After a busy period of Super League action at the weekend, it is Leeds Rhinos who now top the table on points' difference from St Helens, as the previously unbeaten Saints lost narrowly for the first time this season at Hull KR 24-22. Leeds were able to regain their place at the summit, having briefly held that position a few games ago, thanks to a satisfying away success at French club Catalans Dragons. Huddersfield Giants continued their resurgence with a hugely impressive victory away at Warrington Wolves 29-10, moving them into third and demoting the Wolves down a place.
Catalans Dragons 22 Leeds Rhinos 38 (Half-time 6-10)
Leeds had to work hard for their ultimate victory away in France, never the easiest place to come away with the points from. They held a slender advantage at the break thanks to a try apiece from Carl Ablett and Stevie Ward, with the Catalans riposte coming from former Bradford Bulls' player Elliott Whitehead.
The game looked to be getting away from the Rhinos in the early stages of the second period, when the French side blitzed them with three tries in 12 minutes. Whitehead scored his second try, which was added to by scores for Eloi Pelissier and Damien Cardace. Leeds are famed for their second-half comebacks this campaign though and wrestled the momentum back away from the hosts, scoring five further tries to take a convincing win at the end.
Brad Singleton and Danny McGuire restored parity to the scores, before Liam Sutcliffe and England internationals, Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker made the result safe.
With both Leeds' skipper Kevin Sinfield and winger Tom Briscoe out injured for the match, the victory demonstrated an essential ingredient to any team looking to capture the Super League title, that of strength in depth in the squad.
With many twists and turns likely between now and the end of the season, that may be invaluable in the final analysis.
