Super Sinfield bags Leeds record

Salford 16 Leeds 56

Leeds’ Kallum Watkins joined in the first-half avalanche of tries (Getty Images)

The Leeds captain, Kevin Sinfield, broke a club record almost half a century old, on a night when the Rhinos underlined their prolific scoring power.

Sinfield's try and eight goals took him beyond the career point-scoring record of 2,920 by Lewis Jones, set in 1964. It was the 48th match in a row in which he had scored and a timely reminder, if any were needed, of his importance to this champion Leeds side. Sinfield was characteristically modest about his achievement. "I've played in some amazing teams and tonight the way we played is more pleasing to me than breaking the record," he said.

There was also a notable contribution from one of the Rhinos' new breed, the splendidly-named Zak Hardaker, whose hat-trick of tries showed unmistakeable quality.

For Salford, a run of three victories has ended with two heavy defeats and this was a match which showed up their limitations.

It was the home side who went ahead first through Vinny Anderson. Leeds' responded in devastating fashion. Hardaker's blistering pace brought him the first of the Rhinos' six tries before half-time then Kallum Watkins side-stepped through to score. In the second half, Hardaker picked up where he left off and the conversion for his third try was the historic one for Sinfield.