Rhinos back on the charge

Ryan Hall: opening try for Leeds

Leeds ended a three-game losing run and gave their play-off hopes a vital boost with a 20-0 victory over Hull FC.

Both sides came into the contest clinging on to a spot in the top eight, but it is the Rhinos who have given themselves breathing space after a committed and dominant display.

The Black and Whites could not create a single clean break as they slumped to a ninth straight defeat by Leeds.

The sides meet again in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals next week although both coaches may have felt this game was the priority.

There was certainly no shortage of endeavour on either side, but that was matched by a high error-count, with seven handling errors in the opening 11 minutes setting the tone.

Another knock-on from Craig Fitzgibbon set up Leeds for the opening try after 14 minutes, as the ball was spun out wide from the scrum and a fine cut-out pass from Kevin Sinfield put Ryan Hall sliding in at the corner.

Sinfield converted from the touchline and the Rhinos had a crucial early confidence boost.

Pressure

But they could not take advantage despite piling on the pressure almost ceaselessly.

Attacks were thwarted by mis-timed runs and mis-placed passes and the Hull line remained intact until the half.

The theme continued after the break as Danny McGuire just failed to scoop up Sinfield's grubber kick under the Hull sticks, then Rob Burrow was stopped just short as he tried to slide in from a McGuire kick.

Hull must have taken a lift from still being in the game, but they could not threaten the Leeds line, and even when Jamie Peacock's high shot gifted them field position, McGuire and Sinfield forced Cameron Phelps into touch.

Leeds settled an increasingly restless Headingley crowds' nerves with a Sinfield penalty after an Epalame Lauaki swinging arm, then settled the contest with two tries in the last 10 minutes.

McGuire's perfectly weighted kick was touched down by Ben Jones-Bishop under the posts, then after Hall had had a try disallowed for obstruction, the winger raced clear on the left and hacked through for McGuire to score.

Sinfield's fourth kick from four attempts completed a thoroughly satisfying night for the Rhinos.