Saturday, 18 February 2012

Leeds Rhinos steal World Club Challenge back for England with 20-12 win over Manly Sea Eagles



Two tries in the final three minutes sealed the World Club Challenge for Leeds Rhinos after a tight, physical contest blew out to a convincing 26-12 scoreline.
The Super League champions were too good for a sloppy Manly side, scoring five tries to two in front of a full house of more than 21,000 on a typically cool evening in Leeds.
The result continued the Sea Eagles' tardy pre-season form and provided new coach Geoff Toovey with plenty to think about a fortnight out from their NRL season opener.
The Sea Eagles start their campaign against the Warriors at Eden Park on March 4.
The tourists made a terrible start with co-captain Jason King dropping his side's second touch of the ball from the kickoff.
The Sea Eagles looked tentative in attack and lacked composure against a willing if far from faultless Leeds side.
The hosts seized a deserved lead in the 19th minute when centre Kallum Watkins cut inside Steve Matai for the opening try.
Nine minutes later the Rhinos stretched their lead out to 12 points after Ryan Hall sprinted nearly the length of the field after intercepting a Brett Stewart pass just metres from his own line.
The Manly fullback reduced the deficit to a converted try in the 32nd minute after steaming onto an inside ball from Kieran Foran.
But Hall ensured a 16-6 halftime lead for the Rhinos by slipping between Jamie Lyon and David Williams to collect a Kevin Sinfield cross-field kick for a simple try.
Rain started to fall in the second half but halfback Daly Cherry-Evans put Manly back within touching distance by sliding through the home side's goal-line defence.
Five minutes later, Steve Matai caught a cross-field kick and crossed over only for the video referee to disallow the try because Brett Stewart shoved out a Leeds defender out of the way.
Five minutes from time, Leeds wrapped up the win with Ben Jones-Bishop finishing off in the corner before Carl Ablett finished the scoring with a try in the dying moments.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/leeds-rhinos-steal-world-club-challenge-back-for-england-with-20-12-win-over-manly-sea-eagles/story-e6frf3ou-1226274408235

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