World Club Challenge LEEDS RHINOS CHAMPIONS YET AGAIN.

Thommo

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Leeds Rhinos struck a welcome blow for northern hemisphere rugby league with a 26-12 victory over Manly Sea Eagles in the Big Soup World Club Challenge.

The Super League champions avenged their 2009 defeat by the same opponents with a magnificent display in an enthralling contest that was in the balance until the final four minutes.

Manly looked set to overturn a 16-6 half-time deficit after roaring their way back to within four points and dominating the second half.

But a late try from Ben Jones-Bishop sealed victory for the Rhinos, who have completed an incredible journey from fifth place in last year's Super League to world champions.

Manly showed early signs of being unnerved by a raucous 21,000 full house at Headinbley, with Jason King knocking on from the kick-off and Daly Cherry-Evans failing to find touch with an early penalty.

But despite dominating the opening exchanges, Leeds had to wait 18 minutes to make the breakthrough.

It came after Cherry-Evans held on too long to Ryan Hall to gift the Rhinos field position and Brent Webb put Kallum Watkins over in the corner.

Kevin Sinfield converted but after a spell of Manly pressure, the NRL champions appeared set to strike back.

After stretching the play, Brett Stewart's pass looked to be a try-scoring one and it was - for Hall - who stepped up, intercepted, juggled the ball briefly and raced 95 metres to score. Sinfield's conversion made it a 12-point swing in 60 seconds.

Manly did get on the board six minutes before the break when Brett Stewart ghosted over by the sticks and Jamie Lyon converted, but just before the interval Sinfield's superb crossfield kick was plucked out of the air by Hall from in between two defenders for a four-pointer.

Momentum shift

Leeds were good value for a 10-point lead but the second half saw a rapid shift in momentum.

A try arrived quickly from Cherry-Evans, last year's NRL Rookie of the Year throwing a clever dummy to open up scoring space after Tony Williams' burst had put the defence on the back foot. Lyon converted and Leeds were wobbling.

They survived thanks to some gutsy defending, a couple of errors from Manly and the odd favourable decision from referee Ashley Klein.

But with five minutes left a high shot on Rob Burrow at last gave Leeds a penalty and a chance to attack.

They took full advantage as Burrow darted across the pitch and Watkins' sharp pass was able to put Jones-Bishop in at the corner.

The kick-off went out on the full and the game was up for Manly, with Karl Ablett adding some late gloss to the scoreline as he seized on Sinfield's wickedly-bouncing grubber kick.


SOURCE SKY SPORTS NEWS.
 
was a good game. leeds had a few tough decisions against them and looked a bit rattled about it, but they held it together . im well chuffed i just hope they play like that the rest of the season.
 
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