Leeds 22 Salford 10: match report

By Rob Stewart Published: 10:03PM GMT 19 Feb 2010

Unconvincing: Leeds Rhinos may have beaten Salford but their display was not the ideal warm up for their match against Melbourne Storm Photo: ACTION IMAGES

If leeds were hoping for a morale-boosting warm-up ahead of their World Club Challenge showdown against Melbourne Storm then they were to be badly mistaken.

The Super League champions may have avoided losing three league games in a row for the first time since 2006, but still look out of sorts so this unconvincing display will fill their Australian counterparts with optimism.

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Centre Keith Senior broke struggling Salfords resistance in the seventh minute by finishing a flowing move after darting through from close range. Kevin Sinfield added to the feelgood factor by converting the try, but despite early promise, Leeds defence continued to look fragile and only a poor pass by Matty Smith denied Ashley Gibson the chance to finish off a swift counter-attack.

Leeds dominated despite losing wing Scott Donald with a shoulder injury, but failed to capitalise on their openings and Ryan Hall was let down by poor handling as a try beckoned.

Salford withstood mounting pressure before striking back clinically as wing Gibson outpaced the defence in the 34th minute to touch down.

Full-back Brent Webb reasserted Leeds grip against a side still looking to celebrate victory this year when he rose above the Salford defence to grab hold of Rob Burrows chip, and touch down six minutes after the break, allowing Sinfield a simple conversion.

Salford reduced the deficit midway through the second half when Webb and Danny McGuire collided under a towering kick and Willie Talau seized on the loose ball to touch down under the posts, allowing Stefan Ratchford the easiest of conversions.

Senior then grabbed his second try after Ryan Hall knocked Sinfields kick into his path before Ian Kirke rounded off a breakaway in the last minute.

That and Sinfields conversion rendered the points safe, but Leeds Super League crown does not look secure due to defensive vulnerability.

They will have to raise their game when they face the NRL champions a week on Sunday at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Brett Kearney touched down twice to help Bradford to a comfortable 37-12 victory over Castleford.

Match details

Leeds: Webb; Donald, Watkins, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Sinfield; Subs: Buderus, Eastwood, Lauiititi, Bailey. Salford: Fitzpatrick; Broughton, Henry, Talau, Gibson, Ratchford, M Smith; Boyle, Alker, Parker, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain. Subs: J Smith, Littler, Leuluai, Sidlow. Referee: P Bentham.