Leeds struggle to the summit

Surely no team has ever moved to the top of the Super League table in less convincing fashion than Leeds last night, as they were left clinging to a precarious lead against the pre-season relegation favourites. However that did not worry the Rhinos too much as they have not occupied such a lofty position for almost five years.

A late try from Halifax's Australian scrum-half Dane Dorahy gave them a real fright, though, and the Rhinos will have to improve hugely with two games against St Helens, in league and cup in the next two weeks.

Leeds had started well enough, with their tiny scrum-half Rob Burrow earning a penalty in the fourth minute which Kevin Sinfield goaled to put them ahead. But for the rest of the first half they were desperately unimpressive, as Halifax's game triers restricted them to one try and an 8-6 lead.

A mistake by Gary Connolly gifted Halifax the lead in the seventh minute, as the former Wigan veteran spilled a high kick and Stuart Donlan capitalised to touch the ball down inches from the dead ball line.

There was nothing flashy about the Leeds reply as the prop Chris Feather shrugged off two weak attempted tackles to score near the posts. But the only scoring for the rest of the half was a penalty from Dorahy.

However indiscipline from the predictable source of Paul Davidson undermined the Halifax challenge at the start of the second half, as he failed to heed warnings for holding down in the tackle and was sin-binned. Leeds capitalised immediately with Barrie McDermott making an unstoppable charge from 20 metres.

Halifax kept battling, as their coach Tony Anderson has insisted they will all season, and pulled two points back with a second Dorahy penalty. But Leeds always had the extra class and after breaks by Mark Calderwood and Sinfield, Chev Walker slid in at the right corner to make the points safe.

London Broncos came from 16-0 behind to record their first ever Super League victory at Wigan last night, with Jim Dymock and Dennis Moran inspiring a remarkable 34-30 win.

Halifax: Finnerty; Greenwood, Donlan, Clayton, Halliwell; Moana, Dorahy; Hobson, Lawless, Birchall, Cruckshank, Brocklehurst, McMenemy. Subs: Cardiss, Penkywicz, Davidson, Seuseu.

Leeds Rhinos: Connolly; Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Cummins; Dunemann, Burrow; McDermott, Diskin, McDonald, Adamson, Poching, Sinfield. Subs: McGuire, Feather, Jones-Buchanan, Dowes.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).