Leeds Rhinos make hard work of Challenge Cup win v Widnes Vikings before Riley Lumb magic seals it

Leeds scored four tries to the Betfred Championship hosts’ two, but there were only six points in it as late as the 66th minute, until winger Riley Lumb scored a stunning solo try from inside his own half to settle the Super League side’s nerves. Even it took a Brodie Croft late drop goal, four minutes from time, to finally put the result beyond doubt. It finished 23-12, which was a fair reflection. Leeds also converted a penalty in the first half, a sign of respect for their opponents whose scrum-half Jordan Abdull caused them all manner of problems. Abdull doesn’t have the physique of a professional athlete, but skills-wise, he’s far too good for the second-tier. His kicking game was outstanding.

Rhinos were without 10 senior players, including their first-choice full-back and scrum-half alongside one of their top centres. It was also their first competitive game of the campaign. Add in the plastic pitch and wet weather and it’s no surprise they weren’t at their best, though that made for an entertaining contest.

With Lachie Miller and Jake Connor rested, Leeds lacked creativity and huffed and puffed for much of the match without putting Widnes under sustained pressure. Croft was their main attacking threat, being heavily involved in their opening three tries.

Widnes were spirited and enthusiastic, but Leeds made things hard for themselves, losing the ball on the first tackle four times inside their own territory. On the positive side, 18-year-old George Brown, though not perfect, scored two tries on debut, Danny Levi made an eye-catching impact off the bench in his first competitive appearance and Ned McCormack had an excellent game at left-centre.

His brother Fergus, aged 19, made his debut as a second half substitute and, playing at full-back, showed some nice touches. They were the first siblings to play for Leeds since Tom and Lule Briscoe five years ago.

Rhinos had a very young back line by the end of the game and the experience will be good for the rookies, but overall the best thing to say about it was job done. Leeds took advantage of an error by Widnes’ Matt Fleming, who spilled Croft’s high kick on the last, to open the scoring after seven minutes.

Widnes responded five later after a spell of pressure on Rhinos’ line, Joe Lyons kicking behind the defence for Mike Butt to run through and touch down. Abdull’s towering touchline conversion levelled the scores.

At the end of the opening quarter Watkins took the two after a high shot by Danny Langtree on Croft, then the hosts survived a series of scares before Rhinos grabbed back-to-back tries to create some breathing space. Ethan O’Neill twice got over the line from kicks by Croft, knocking on the first time and then being pulled back for a forward pass when the ball was batted to him. Eventually, after 31 minutes, Croft stepped off his right foot into space and Levi, who had just come on, was in support to score.

Moments later Croft put Jarrod O’Connor into a gap and Brown backed up for his second. Watkins had converted the first two tries, but hit a post with his latest attempt to keep the gap to 12 points at the break. It stayed that way until the 55th minute and when the next try came, it was Widnes who scored it. Of course, it came from an Abdull kick, the ball bouncing loose to Butt who crossed on the right flank. Abdull’s second conversion made it a six-point game.

At that stage a shock seemed, if not likely, certainly possible, but Lumb sliced clear from long distance to score a scorcher, Watkins converted and Croft showed good game awareness with his late one-pointer. The crowd was 2,977. Rhinos received six penalties to Widnes’ three (four-one in the first half) and the set restarts were three-one in the visitors’ favour.

Widnes Vikings: Connell, Butt, Fleming, Owens, Ince, Lyons, Abdull, Murray, Johnstone, Chapelhow, Roberts, Langtree, McWhirter. Subs Fozard, L Hall, Lawton, Bibby.

Leeds Rhinos: G Brown, R Hall, N McCormack, Newman, Lumb, Croft, O’Neill, Oledzki, O’Connor, Holroyd, Watkins, Cassell, Smith. Subs Jenkins, Levi, Nicholson-Watton, F McCormack.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan). Attendance: 2,977.