Champions douse Dragons' fire

Super League leaders Leeds eased to their sixth win of the season against Catalans Dragons on Friday night.

The Rhinos took full advantage of a fragile French defence and even more suspect discipline from the visitors to stay top of the league following a 42-14 triumph.

Three tries in a decisive eight-minute spell just before half-time established Leeds' stranglehold on the game after Catalans had gone ahead when Jason Croker and full-back Clint Greenshields combined to send centre Steve Bell over for his first try for the club just three minutes in.

Turnaround

But the Dragons have conceded 190 points in four visits to Headingley and they conceded two tries in five minutes to lose the early advantage.

Stand-off Danny McGuire tracked across the field to find centre Keith Senior in some space and his pass put winger Ryan Hall in at the corner for his seventh try of the season.

Kevin Sinfield, like Thomas Bosc, had the misfortune to watch his conversion attempt bounce back off an upright but he was on target when second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan side-stepped past Greenshields for a second try shortly afterwards.

Dragons skipper Greg Bird demonstrated his undoubted class as the game progressed, but the Leeds defence held firm and they struck three further blows in a devastating spell before the break.

Flurry

Sinfield first created a try for McGuire, before the stand-off then produced an inch-perfect kick to the corner for Hall to grab his second try.

And the winger then unselfishly passed inside to the supporting Brent Webb to finish off a glorious 80-metre move and Sinfield kicked his third goal

The Catalans enjoyed another spell offensively at the start of the second-half and winger Vincent Duport reached the line before being turned on his back.

But the French side's biggest problems remained in defence and they were undone all too easily on 53 minutes when McGuire and Webb combined to get centre Ashley Gibson over for his first try of the season.

The Dragons pulled a try back three minutes later when stand-off Bosc hacked the ball ahead and won the race to touch down.

He also added the goal but Leeds simply stepped up a gear and second rower Carl Ablett touched down for a seventh try after collecting Sinfield's kick off the inside of his boot.

Duport added a third try for the visitors but Leeds finished on top, with hooker Matt Diskin forcing his way over for his side's eighth try just before the end and Rob Burrow added the goal.