Rhinos too tough for Wolves

Warrington missed the chance to go top of the engage Super League as defending champions Leeds won 26-16 at Headingley.

The Rhinos have made a stuttering start to the league campaign but suggested they may finally be hitting top gear after this gutsy victory over the in-form Wolves.

The visitors took an early lead after dominating the opening quarter and the Rhinos lost England captain Jamie Peacock to a knee injury after only seven minutes.

But the champions produced some of their best rugby of the season and rediscovered their defensive mettle, as Warrington were brought crashing to earth following last week's emphatic Cup win at Huddersfield.

But it was the Wolves who dominated the opening exchanges and it was 16 minutes before Leeds had possession of the ball in the visitors' half.

By then they trailed 6-0, Australian centre Matt King touching down Simon Grix's grubber kick, but it could have been far worse for the Rhinos defence was under constant siege.

Peacock was hurt trying to stop his England vice-captain Adrian Morley driving over for a try, but the champions eventually weathered the storm and substitute Carl Ablett, a part-time centre who was forced into the role of prop, scored an equalising try within minutes of taking to the field, crashing over from Danny McGuire's short pass.

And the home side took the lead on 27 minutes when England winger Ryan Hall took full-back Brent Webb's cut-out pass to cross at the corner.

Barnstorming

Skipper Kevin Sinfield added both conversions to make it 12-6 at the break and Leeds extended their lead four minutes into the second half, when a barnstorming run from centre Keith Senior opened up the Warrington defence and Webb took a return pass to score.

Sinfield's third goal made it 18-6 but the Wolves were in no mood to surrender and Morley was held up over the line as he tried to haul his side back into contention.

The visitors were attacking again when Leeds winger Lee Smith scooped on a loose pass and raced 60 metres upfield before offloading to Hall.

Warrington winger Chris Hicks got back to make the tackle but was sin-binned for holding his man down and Sinfield made him pay but putting over the penalty to make it 20-6 as the game entered the final quarter.

There was no way back for the visitors when Ablett broke through a 12-man defence to send McGuire away for a deserved try and Sinfield kicked his fifth goal from as many attempts.

The Wolves were restored to their full complement for the last 10 minutes and they finished strongly, as Grix and Ben Harrison claimed tries and Bridge kicked a second goal, but by then points were in the bag for the Rhinos.