LEEDS RHINOS 92-34 LONDON ROOSTERS
The opening fixture of the Wheelchair Super League Championship Round pitted our Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair team up against London Roosters, with the nort/south competitiveness always boding for a thrilling game of wheelchair rugby league – and it didn’t disappoint!
A fast start from the Rhinos saw Josh Butler grab an early double, but having secured their place in the Top 4 of the competition a week earlier with a stunning victory over league leaders Halifax, the Roosters continued to show their class with Lewis King making some speedy line-breaks and Joe Coyd directing play to create an opportunity for Amrik Baines to touch down for their opening try.
With an England Wheelchair fixture on the horizon next weekend, captain Tom Halliwell was on fine form as he grabbed his first try with a lovely scoot around the defender before turning provider for Nathan Collins to bag his first. Coyd hit back for London, but the lead was quickly extended as Collins and Ewan Clibbens both crossed for the Rhinos.
A late try by London’s King on the hooter threatened to make the second half an interesting battle, but Leeds ultimately dominated the game with a strong team ethos and a fast-flowing style of play, creating a particularly entertaining try that went through every player’s hands in the build-up. This was then followed by an individual endeavour from Nathan Collins as he slipped under the defence to score an outstanding individual try under the sticks, adding a further four scores in the second period in a man-of-the-match performance from the England international.
Jodie Boyd-Ward continued to show why she has been selected for international duty with Wales, scoring 3 tries in the second period with some brilliant evasion and attacking play, whilst Paul Horrobin and James Simpson also got their names on the scoresheet, the lead with a lovely show and go to fool the Roosters defence.
Verity Smith replaced Collins and continued to show great improvement, setting up Collins for his sixth try of the match, and although Coyd completed his own hat-trick for London with a fine solo effort the game was largely over as a contest by that stage. Such was the margin of victory that the goal kickers were rotated by the Rhinos, meaning Ewan Clibbens, Tom Halliwell and Nathan Collins all got the chance to add the conversion points, successfully knocking over 14 out of the 16 attempts between them.
The performance entertained a good crowd inside The Edge Sports Hall at The University of Leeds, which included Leeds Rhinos legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan and the Rhinos young star Max Simpson, who was cheering on some of his old school friends in Tom Halliwell and Nathan Collins.
Speaking after a dominant display, Head Coach James Simpson said: “I was really pleased with the work ethic and the focused taining sessions we have had over the last few weeks in the build up to this game, and we are starting to reap the rewards on the pitch.
“As a coach, that is a great feeling when you see what you practice on the training ground come through on gameday. Of course, ee will be reviewing the game and looking at how we can improve, to enable us to be ready for the Challenge Cup Final in two weeks time and a huge challenge in the form of Catalans Dragons. But overall, I’m really pleased with the team and it was job done today!”
The league will now pause for an international week, before the Rhinos team regroup ahead of the Wheelchair Challenge Cup on Saturday 25th June as they take on French outfit Catalans Dragons at The University of Hull’s Allam Sports Park, broadcasting live on BBC Sport with a 2:30pm Kick Off.
Click below to view the highlights of Saturday’s 92-34 victory over Leeds Rhinos, kindly provided by Wheelchair RL Reporter John Seager (@MrJohnSeager)