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Furner blows hot for Leeds to reduce Hull hopes to ashes

Leeds 41 Hull 18

Dave Hadfield
Monday 17 March 2003 01:00 GMT
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Hull left themselves and particularly their full-back, Steve Prescott, with too much to do in the second-half Headingley yesterday as Leeds took their customary place in the Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Only once in 11 years have the Rhinos failed to reach the last four and, after a burst of 18 points in as many minutes in the first half, they never really looked as though they might be edged out this time.

Mind you, if Prescott had succeeded with his two narrow misses as well as the two tries he scored after the break, it could have been a different story.

Hull were trailing 18-2 when Prescott narrowly failed to capitalise on Francis Cummins' mistake. This time it mattered little because he went over a minute later.

The Leeds captain, Kevin Sinfield, was sufficiently alarmed to put over an insurance drop goal and when Mark Calderwood scored from Matt Adamson's break, they were well in control once more.

But then, in among close misses by Paul King and Richie Barnett, Prescott was denied a second try by a high tackle by Gary Connolly that could have brought either a penalty try, a sending off, or both. "I thought it was a penalty try and I've seen games where people have been sent off for less," said the Hull coach, Shaun McRae.

Prescott did get over from Jason Smith's clever pass, but then Leeds started to pull away once more, as they always looked capable of doing.

Cummins, David Furner and Danny McGuire scored late tries, with Furner's goals bringing his points tally to 20, before Tony Smith's consolation for Hull. Furner, the man of the match, also had much to do with Leeds' flying start, scoring their first try and landing his first two goals.

Sinfield's kick then bounced back perfectly into the arms of Keith Senior for one try and Barrie McDermott's brute strength brought him another as the home side dominated.

Even though they had their shaky moments after that, there was never much doubt that they were the team that deserved to reach the semis.

"Hull threw a lot at us in the second half and we soaked it up," said their coach, Daryl Powell. "We then produced some smart pieces of rugby league for the tries and we were well in control."

Sinfield, who is emerging as an outstanding young captain, put his finger on why the Rhinos were more like potential trophy winners this season. "The way the new blokes have fitted in has been fantastic," he said. "The team spirit is the best I've been involved in."

Leeds: Connolly; Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Cummins; Dunemann, Burrow; McDonald, Diskin, Bailey, Furner, Adamson, Sinfield. Substitutes used: McGuire, Feather, McDermott, Poching.

Hull: Prescott; Best, Barnett, Kohe-Love, Crowther; Horne, T Smith; Greenhill, Last, King, Logan, Fletcher, J Smith. Substitutes used: Ryan, Chester, Cooke, Higgins.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).

* Seven tries in the third quarter of the match saw St Helens safety into the semi-finals with a 54-6 victory after they had trailed Salford for most of the first half at The Willows. The Reds led through a try from their former Saints back, Alan Hunte, and were still holding last year's beaten finalists 6-6 at the break. Paul Newlove, Darren Smith twice, Anthony Stewart, Darren Albert, Paul Sculthorpe with his second and Sean Long all touched down as Salford were destroyed, with Darren Britt and Ade Gardner chipping in. "'Half-time came at the wrong time for us," said Karl Harrison, the coach of the National League One side. "I don't think we deserved to be on the end of a scoreline like that."

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