to 2022.

The first 40 minutes was a tight affair, with neither side gaining a clear advantage.

Within the opening ten minutes, the young Rhinos had two chances that went begging. After forcing a repeat set on the Warrington tryline, Jack Sinfield tried to squeeze a grubber kick for Toby Warren to score but James Hartill got there first. Kai Morgan also tried a kick in behind Warrington’s defence for Neil Tchamambe but although the winger got to the ball first, he went into touch before he could ground it.

Leeds finally made the break through as Will Gatus scored a great solo effort. Warrington had been caught offside after a good kick downfield and the Rhinos’ forwards did well to move the ball into striking distance. Shifting left, Sinfield and Lumb connected and as the full back got a quick pass away, Gatus did well to wriggle out of the tackle of two Warrington defenders and score.

The home side hit back minutes later off the back of a knock on by Jack Smith. The Wolves had tried to spread Leeds’ defence but the final ball over the top was patted down by Smith to stop a certain try. From the scrum, Jack Darbyshire’s strong drive for the line set up hooker Aiden Doolan, who darted out of the back of the ruck to touch down and level the score.

The Wolves doubled their lead as Adam Holroyd connected with a clever kick from Leon Hayes but despite the home side building pressure, the visitors responded on the brink of half time through Gatus again. A barrage of attacks from Warrington came to no reward for Richard Marshall’s men but a penalty for an offiside kick chase allowed Leeds back into the contest. Ethan Spear and Harrison Gilmore did well to get Leeds from halfway to their opponents 20 metre area and as Sinfield tried another kick for the in goal area, Gatus made sure he grounded the ball first. Sinfield locked up the score with a successful conversion to make the half time score 10-10.

The Rhinos showed their intent for points in the opening stages of the new half as some great off the cuff play between Sinfield and Bailey Aldridge saw Gatus almost get his hat trick try, but Warrington forced him over the sideline. A knock on by the Wolves as they were coming away from their own line invited Leeds to attack again and this time, Smith managed to get a offload away, despite being held by two Warrington defenders, for Tchamambe to score acrobatically in the corner. Sinfield was unlucky with the conversion as it hit the posts.

Johnson’s try on 52 minutes secured back to back tries for the visitors as they took command of the game. Handling errors caused the Wolves more problems as Leeds continued to push for points through Gatus and Higgins, who where both held up short. The Rhinos kept their composure and on the fifth tackle, Sinfield placed his kick perfectly so that loose forward Johnson had an easy try.

Warrington fought back as Hayes found Josh Lynch with a chip kick into the corner but Sinfield responded with a try of his own. Wolves full back Noah Booth had knocked on in a dangerous area and Leeds were clinical; Morgan firing a quick pass into the path of his half back partner Sinfield, who stepped inside Lewis Hughes to touch down.

Warrington continued to be held under the pump as Sinfield caught Booth out with a high bomb. The Wolves were then penalised for a head high tackle on Jake Higgins and, as the clock continued to wind down, Sinfield elected to go for the penalty goal and he coolly slotted it to seal a 30-16 result.