Ash treble leads a romp from Rhinos
HANDLEY ON FIRE TO SINK WAKEFIELD
LEEDS RHINOS played pretty in pink to finally get their season going.
Richard Agar’s side ignored miserable conditions to turn on the style against a hapless Wakefield Trinity.
It was their first win of the campaign at the fourth attempt and, after racing into a 30-0 lead inside just 37 minutes, was littered with sparkling displays.
Winger Ash Handley scored a hat-trick to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on England selection on Tuesday.
Centre Harry Newman was brilliant before limping off early in the second half, while full-back Jack Walker caused winless Wakefield problems galore.
Trinity were missing five centres and were forced to use secondrows Jay Pitts and James Batchelor as a makeshift pairing.
Leeds were always going to target them and Walker and Newman both found plenty of reward. Trinity also lost captain Jacob Miller to a head injury after just six minutes by which point
David Fusitu’a had already got Leeds up and running.
The big Tonga winger has been sidelined since being injured on his debut on the opening day of the campaign. But he quickly made his mark here, using all of his renowned strength to hold off three defenders and cross.
Rhinos were in again soon after when Walker’s cut-out pass unleashed Handley and the winger combined with Liam
Sutcliffe for Morgan Gannon to score. The confident visitors produced quality handling to rip battered Wakefield open. Newman had an easy run in for their third try before Handley’s treble put the result beyond any doubt. At least Trinity had late tries through Max Jowitt and Tom Johnstone. WAKEFIELD – Tries: Ashurst, Jowitt, Johnstone. Cons: Jowitt (3).
LEEDS – Tries: Fusitu’a, Gannon, Newman, Handley (3). Cons: Martin (4). Martin.