Leeds Rhinos Foundation lost out 42-24 to Warrington Wolves PDRL in the ‘Return Leg’ fixture despite scoring six tries on another fantastic occasion for Physical Disability Rugby League in front of 400 people at Emerald Headingley Stadium
Sunny conditions and an ever growing crowd provided a great atmosphere for the game dubbed "the return leg". Will Maudlsey getting the game under way as the Wolves kicked to the Rhinos to open the game.
The Rhinos would finish off a good set before hoisting the kick high, Adam Hills collecting the high kick easily from Tom Lockett to start the set off. It would be Hills who would setup the first try of the game, Hills getting wide before slipping the ball back inside for Wil Maudsley who broke loose of a Sam Zeller tackle to break and score under the posts, Anthony Seward kicking the extras to give Warrington a confident start.
Leeds had started to feel their way into the game as an Ash Lockwood grubber would force a goal line drop out with Maudsley taking no chances at the back, but Warrington were able to hold out as Shaun Briscoe collected Lockett's kick to put the Wire back into attack.
Anthony Seward 10 metres from his own line would slip past a Rhinos man and break the length of the field pursued by Sam Zeller, but the Warrington number 2 had the pace to see him over the line to score under the posts, Seward converting the kick to push the Wolves out to a commanding 12- 0 lead
A James Addyman break up the middle would put Leeds 25 metres out from the Warrington line, Zeller working the ball wide for Schofield who put away Jordan Stott into the corner despite Shaun Briscoe's best efforts, Paul Selves unable to convert from the right wing to put the Rhinos on the board at 12-4.
Wil Maudsley would immediately respond for Warrington, the Wolves number 1 bagging his second of the game as he stepped through the Rhinos left edge before racing away from 35 metres out and rounding behind the sticks to score, Rawes with an easy kick to make it 18-4.
Leeds would mount a challenge of their own, Mark Wilson recovering the ball from an attempted Adam Hills offload, the Rhinos then building a platform to attack from. Sam Zeller then burst into action to put Leeds back in the game, shaking himself free of a tackler and going 60 metres to score, despite a big chase effort from Shaun Briscoe, Zeller unable to add to his points total missing the conversion.
A penalty for a strip would put Warrington within striking distance once more, Dan Campbell taking a short pass at the line from Briscoe to squeeze through a closing gap to score for the Wolves to the right of the posts, Jack Rawes with his second successful conversion of the game. Sending the two sides into the half with Warrington leading 24-8.
Leeds would grab the first points of the second half, lateral runs from Barrie McDermott and Sam Zeller before a huge effort from Paul Selves was him muscle his way over from close range out on the right edge of the pitch, the kick missed by the Rhinos as the score moved to 24-12.
A penalty against James Addyman for not being square at marker would once more march Warrington towards the Leeds line. A teasing run from Seward would open the set, before being pulled down by Jordan Stott, Warrington would then once more look to prolific strike weapon, Wil Maudsley, who had an opportunity to finish his hat trick but instead opted to put Adam hills into the corner for his first try of the game, Seward once more on target with the kick to put Warrington out to a 30-12 lead.
Leeds had started to build momentum and asserted their dominance in the second half as the ball was shipped wide after a big break from Jordan Stott, the Rhinos then finding Tom Lockett on the fringes who acrobatically dived into the corner, putting down one handed at full stretch to put the Rhinos within 14 points of the Wolves with 10 minutes left at 30-16.
Warrington would snuff out any chance of a comeback as Wil Maudsley would eventually complete his hat-trick for the Wolves, taking the ball on his own line and stepping past a would-be tackler and haring through the hole left, sprinting 95 metres to ground under the sticks and in front of the scoreboard, Seward once more converting.
Warrington would go back to back, Anthony Seward picking the ball up 30 metres from his own line and putting his blistering pace to good use, crossing the line untouched to take the scoreline to 42-16 to Warrington with 5 minutes left to play, Seward converting his own try.
Leeds' spirits were certainly not dampened by the scoreline, Sam Zeller grabbing his second as the Rhinos marched downfield and were eventually stopped 5 metres short, the livewire Zeller alert to the gap to and diving over from close range.
Leeds would make a huge break down the left hand side through Jordan Stott, the number 3 then offloading back inside for Selves who tipped on for Owen Lockwood who was clawed down by a back-tracking Adam Hills, Hills laying his body on the line for his team and requiring on field treatment after the big collision before being escorted from the pitch.
Leeds would soften the deficit as James Addyman charged over from 10 metres out, the kick missed by Tom Lockett as Warrington ran out 42-24 winners in front of a crowd of just short of 400 at Emerald Headingley Stadium.