Capital punishment for Rhinos

Dorn: hat-trick for the hosts

Leeds' preparations for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final were dealt a blow as they suffered a shock 32-22 defeat at Harlequins.

Just a week on from their Wembley showdown against Wigan, the Rhinos came a cropper in the capital despite launching a late fightback.

Luke Dorn grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Quins, who had lost their last six Super League outings, opened up an astonishing 32-4 lead.

Although Leeds did cross three times in the closing seven minutes it was all a case of too little, too late, meaning coach Brian McDermott endured a losing return to the Twickenham Stoop.

Rested forwards

The former Quins boss did opt to leave out forwards Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ryan Bailey, though the visitors still boasted a strong line-up.

Rob Powell - the man who replaced McDermott - had seen his side win just once in their 19 outings but it was the hosts who began the brighter.

They took a deserved lead in the 12th minute when smart work by Chad Randall provided Dorn with his first try of the afternoon.

The full-back notched a second when he charged through unopposed, Luke Gale adding the extras again before his penalty just before the half hour with a penalty made it 14-0.

Leeds' woes increased six minutes from the break when skipper Kevin Sinfield was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Taking advantage of the extra man, Quins crossed for a third time in the first half when Rob Purdham set up Jamie O'Callaghan in the left-hand corner.

McDermott must surely have had some harsh words for his troops during the break but they appeared to fall on deaf ears as Quins scored again just five minutes after the re-start.

Dorn completed his personal treble with his 15th try of the season and Gale again knocked over the conversion.

Ryan Hall finally got the Rhinos on the board in the 53rd minute when he benefited from good work by Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow to go over out wide.

Dorn then impressed in defence as he put former Quins loanee Ben Jones-Bishop in touch with the tryline in sight as the away team suddenly sniffed a comeback.

Evaporated

Their hopes, though, evaporated when the influential Dorn linked up with Gale to send over ex-Leeds winger Mark Calderwood 15 minutes from time.

Gale's sixth goal made it 32-4 and to make matters worse for Leeds centre Kallum Watkins limped off with a leg problem.

They did at least finish with a flouish, McGuire crashing over for their second try before Burrow's twinkle toes saw him slip past Calderwood to reach the line.

Jay Pitts also went over two minutes from the end but it was no more than a late consolation, Quins having already done enough to complete an unlikely league double over their illustrious opponents.