RHINOS SHOW THEIR SCRAP METTLE
Leeds eventually find a way to see off desperate but determined Widnes
Widnes 6 Leeds 16 KEVIN SINFIELD endured the most stressful day of his brief coaching career as Leeds eventually sent Widnes a step closer to the Championship.
It took two moments of quality from stand-off Liam Sutcliffe to decide a scrappy, frantic contest, leaving the Vikings clinging to mathematical hopes of making the Million Pound Game.
Sutcliffe booted a 40/20 that led to Matt Parcell’s try before breaking to send Richie Myler over in the dying stages, finally releasing the pressure valve on a nervous Rhinos side.
Director of rugby Sinfield will hand responsibility for first-team affairs to newlyappointed head coach David Furner at the end of the season and still needs two wins to confirm Super League survival.
Sinfield said: “We’ve still got a bit to do, but three from four looks a whole lot better than two from four.
“Hopefully we can get through what’s to come now.”
Sinfield highlighted the performances of full-back Jack Walker and back-rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who have 18 years experience between them, and acknowledged Sutcliffe’s key plays.
He said: “Sutty was OK today, but when he comes up with those special moments he shows the player he will hopefully turn into. “That break at the end was pretty special – it meant the last two minutes weren’t as tense as the other 78.” Sinfield (below) acknowledged opposition coach and former team-mate Francis Cummins after the Vikings slumped to a 17th straight defeat. He added: “Franny had a huge influence on my career and he’s doing his absolute best here in difficult circumstances. “I still think they’re capable of making the Million Pound Game. They’ll probably have to win all three, but if they play like they did today they could do that.”
Cummins shared that view, but given Widnes have not won since beating part-time Coventry in April, the odds look stacked against them.
He said: “We will see what happens. You get accused of all kinds of things when you’re in this position, but that showed we’ve got committed people.”
Cummins’ side led 6-4 at the break after Tom Olbison’s try cancelled Luke Briscoe’s breakaway opener.
Parcell’s try put the visitors 10-6 ahead and their improved defence survived a host of Widnes chances before Sutcliffe broke to send Myler over for the winner.