Rhinos blunted by mauling Melbourne

It is not exactly a guarantee of free-flowing rugby when Leeds meet Melbourne in the World Club Challenge.

Two years ago they managed one try between them as the Rhinos won 11-4. Last night here in Leeds they went try-crazy, relatively speaking, in the second half, but this was a game won by not letting your opponents play. This was not the Melbourne who can sweep their foes aside with attacking play. It was the Melbourne who madden them by slowing down the rucks more effectively than anyone in the game.

"We know how good they are at that and we got no momentum at all," said the Leeds coach, Brian McClennan.

Throw in the loss of Kevin Sinfield after half an hour and Leeds were always up against it. "He's our captain and our most influential player, so it was a very big blow," said McClennan. "It was really tough, really physical, and I'm very proud of the lads."

Leeds almost made a dream start when Rob Burrow, the smallest man on the field, got among the Storm to reclaim Sinfield's kick-off. It was a pre-planned ploy that almost brought a try for Brent Webb at the end of that set, but a knock-on saw it ruled out.

The Rhinos did get some reward for their purposeful opening with Sinfield's penalty in the third minute, although that was soon cancelled out by Cameron Smith. The rest of an attritional first half was a matter of near-misses, with Kallum Watkins taken into the corner flag for Leeds and Ryan Hinchcliffe for Melbourne.

Leeds did retake the lead through Burrow's boot, but he was only kicking because Sinfield, so often their inspiration on big occasions, had hobbled off with a deadleg. Melbourne's Hep Cahill was lucky to stay on when he hit Danny Buderus late, but the Storm were level by half-time through a second Smith goal.

It opened up in the second half when Smith's kick deflected to Danny McGuire, who went 80 metres for a try, ruled marginally onside, but Melbourne hit back by taking a quick penalty and working the ball along the line for Luke MacDougall to score in the corner, with Smith converting.

The Storm took the lead for the first time just before the hour when Keith Senior expressed Leeds' collective frustration by complaining too volubly about being held down and conceded a penalty for dissent. Senior admitted afterwards to being out of order but blamed the "arrogance" of referee Richard Silverwood for his outburst.

Without Sinfield, Leeds lacked the craft to break down Melbourne's grinding defence. Watkins went closest, but in the last minute the weary home defence was stretched again and Anthony Quinn's try and another touchline conversion from the impeccable Smith finalised matters.

Leeds: Webb; Watkins, Delaney, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Sinfield. Substitutes used: Buderus, Eastwood, Lauitiiti, Bailey.

Melbourne: Slater; MacDougall, Nielsen, Inglis, Quinn; Finch, Smith; Tolman, Hinchcliffe, Lima, Blair, Hoffman, Lowrie. Substitutes used: Kostjasyn, Proctor, Cahill, Bromwich.

Referee: R.Silverwood (Mirfield).