TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE 24 LEEDS RHINOS 48
PETER BIRD, Stade Ernest Wallon, Friday

LEEDS climbed back to the top of Super League with a stuttering performance against a Toulouse side that fought back from 30-0 down to trail by just six points at one stage.

Brad Arthur’s side looked home and hosed by half-time with such an advantage, but the hosts scored four tries in 15 minutes to put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Leeds did, however, weather that storm and posted three late tries to inflate the scoreline.

It was a bright opening from both sides but the visitors took the early advantage in the fourth minute after a high kick from maverick Jake Connor on the last was picked up by Brodie Croft. Connor made no mistake with the conversion.

Leeds continued to look the more convincing as errors cost the French side dearly. A Toulouse penalty on halfway saw them produce their first meaningful attack but a long outside pass from Jake Shorrocks was too high for the stretching Paul Ulberg to collect with the try-line beckoning.

As it was, one minute later, the Rhinos deservedly doubled their lead with another strong Harry Newman break from halfway being finished off in the left corner with ease from Maika Sivo. Connor again converted for a 12-0 lead.

And there was more misery for the hosts four minutes later with the lively Newman breaking through from 15 metres to cross to the right side of the uprights. Connor again made no mistake with the two-pointer.

Fullback Fergus McCormack scrambled over the line from short range moments later following a César Rougé knock-on from another towering Connor bomb before Newman notched a second try as time wound down.

There was some consolation for the French side just before the break, though, with Thomas Lacans linking up well with makeshift fullback Rougé to score close to the posts. Shorrocks added the conversion, but Leeds led 30-6 at half-time.

Whatever head coach Sylvain Houles said at half-time certainly worked as Toulouse were quick out of the blocks in the second period, Luke Polselli finishing off a well-timed pass from winger Benjamin Laguerre. Shorrocks kicked well from the left touchline.

And there was even more joy for the hosts seven minutes later as another Laguerre break out left was this time finished off in the corner by the lively Lacans.

An acrobatic finish from Laguerre was superbly converted by Shorrocks to make it 30-24 after 53 minutes – a scoreline that looked barely believable.

With the Rhinos on the back foot it was some welcome relief for the visitors with Sivo scoring his second of the evening just after the hour.

That took the sting out of the Toulouse fightback and the Rhinos secured victory with six minutes remaining as yet another fumble in defence from a Connor high kick was grounded left side by ex-Toulouse man Chris Hankinson. Corror made no mistake with the two-pointer.

Just to put the icing on the cake for the Rhinos, with three minutes left on the clock, substitute Cameron Smith took a Cooper Jenkins offload to cross under the posts.

Connor rounded off the victory with the conversion to cap off a fine individual performance.

GAMESTAR: Jake Connor had the ball on a string for 80 minutes.

GAMEBREAKER: Chris Hankinson’s try in the last ten minutes finally clinched the points.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Harry Newman’s blistering break from halfway to set up the second try of the game.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Jake Connor (Leeds)
2 pts Harry Newman (Leeds)
1 pt Jake Shorrocks (Toulouse)

MATCHFACTS

OLYMPIQUE
29 César Rougé
5 Benjamin Laguerre
25 Luke Polselli
39 Ethan Quai-Ward
2 Paul Ulberg
6 Thomas Lacans
7 Jake Shorrocks
10 James Roumanos
9 Brendan Hands
17 Rob Butler
22 Henry O’Kane
12 Mathieu Jussaume
15 Joe Cator
Subs (all used)
13 Anthony Marion
20 AJ Wallace
30 Tiaki Chan
40 John Toleafoa
18th man (not used)
21 Ellis Gillam
Also in 21-man squad
16 Joe Bretherton
27 Hugo Garrigues
28 Mathieu Pons

Tries: Lacans (39, 48), Polselli (42), Laguerre (53)
Goals: Shorrocks 4/4

RHINOS
28 Fergus McCormack
2 Maika Sivo
3 Harry Newman
4 Ash Handley
5 Ryan Hall
6 Brodie Croft
7 Jake Connor
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Jarrod O’Connor
13 Keenan Palasia
14 Chris Hankinson
12 James McDonnell
11 Kallum Watkins
Subs (all used)
15 Cooper Jenkins
17 Camerom Smith
20 Presley Cassell
23 Danny Levi
18th man (not used)
33 Jack Bird
Also in 21-man squad
10 Tom Holroyd
22 Riley Lumb
26 Tom Nicholson-Watton

Tries: Croft (4), Sivo (18, 62), Newman (22, 33), F McCormack (34), Hankinson (74), Smith (77)
Goals: Connor 8/8

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-24, 0-30, 6-30; 12-30, 18-30, 24-30, 24-36, 24-42, 24-48

Rugby League and League Express Men of the Match
Olympique: Jake Shorrocks; Rhinos: Jake Connor

Penalty count: 2-5
Half-time: 6-30
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 5,567