Senior service helps Rhinos run sorry Hull ragged

Leeds 40 Hull 16

Keith Senior marked his 300th game at the club for whom he has just signed a new contract by scoring two tries and setting up another as the Leeds back line ran riot against Hull last night. The Rhinos closed in on St Helens and Hull KR at the top of Super League largely thanks to their potency at centre, where Lee Smith also claimed two tries.

Within the first five minutes, Hull were cut apart down Gareth Raynor's flank, lovely handling by Danny McGuire and Kevin Sinfield allowing Lee Smith's footwork to do the rest. Hull hit back through Richard Whiting and they hung on to the lead with some tenacious one-on-one defence until the Rhinos caught them out. Scott Donald's run from deep began it and a penalty on the right continued the momentum, the ball switched the other way for Senior to celebrate his 300th game for the club with his 151st try.

Leeds stretched their lead with an extraordinary try, Brent Webb reading the deflection of McGuire's kick off the post to catch it and score. Carl Ablett's effort on the hooter was more mundane but it underlined the Rhinos' growing dominance. Leeds tightened their grip after the interval, Sam Moa knocking on a routine kick and Lee Smith going over from the scrum.

Senior provided the perfect pass for Ryan Hall to stride away for the next Rhinos' try, before a token effort from Hull's Radford. Hull's defence was too threadbare by this stage and tacklers allowed Senior through for his second, before Sinfield's last-minute try.

Leeds: Webb; Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Ablett. Substitutes used: Bailey, Lauitiiti, Diskin, Burgess.

Hull: Tony; Calderwood, Whiting, Yeaman, Raynor; Horne, Thorman; Dowes, Berrigan, Thackray, Burnett, Tickle, Radford. Substitutes used: King, Houghton, Lee, Moa.

Referee: T Alibert (France).