Leeds Rhinos Surge to Top of Super League With 12-Try Demolition of York Knights
Leeds Rhinos scored twelve tries in a 66-16 rout of York Knights to climb to the summit of the Betfred Super League, with winger Riley Lumb grabbing a hat-trick in a performance that erased the memory of last week's shock home loss to Leigh (BBC Sport).
The margin of defeat was a record for York, who had no answer to a Leeds side that clicked from the first whistle. Referee Liam Moore oversaw a contest that, on paper, pitted the league's frontrunners against a York team still finding their feet — and the gulf told quickly.
Lumb's three tries were the headline individual display, but the scoring was spread. Ryan Hall crossed for his ninth of the season, a reliable finisher doing what he has done all campaign. Centre Kallum Watkins added another, pouncing on a loose ball after a kick from full-back Lachlan Miller — the kind of alert support play that turns pressure into points. Miller, named at full-back in Leeds's starting lineup, was among the creative hub throughout, with Maika Sivo on the right wing, Harry Newman at right centre and Christopher Hankinson at left centre all featuring in a back line that repeatedly broke York's defensive line (Super League Match Centre).
Prop Matt Lodge, named on the bench for his Leeds debut, was given his first taste of action in Rhinos colours after being included in the squad announced on matchday (Leeds Rhinos, via Facebook).
The result sends Leeds top of the Super League table, a response to the previous weekend's stumble against Leigh that had briefly checked their momentum. York, who had shown glimpses of form earlier in the season with a 20-16 win in July, were simply overwhelmed.
For Leeds fans, the women's side have also been flying. The Rhinos women beat York Valkyrie 38-16 in their opening Super Four fixture at AMT Headingley earlier in August, suggesting the blue and amber are surging across both programmes (BBC Sport).
Back to the men's game, and the broad picture is straightforward: Leeds are top, they are scoring freely, and the Leigh defeat already looks like a blip rather than a pattern. Twelve tries in eighty minutes of rugby league (a fast, flowing code played with thirteen players a side, where teams get six tackles to advance the ball before possession turns over) is a punishing return for any opponent.
York will want to forget this one quickly. For Leeds, the table does the talking.
