Val Verde
October 10th, 2009, 10:46 PM
Brilliant news for the city of Leeds as the Rhinos have won the 3rd Super League Grand Final on the trot. :banana::banana::banana:http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/rugby-league-headlines/GRAND-FINAL-Leeds-Rhinos-create.5722722.jp
GRAND FINAL: Leeds Rhinos create history
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_1010200915RUGBYL%20Final%206(2).jpg
Kevin Sinfield
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryADVERTISEMENT Published Date: 10 October 2009
By Peter Smith
Leeds Rhinos made history at Old Trafford as they became the first team to win three successive engage Super League titles.
Skipper Kevin Sinfield won the Harry Sunderland award as man of the match as Leeds produced a superb performance to beat St Helens 18-10.
* CHECK BACK ON MONDAY FOR A PICTURE SLIDESHOW OF MATCH ACTION AS WELL AS REACTION FROM LEEDS RHINOS PLAYERS, STAFF AND FANS.
The final, played in front of a crowd of 63,259, was as tight as all the pre-match speculation suggested.
Saints dominated the opening quarter and led 8-0, but Leeds rallied to go in all square at the break.
Both teams led by a point early in the second-half, but a penalty edged Leeds back in front with 16 minutes left and Lee Smith's second try – in his final Leeds appearance – sealed it eight minutes from time.
Leeds defended magnificently in a high-quality game and, crucially, they took their limited chances when they came.
Sinfield was superb, well backed by Rob Burrow, Matt Diskin, Brent Webb and Smith – though the entire pack were top class.
The rivals were close to full-strength with only long-term casualties Danny Buderus, of Leeds and Saints' Jason Cayless missing.
Saints lined up as they did in their semi-final win over Wigan, while Rhinos' only change saw Ali Lauitiiti return from illness, in place of Simon Worrall, though he lasted only a few minutes before going off hurt in the first-half.
Saints did the early pressing, but Rhinos had the first opportunity, Sinfield and Burrow linking to send Webb on a run, but his pass to Ryan Hall was forward.
Then, after Jon Wilkin had kicked out on the full, Smith spilled the impressive Danny McGuire's pass after Burrow and Sinfield had handled.
Ade Gardner trapped Webb in goal from his own kick, but Leeds survived the drop out set, Long sending his final tackle grubber dead between the posts.
The opening try came after 13 minutes. Wilkin's kick bounced off Sinfield's leg towards Scott Donald, but Kyle Eastmond snatched the ball from the Rhinos winger's grasp and evaded Webb's last-ditch tackle to dash over for a touchdown which he also converted, after video referee Phil Bentham had given the green light.
At the other end, Francis Meli dealt with a Burrow cross kick, after Jamie Jones-Buchanan had been pulled down close to the line.
Sinfield then landed a superb 40-20 kick and it almost paid off as Jones-Buchanan hit a gap from McGuire's terrific pass, but James Graham made a try-saving tackle.
Seconds later, Burrow's kick was spilled by long and Ryan Bailey – who had a big game - touched down, but referee Steve Ganson ruled the scrum-half had been fouled by Webb.
At the end of the resulting set, Senior was penalised for a supposed obstruction on Matt Gidley, from Long's kick and Eastmond potted the penalty to make it 8-0 on 28 minutes.
A minute later, Leeds were back in the game, Diskin forcing his way over from acting-half – on the last tackle – after Sinfield had gone close. Bentham awarded the try, but Sinfield's conversion attempt his a post and bounced away.
Rhinos levelled four minutes before the break. McGuire's kick was fumbled by Meli behind his own line and Smith reacted quickly to touch down.
Bentham again gave the thumbs-up, but again Sinfield couldn't add the extras and the sides went in all square.
Parity lasted just 69 seconds into the second-half. Sinfield's kick-off found touch off Gardner and in the set from the scrum the Leeds skipper knocked over a drop goal to edge his side ahead.
On 45 minutes James Roby and Gidley linked to send Gardner in at the corner as Hall and Webb got across. The decision was handed on and Bentham ruled no try, but awarded Saints a penalty, apparently for a foul by Webb, though Leeds held out in the subsequent set, thanks to a Fa'asavalu knock-on.
Meli went agonisingly close for Saints, from Eastmond's pass, following a Webb error at the play-the-ball.
With 20 minutes left Saints regained the lead when Burrow was penalised for a high shot on Long and Eastmond landed the kick.
With 15 minutes left Gildley conceded a scrum near his own line with a forward pass, then Chris Flannery knocked down Luke Burgess' pass and from the second scrum, Leeds were awarded a penalty for interference on Kylie Leuluai and Sinfield landed the kick to make it 11-10.
On 67 minutes, Burgess – the only Leeds player on his Old Trafford debut – knocked on and in the subsequent set Long, Lee Gilmour, Wellens and Meli linked to put Eastmond over at the corner.
After a long look, Bentham spotted that he had touched the flag in Webb's tackle and the touchdown was ruled out.
With eight left, Diskin was held up over the line, then on the final tackle McGuire kicked ahead and Smith picked up to go over.
Bentham spent an age deciding the centre was on-side, but eventually the try was awarded and Sinfield booted the extras.
That came after a Meli knock on and a repeat set from Sinfield's kick.
Burrow added a drop goal with two minutes to go and the final hooter sparked scenes of incredible jubilation on the pitch and among the Leeds fans.
Many congratulations on winning!
GRAND FINAL: Leeds Rhinos create history
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_1010200915RUGBYL%20Final%206(2).jpg
Kevin Sinfield
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryADVERTISEMENT Published Date: 10 October 2009
By Peter Smith
Leeds Rhinos made history at Old Trafford as they became the first team to win three successive engage Super League titles.
Skipper Kevin Sinfield won the Harry Sunderland award as man of the match as Leeds produced a superb performance to beat St Helens 18-10.
* CHECK BACK ON MONDAY FOR A PICTURE SLIDESHOW OF MATCH ACTION AS WELL AS REACTION FROM LEEDS RHINOS PLAYERS, STAFF AND FANS.
The final, played in front of a crowd of 63,259, was as tight as all the pre-match speculation suggested.
Saints dominated the opening quarter and led 8-0, but Leeds rallied to go in all square at the break.
Both teams led by a point early in the second-half, but a penalty edged Leeds back in front with 16 minutes left and Lee Smith's second try – in his final Leeds appearance – sealed it eight minutes from time.
Leeds defended magnificently in a high-quality game and, crucially, they took their limited chances when they came.
Sinfield was superb, well backed by Rob Burrow, Matt Diskin, Brent Webb and Smith – though the entire pack were top class.
The rivals were close to full-strength with only long-term casualties Danny Buderus, of Leeds and Saints' Jason Cayless missing.
Saints lined up as they did in their semi-final win over Wigan, while Rhinos' only change saw Ali Lauitiiti return from illness, in place of Simon Worrall, though he lasted only a few minutes before going off hurt in the first-half.
Saints did the early pressing, but Rhinos had the first opportunity, Sinfield and Burrow linking to send Webb on a run, but his pass to Ryan Hall was forward.
Then, after Jon Wilkin had kicked out on the full, Smith spilled the impressive Danny McGuire's pass after Burrow and Sinfield had handled.
Ade Gardner trapped Webb in goal from his own kick, but Leeds survived the drop out set, Long sending his final tackle grubber dead between the posts.
The opening try came after 13 minutes. Wilkin's kick bounced off Sinfield's leg towards Scott Donald, but Kyle Eastmond snatched the ball from the Rhinos winger's grasp and evaded Webb's last-ditch tackle to dash over for a touchdown which he also converted, after video referee Phil Bentham had given the green light.
At the other end, Francis Meli dealt with a Burrow cross kick, after Jamie Jones-Buchanan had been pulled down close to the line.
Sinfield then landed a superb 40-20 kick and it almost paid off as Jones-Buchanan hit a gap from McGuire's terrific pass, but James Graham made a try-saving tackle.
Seconds later, Burrow's kick was spilled by long and Ryan Bailey – who had a big game - touched down, but referee Steve Ganson ruled the scrum-half had been fouled by Webb.
At the end of the resulting set, Senior was penalised for a supposed obstruction on Matt Gidley, from Long's kick and Eastmond potted the penalty to make it 8-0 on 28 minutes.
A minute later, Leeds were back in the game, Diskin forcing his way over from acting-half – on the last tackle – after Sinfield had gone close. Bentham awarded the try, but Sinfield's conversion attempt his a post and bounced away.
Rhinos levelled four minutes before the break. McGuire's kick was fumbled by Meli behind his own line and Smith reacted quickly to touch down.
Bentham again gave the thumbs-up, but again Sinfield couldn't add the extras and the sides went in all square.
Parity lasted just 69 seconds into the second-half. Sinfield's kick-off found touch off Gardner and in the set from the scrum the Leeds skipper knocked over a drop goal to edge his side ahead.
On 45 minutes James Roby and Gidley linked to send Gardner in at the corner as Hall and Webb got across. The decision was handed on and Bentham ruled no try, but awarded Saints a penalty, apparently for a foul by Webb, though Leeds held out in the subsequent set, thanks to a Fa'asavalu knock-on.
Meli went agonisingly close for Saints, from Eastmond's pass, following a Webb error at the play-the-ball.
With 20 minutes left Saints regained the lead when Burrow was penalised for a high shot on Long and Eastmond landed the kick.
With 15 minutes left Gildley conceded a scrum near his own line with a forward pass, then Chris Flannery knocked down Luke Burgess' pass and from the second scrum, Leeds were awarded a penalty for interference on Kylie Leuluai and Sinfield landed the kick to make it 11-10.
On 67 minutes, Burgess – the only Leeds player on his Old Trafford debut – knocked on and in the subsequent set Long, Lee Gilmour, Wellens and Meli linked to put Eastmond over at the corner.
After a long look, Bentham spotted that he had touched the flag in Webb's tackle and the touchdown was ruled out.
With eight left, Diskin was held up over the line, then on the final tackle McGuire kicked ahead and Smith picked up to go over.
Bentham spent an age deciding the centre was on-side, but eventually the try was awarded and Sinfield booted the extras.
That came after a Meli knock on and a repeat set from Sinfield's kick.
Burrow added a drop goal with two minutes to go and the final hooter sparked scenes of incredible jubilation on the pitch and among the Leeds fans.
Many congratulations on winning!