NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 4
3 days ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Mark Calderwood notched a clinical hat-trick as reigning champions Leeds tightened their grip on the engage Super League leadership with a crushing 60-4 demolition of relegation-threatened Leigh.
Tony Smith?s side were not always at their imperious best, but when they moved into top gear after the restart they looked virtually unstoppable after serving up another devastating masterclass in clinical finishing.
The Centurions went into the game unbeaten in their last three home games but after seeing their recent bubble of form well and truly burst, Darren Abram?s side will not relish another encounter with the Rhinos.
However, as this was the first of a double-header between the two clubs, the Centurions must now make the daunting trip to Headingley next Friday.
Leigh welcomed Leeds to the Coliseum for the first time since April 1994, and enhanced their recent reputation as an improving force by making a vibrant start before Leeds opened the scoring against the run of play after eight minutes.
Following a scrum on their own 20-metre line, Kevin Sinfield slipped an intelligent pass to in-form winger Calderwood.
Fresh from his hat-trick exploits during last week?s 70-0 Challenge Cup victory against Pia, Calderwood embarked on a lung-bursting run which took him clear of an outpaced Leigh defence before he grounded.
However, the hosts hit back strongly and 10 minutes later they claimed a deserved try.
Stand off John Wilshere?s clever grubber kick was collected by Phil Jones, who grounded in the left-hand corner to send the noisy crowd wild.
But Leeds immediately upped the tempo and after teenager Lee Smith finished off a well-worked move in the left-hand corner, Rob Burrow extended Leeds? lead further with a splendid solo effort.
The 5ft 5in player collected a wayward pass from Sinfield 30 metres out and with a combination of searing pace and clever footwork, he darted past bewildered Leigh players to ground between the posts.
The in-form scrum-half simply cannot stop scoring, but the same can also be said of Calderwood and after taking Willie Poching?s neat offload again from deep inside his own half, the Rhinos winger again showed outstanding speed to outstrip the home defence and claim his second try of the match.
Replacement Barrie McDermott then registered from close range as Leeds all but secured the points before the interval hooter - and they wasted little time in increasing their lead after the restart.
Barely 90 seconds had passed before Smith again showed lightning speed to claim his second try after collecting Ali Lauitiiti?s pass.
Leeds registered their seventh try on the hour through Sinfield before another impressive breakaway saw the Rhinos skipper hand Calderwood his hat-trick try on a plate.
As Leeds moved into top gear, Burrow grabbed his second before Chev Walker and Sinfield registered, with the latter?s boot adding the rest of the points for the Rhinos.
Leigh: Owen, Cooper, Jackson, Jones, Feaunati, Wilshere, J. Duffy, Fleary, Rowley, Stevens, Stapleton, Leafa, Kent. Replacements: Mears, Sturm, Marshall, King.
Leeds: Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, McKenna, Smith, Sinfield, Burrow, Bailey, Dunemann, Ward, Jones-Buchanan, Poching, Ellis. Replacements: Lauitiiti, McDermott, Scruton, Botham.
Leigh (4) 4. Tries: Jones.
Leeds (28) 60. Tries: Calderwood 3, Smith 2, Burrow 2, McDermott, Sinfield 2, Walker. Goals: Sinfield 8.
Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley)
Att: 5,000
Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk