Rhinos run riot in Newport

Leeds moved to the top of the engage Super League table on points difference after crushing Celtic Crusaders 68-0 at Rodney Parade.

Brent Webb scored four of the Rhinos' 13 tries as they dismantled their understrength opponents to leapfrog St Helens at the summit.

The Crusaders, making their first appearance in Newport, which will be their permanent home for the next two seasons at least, failed to muster a point.

Having had six players, including captain Jace Van Dijk, deported from the country by the UK Visa Agency, they always appeared on a hiding to nothing.

One-sided

It took Leeds just four minutes to break the deadlock, Keith Senior opening the scoring. The centre crossed again in the 27th minute, although by then the visitors had already scored three more times in between.

Wingers Ryan Hall and Scott Donald both touched down while Webb opened his account in the 23rd minute, adding another shortly before the half-time interval.

With Jamie Peacock also crossing and Kevin Sinfield kicking three conversions, the Rhinos were 34-0 ahead at the break and already certain of returning home with the two points.

However, they refused to ease up in the second 40 minutes, running in a further six tries to record their second huge win in just over a week. They defeated Castleford 76-12 on the previous Friday.

The patched up Crusaders, who are certain to finish with the wooden spoon at the end of their first season in the top flight, did at least hold out until just before the hour mark before conceding again.

Brilliant Burrow

Peacock's second of the night opened the floodgates though, and within a minute Burrow had dived over for a try his all-round display thoroughly merited.

New Zealand full-back Webb then completed his hat-trick to bring up Leeds' half-century with 17 minutes still to play.

They showed no mercy right through until the final hooter, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Matt Diskin helping themselves to four-pointers before Webb grabbed the last try of the contest in the closing minute.

Sinfield ended up with a 16-point haul with the boot, all coming via conversions, as the defending champions enjoyed their trip to Wales.