Leeds Rhinos’ excellent first-half display was more than enough to defeat Huddersfield Giants 38-18.
It was a dominant first half for the Rhinos with five tries scored with no reply.
Brad Dwyer’s break set up Tuimoala Lolohea, playing at fullback, for the game’s opening try. Then Dwyer’s kick laid on a try for James Donaldson before the hooker scored a try for himself as the Rhinos really put the Giants to the sword.
Dwyer was on fire. It was his kick that set up the Rhinos’ fourth score for Richie Myler. Myler then produced an intercept that started a counter-attack which finished with Tom Briscoe scoring in the corner. Sutcliffe was on target with every conversion except the last making it 30-0 at the break.
The Giants mounted a comeback in the second half with three tries from Akuila Uate, Adam O’Brien and Darnell McIntosh. But Ash Handley’s score, entering the final ten minutes, halted the Giants’ momentum.
Rhinos: Lolohea, Briscoe, Watkins, Newman, Handley, Sutcliffe, Myler, Albert, Dwyer, Peteru, Hurrel, Ferres, Donaldson; Interchanges: Jones-Buchanan, Parcell, Oledzki, Singleston
Tries: Lolohea, Donaldson, Dwyer, Myler, Briscoe, Handley; Goals: Sutcliffe 6, Lolohea
Giants: McIntosh, McGillvary, Turner, Wardle, Uate, Russell, Frawley, Ta’ai, Leeming, Matagi, Hewitt, Wardle, Murphy; Interchanges: O’Brien, Ikahihifo, Clough, Lawrence
Tries: Uate, O’Brien, McIntosh; Goals: Russell 3
Full match reports of all the Good Friday Super League games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
