Hull overpower Leeds

Hull's Jason Smith (centre) battles against Leeds

Leeds 16-18 Hull

Two tries from Tony Smith put Hull on their way to tense win at Headingley, maintaining their unbeaten Super League start and earning sweet revenge for their two-point Challenge Cup defeat by Leeds last month.

Injuries weakened Leeds, who were without Iestyn Harris after the inspirational skipper failed a fitness test.

But the home side put up a brave display with eight players aged 20 or younger.

For the last 20 minutes they battered the visitors' line but Hull defended courageously and they emerged triumphant.

I have players like our prop Paul Broadbent in the dressing room who told me he hasn't won here in 12 years. This is a great result for us

  Shaun McRae, Hull coach

With the ball like soap and underfoot a quagmire it was a miracle anyone managed to hold on to a pass, and as the rain continued to pour down the mistakes increased and the lead kept changing hands.

Hull looked the more dangerous and their tackling was fierce, but the youngsters of Leeds stuck to their task with a determination that will have warmed the heart of coach Dean Lance.

Hull's quicksilver scrum-half Smith, his quick feet making a mockery of the mud, grabbed two first-half tries.

But Leeds turned round in front through tries from Robert Mears and Danny Ward, Kevin Sinfield's two conversions to Matt Crowther's single success making the difference.

I am hoping there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that in the next two or three weeks we will start to get a few players back

  Dean Lance, Leeds coach

Francis Cummins produced the break of the match shortly after the interval when he raced 70 yards, but Hull came back well and produced a try-saving tackle when he off-loaded to Chev Walker.

Relieved Hull soon made the home side pay, scoring twice in eight minutes.

Crowther took a long pass from Jason Smith and dived over in the corner, and Garreth Rayner made a superb break down the right before passing inside to Deon Bird.

The full-back was unable to take the pass but got a boot to the ball and managed to flop on it before the desperate Leeds defenders.

Both Crowther's kicks slid wide, leaving Hull with only a six-point advantage, which was reduced on the hour when Cummins clung on to a difficult pass from Robert Burrow and splashed down.

Sinfield's kick was just wide, and even though Leeds applied tremendous pressure in the last 20 minutes they were unable to break Hull's solid resistance.

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Teams:

Leeds: Mullins, Calderwood, Kirk, Walker, Cummins, Sinfield, Pratt, Fleary, Mears, Ward, Farrell, Clyde, Hay. Replacements: St Hilaire, Burrow, Wrench, Dowes.

Hull: Bird, Crowther, Maiden, Campbell, Raynor, Cooke, T. Smith, Broadbent, Jackson, Felsch, Maher, Grimaldi, J. Smith. Replacements: Gene, Craven, Carvell, Parker.

Referee: Stuart Cummings (Widnes)