Two out of two for Rhinos
Two out of two for Rhinos
Wildcats' resistance broken by late Kirke try
Last updated: 13th February 2009
Buderus: Rhinos debut
Leeds Rhinos have made it two wins out of two in the defence of their Super League title after scoring an 18-4 victory against Wakefield Wildcats at Headingley.
Nevertheless, it was the visitors who took most of the honours from the West Yorkshire derby against a side who were both under strength and below par.
Wakefield's performance belied both the final scoreline and also the current state of their squad, of whom 10 members are suffering either injury or illness.
Expectations could hardly have been raised when scrum-half Sam Obst suffered an injury in the warm-up and they were forced to give a debut to 19-year-old part-timer Luke Blake.
However, the Wildcats did score a 12-6 win at Wigan in their opening match and proceeded to battle superbly.
Indeed, they could conceivably have scored another shock victory until Leeds debutant Danny Buderus sent Ian Kirke over for the match-winning try seven minutes from time.
The Rhinos were missing key players, with captain Kevin Sinfield one of five internationals on the sidelines after falling victim to a calf injury.
Even so, former Australia hooker Buderus made his Super League bow after 25 minutes and quickly settled easily into his usual role, with Matt Diskin switching to the back row.
The home side made the perfect start after second rower Ali Lauitiiti dummied his way over after only two minutes.
Riposte
But Wakefield gave as good as they got and only a forward pass prevented centre Sean Gleeson from issuing a riposte midway through the first half.
Stand-off Scott Grix was subsequently denied a try by a brilliant last-ditch tackle from the outstanding Lee Smith.
Makeshift scrum-half Tony Martin kicked a penalty for the Wildcats but they then gifted their opponents a second try.
Matt Blaymire was to blame, the full-back fumbling the re-start to present Jamie Jones-Buchanan with a clear run to the line.
Smith kicked the extras to put Leeds 10 points ahead at the interval - a scoreline that was harsh on Wakefield.
The Wildcats had been reduced to 12 men just before the break when centre Ryan Atkins was sin-binned for fighting.
But they coped and actually cut the deficit by two points when Martin kicked a long-range penalty.
With Brad Drew pulling the strings, the visitors continued to enjoy periods of domination - but they did not manage to put more points on the board.
The Rhinos suffered a blow when promising centre Kallum Watkins limped off injured 12 minutes into the second half.
But they ought to have extended their lead when Danny Allan broke clear, the third-choice stand-off running out of steam short of the line.
Drew thought he had scored after burrowing his way to the line on the last tackle, but he was ruled to have been held short.
And Wakefield's resistance was finally broken on 73 minutes when a sustained spell of pressure on the visitors' line ended with Kirke crashing over - substitute Ashley Gibson adding the goal.
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