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Stobart Super League XVII Round 26 Review by Simon Reuben
Leeds Rhinos 46
Tries: Jones-Bishop, Hall, Sinfield, Burrow, Watkins 2, Hauraki, Jones-Buchanan
Goals: Sinfield 7
Salford City Reds 12
Tries: Patten 2
Goals: Holdsworth 2
Att: 15,081
Leeds Rhinos put behind their disappointment at Wembley by crushing Salford City Reds at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.
Coach Brian McDermott stuck with the majority of his side that lost out to Warrington in last week Challenge Cup Final.
The City Reds started quite brightly and should have taken the lead when winger Jodie Broughton broke clear down the flank only to see his final pass intercepted by Ben Jones-Bishop, who in turn opened the scoring at the other end.
He took a low pass from Kallum Watkins to slide over at the corner. The next Rhinos try came courtesy of co-winger Ryan Hall finished off a trademark scoot from scrum-half Rob Burrow shortly afterwards..
Jamie Peacock's clever offload to Carl Ablett, led to skipper Kevin Sinfield scoring the third try of the half and with his two goals, Leeds went into the break 16-0 to the good.
In the third quarter of the game Poor Salford were taken to the cleaners as the Rhinos ran in five unanswered tries. Three minutes after the resumption Burrow jinked his way over for a solo try -his 150 for Leeds- before setting up Zak Hardaker for the second score.
Centre Kallum Watkins took a short pass from teenager Stevie Ward to grab his first try and then took advantage of some great footwork from Hardaker to make it a double. Jamie Jones-Buchanan stretched out of Luke Patten's tackle to score Leeds' eighth try and Sinfield added his seventh goal of the night as the score ballooned out to 46-0.
After been run ragged all night Patten, playing his penultimate match of Rugby League, prevented a shut out by helping himself to a late brace. Daniel Holdsworth added both goals for a well beaten Reds.
So Leeds have guaranteed themselves at worst fifth spot, with one week of the regular season remaining, as they look to try and defend their Super League crown.