RYAN’S JUST TOP DRAW!
RYAN HAMPSHIRE gave Wakefield a late draw that might just be enough to save their Super League lives.
Leeds were minutes away from a victory that would have lifted them to within a point of eighth-placed Trinity.
With an easier run-in, the wise money would then have been on Kevin Sinfield to pull off a great escape for the champions.
But a draw stacks the odds against Rhinos, leaving them three points adrift with only two games left.
Wakefield, who would have saved their skins with a victory, go sixth and level on points with Catalans and Huddersfield.
Leeds had only themselves to blame for blowing this game after being in control until the closing minutes.
The Rhinos, who had lost their previous eight Super League games, were fired-up to shine on Sinfield’s home debut as Director of Rugby.
Brilliant
Mitch Garbutt had a secondminute effort disallowed but it didn’t take much longer for Ryan Hall to touch down.
Wakefield struck back with a brilliant 60 metre solo try from centre Bill Tupou, Hampshire’s conversion levelling the scores. But Leeds took control with two tries in three minutes, firstly when Richie Myler kicked on a loose Trinity ball and chased it down.
Myler and Joel Moon were then both involved in setting up centre Ash Handley who sidestepped his way over.
Liam Sutcliffe – who has had a kicking master class this week from Sinfield – converted both to stretch the home side’s lead to 12.
Justin Horo pegged back that lead to six points with a try before half time but scoring was much harder in the second half.
A Sutcliffe penalty was the only effort until Kyle Wood raced in with nine minutes left to cut Leeds’ advantage to two points.
Hampshire equalised with a 74th-minute penalty and then missed with three drop-goal attempts.