Fifth placed Leeds Rhinos, looking to secure a play-off place, travelled to play a Wakefield Trinity side who started the game in tenth position in the Super League but who were safe from relegation worries and starting to find their feet with two wins in their last three outings.
The Rhinos made just one chance from the side which beat Wigan last time out with Callum McLelland taking the place of Morgan Gannon as he returned from illness while new Trinity coach Willie Poching came into the game with a side primed to overturn the 15-13 defeat suffered earlier in the season.
The Rhinos were odds on with the bookies for the win with the home side being given a six-point start on the handicap coupon.
Matt Prior was sin-binned after just six minutes of the game for a high tackle and contact with the head, the Rhinos down to twelve for ten minutes, a customary start for the Rhinos in recent games.
After absorbing plenty of Wakefield pressure the Rhinos were the first to score after Brad Dwyer charged down a kick and outpace Lino before finding Luke Briscoe who in turn found Kruise Leeming to go over under the uprights. Rhyse Martin added the conversion for a 6-0 lead, totally against the run of play.
Tom Briscoe went close after thirty but was pushed into touch by a strong Wakefield defence.
Six minutes before the interval Trinity responded as Kelepi Tanginoa charged over the line to score under the sticks. Mason Lino added a simple kick to tie things up at 6-6.
The teams were together for just three minutes when a Leeming grubber was pounced upon by Brad Dwyer to ground by the uprights. Martin added the goal and the Rhinos were 12-6 up at the interval.
Jacob Miller was held up on fifty-five by desperate Leeds defence but on the next play Jordan Crowther picked up a ricocheted kick through to ground one handed by the upright. Lino added the conversion for 12-12, the sides once again locked together with the momentum on Wakefield’s side.
Hostilities broke out on sixty-six with Matt Prior seeing yellow for the second time in the game, this time he was joined by Chris Green for Trinity.
After a couple of aborted efforts, Jacob Miller slotted over the one-point drop goal on sixty-nine to give the home side a one-point advantage.
Rob Lui added a Leeds drop goal on seventy-one to once again tie up the scores, the game was still anyones.
On seventy-four Ryan Hampshire slotted over a one-pointer to again grab the initiative for Trinity at 14-13 in a real nail-biter of a climax to the game.
Trinity won the game in the dying seconds with Fifita taking the ball twelve from the line and crabbing across the field before moving forwards and supplying Joe Arundel to go over. Lino added the conversion for a final score of 20-13.
Few could deny that Wakefield deserved the win, denying the Rhinos the win which could have seen them end the round inside the top four. Wakefield were in the Rhinos faces from the outset and had the best of the position and possession, despite trailing at half time to a couple of breakaway tries. Leeds will live to fight another day in their quest for the play-offs, but it is Wakefield who take the West Yorkshire bragging rights.
Wakefield Trinity: Hampshire (DG), Johnstone, Senior, Arundel (T), Kershaw, Lino (3G), Miller (DG), Battye, Kay, Green (SB on 66), Pitts, Tanginoa (T), Crowther (T). Subs: Wood K, Fifita, Aydin, Batchelor.
Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Briscoe L, Briscoe T, Newman, Hadley, Leeming (T), Lui (DG), Thompson, Dwyer (T), Prior (SB on 6 & 66), Donaldson, Martin (2G), Tetevano. Subs: Vuniyayawa, McLelland, Holroyd, Smith.
Half-Time: 6-12.
Full-Time: 20-13.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
Score Progression: (SB), 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12 : HT : 10-12, 12-12, 13-12, 13-13, 14-13, 18-13, 20-13 : FT.
