RHINOS ADVANCE TO THE SIXTH ROUND AT THE EXPENCE OF QUINS IN SCORCHING ENCOUNTER
Leeds Rhinos edged out Harlequins 36-26 in a scintillating fifth round encounter at The Stoop on Sunday. Down 24-4 with just over a half hour remaining, momentum then swung Harlequins’ way as they stormed to 26-24, only for Jason Peacock to ruin the party with a try three minutes from the final hooter.
“That was one hell of a cup tie,” Leeds coach Brian McLennan said. “It was hot and in the second half we had a lack of possession but we hung in there.”
But only just. The Rhinos tumbled out of last year’s competition at the this stage at the hands of Wigan Warriors and it looked as though the London club would trump them too after a scorching second half display.
Two tries each for Henry Paul, who also kicked three goals, and Danny Orr, along with Tony Clubb’s score, were not quite enough for the home side who looked dead and buried at the break.
On the back of two defeats, Quins were sluggish in the baking heat to begin with, and a mistake from winger Will Sharp on his starting debut, allowed Leeds’ Ben Jones-Bishop to open the scoring on 12 minutes.
Clubb muscled a try back for Quins before Danny McGuire scored his first of three in the afternoon for Leeds. A converted try by Scott Donald took Leeds to 18-4 at the interval. McGuire dropped on Matt Diskin’s kick three minutes after the break before the London club’s fight back.
Orr, captain in the absence of injured Rob Purdham, side-stepped over five minutes later. Paul then scored twice in four minutes before scrum half Orr wriggled over again to take his team in front for the first time, only for Peacock to break the hearts of the Harlequins fans. McGuire scored at the death before Kevin Sinfield laced his sixth goal in a perfect kicking game.
“The lads are pissed off,” offered Harlequins coach Brian McDermott. “We have been outstanding for three weeks and we are frustrated not to be winning. I don’t think Leeds stepped off the gas at all but we stepped up.”
Harlequins: Wells, Sharp, Gafa, Howell, Sheriffe, Paul, Orr; Temata, Randell, Ward, Clubb, Worrincy, Mbu
Interchange: Rinaldi, Melling, Haggerty, Grayshon
Tries: Clubb, Orr 2, Paul 2
Goals: Paul 3 (5)
Leeds Rhinos:
Jones-Bishop, Hall, Watkins, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Tansey, Scrutton, Abet, Peacock, Sinfield
Interchange: Diskin, Ellis, Worrall, Allan
Tries: Jones-Bishop, McGuire 3, Donald, Peacock
Goals: Sinfield 6 (6)
Referee: Ian Smith
Leeds Rhinos edged out Harlequins 36-26 in a scintillating fifth round encounter at The Stoop on Sunday. Down 24-4 with just over a half hour remaining, momentum then swung Harlequins’ way as they stormed to 26-24, only for Jason Peacock to ruin the party with a try three minutes from the final hooter.
“That was one hell of a cup tie,” Leeds coach Brian McLennan said. “It was hot and in the second half we had a lack of possession but we hung in there.”
But only just. The Rhinos tumbled out of last year’s competition at the this stage at the hands of Wigan Warriors and it looked as though the London club would trump them too after a scorching second half display.
Two tries each for Henry Paul, who also kicked three goals, and Danny Orr, along with Tony Clubb’s score, were not quite enough for the home side who looked dead and buried at the break.
On the back of two defeats, Quins were sluggish in the baking heat to begin with, and a mistake from winger Will Sharp on his starting debut, allowed Leeds’ Ben Jones-Bishop to open the scoring on 12 minutes.
Clubb muscled a try back for Quins before Danny McGuire scored his first of three in the afternoon for Leeds. A converted try by Scott Donald took Leeds to 18-4 at the interval. McGuire dropped on Matt Diskin’s kick three minutes after the break before the London club’s fight back.
Orr, captain in the absence of injured Rob Purdham, side-stepped over five minutes later. Paul then scored twice in four minutes before scrum half Orr wriggled over again to take his team in front for the first time, only for Peacock to break the hearts of the Harlequins fans. McGuire scored at the death before Kevin Sinfield laced his sixth goal in a perfect kicking game.
“The lads are pissed off,” offered Harlequins coach Brian McDermott. “We have been outstanding for three weeks and we are frustrated not to be winning. I don’t think Leeds stepped off the gas at all but we stepped up.”
Harlequins: Wells, Sharp, Gafa, Howell, Sheriffe, Paul, Orr; Temata, Randell, Ward, Clubb, Worrincy, Mbu
Interchange: Rinaldi, Melling, Haggerty, Grayshon
Tries: Clubb, Orr 2, Paul 2
Goals: Paul 3 (5)
Leeds Rhinos:
Jones-Bishop, Hall, Watkins, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Tansey, Scrutton, Abet, Peacock, Sinfield
Interchange: Diskin, Ellis, Worrall, Allan
Tries: Jones-Bishop, McGuire 3, Donald, Peacock
Goals: Sinfield 6 (6)
Referee: Ian Smith
Labels: Brian McDermott, Harlequins Rugby League, Leeds Rhinos, Rob Purdham
