Burrow keeps Wolves from Leeds' door

Leeds 26 - Warrington

Leeds were grateful for a big contribution from the smallest man playing at this level when, but for Rob Burrow, they could have followed their first Super League defeat of the season by going out of the Challenge Cup.

Leeds were grateful for a big contribution from the smallest man playing at this level when, but for Rob Burrow, they could have followed their first Super League defeat of the season by going out of the Challenge Cup.

The 5ft 5in scrum-half scored two tries and played a major part in the other three as the Rhinos laboured to shake Warrington off. The creativity of Burrow and Andrew Dunemann gave Leeds the edge but their coach, Tony Smith, admitted that they had made hard work of it. "We should have taken a few more opportunities, but the opposition defended exceptionally well," he said.

Paul Cullen could have no complaints about his Warrington side, who played a Super League fixture on Tuesday night. "It was an effort that pushed their bodies to breaking point," he said. "We were just a fraction short."

Leeds scored two tries in the first 11 minutes, with Burrow instrumental in both. He capitalised after Dean Gaskell had fumbled a high kick and then linked up with Dunemann to send Chris McKenna over for the second.

Five times Leeds were awarded penalties within kicking range; on each occasion they followed their usual policy of running the ball and came up empty handed.

Warrington came back into the game through a rare attack. Chris Leikvol's burst helped to set up the position and Nathan Wood touched down Lee Briers' kick. Five minutes before half time, Jon Clarke was credited with a try despite seeming to lose the ball as he crashed into the post.

Burrow then picked up the loose ball when Leeds's final attack of the half broke down, and sent Mark Calderwood over. Burrow began the move for his second try, after the break, and then put in a kick for Chev Walker to score.

Warrington were far from finished. Woods scored again from another clever Briers kick and then a loose ball allowed Briers to trigger a counterattack that ended with Ben Westwood scoring.

The resilient Wolves were now within range, but they could not get the field position they needed in the last 15 minutes and their only real opportunity disappeared when Wood knocked on in their last attack of the match.

Leeds: Mathers; Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Bai; Sinfield, Burrow; Bailey, Dunemann, Ward, Jones-Buchanan, McKenna, Ellis. Substitutes used: Poching, McGuire, Scruton, Botham.

Warrington: Grose; Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Bridge, Gaskell; Briers, N Wood; Hilton, Mark Gleeson, Westwood, P Wood, Wainwright, Clarke. Substitutes used: Lima, Appo, Stevens, Leikvoll.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).