Leeds win Belle Vue battle

Leeds left it late to battle past Wakefield at Belle Vue but their 30-12 success was still only good enough for second place in the Super League table.

St Helens' win over Wigan gave Leeds no chance of topping the table but the Rhinos showed creditable determination to win out in the end against a gritty Wildcats side.

The home side held Leeds at 12-12 for most of the second half until a try from Kevin Sinfield and two from Ali Lauitiiti late on sealed the points.

Although top spot was lost Leeds will enter the play-offs battle-hardened after a big test from Wakefield, who will also gain some confidence but will be left ruing what could have been after a shocking run-in saw them win just one of their final nine games.

Soggy start

Danny Brough scored a penalty to get the Wildcats on the board first at a soggy Belle Vue, but Jordan Tansey collected Brent Webb's offload for the first try of the match to Leeds.

Scott Grix turned the match on it's head though as he crashed over from close range and as Wakefield dominated he bagged a second try with seven minutes of the half remaining.

The hosts could not hang on until the interval though and Scott Donald gathered a loose ball and chipped over the defence to gallop away for his 26th try of the season, and Sinfield made it 12-12 at the break with the conversion.

Kevin Henderson came close to another Wakefield try just after the restart when Brough's high kick had to be knocked dead by Lee Smith.

Smith then managed to claim a slippery ball after a Wakefield drop but Brad Drew made the try-saving tackle to keep the score level.

As the tension mounted, Wakefield wilted first as Grix fumbled and Lauitiiti collected and sent Sinfield in under the posts for a self-converted try.

That score killed off Wakefield's challenge and Lauitiiti managed to get in twice before the final whistle to send Leeds into the play-offs on a winning note.