Leeds Rhinos Reserves 0 Huddersfield Giants Reserves 30

By Guy Harvey

The Reserves side were back at Headingley looking to hold on to their undefeated record and play their part in the double header with Huddersfield Giants. Both teams had a sprinkling of first team regulars in their sides including Jake Connor, Sam Halsall, Esan Marsters, Matty English and Harvey Livett for the Giants and Luke Hooley, Liam Tindall and Derrell Olpherts for the home side it definitely added to the excitement for what already was expected to be a great game.

The aforementioned inclusion of first team regulars certainly increased the level of intensity and physicality to the game with both teams not taking any backward steps in defence and attack with the first points not being scored until midway through the first half in the form of Huddersfield prop Thomas Worthington crashing over from a short distance and Jake Connor adding the extras. The Rhinos weren’t without their opportunities but were just falling at the last hurdle and coming up short whether that be through individual errors and strong defence from the Giants. Huddersfield were scoring again minutes later however this time Jake Connor turning from goal kicker to try scorer running at the defence and showing his talent showed the dummy pass and fancy footwork to slide through Leeds’ defensive line on the left edge and again adding the extra two points on offer.

Leeds did begin to put some pressure on the Giants and with Jack Sinfield intercepting a pass on his own ten metre line looked to have turned defence into attack and points for the home side but as he was racing away was called back by the referee for offside, but with play called back and the Giants back in possession they took full advantage and the ball in Esan Marsters hands he cleverly pulled in the defenders to create a space in the line and gave the short pass to the waiting Harvey Livett who duly obliged to run through the space provided and score just before half time giving the Giants a sixteen point lead to take in to the sheds.

The second half started in similar fashion with both sides going strong in defence not wanting to concede any points but what seemed to become the story of the match for the Rhinos they weren’t short of opportunities but just could utilise them. And it would be the away side that scored next points with the clock on sixty four minutes it was again Connor having a hand in the build up play by putting a short grubber through on the left edge but with Riley Lumb slipping just as he was to gather the ball, Huddersfield’s Darius Carter was on hand and score the try.

Huddersfield were back over Leeds’ try-line minutes later again with Darius Carter scoring the four pointer down the left edge after quick hands from Marsters and Ethan Wainwright created the overlap and space for Carter to glide along the touchline and Connor adding the extras. The Huddersfield side weren’t finished there however and added a final try with minutes remaining heading again to the left flank and finding another overlap but this time with winger Sam Halsall finishing the move and finishing the game with an 30-0 score line in favour of the away side.

Leeds Rhinos Reserves