Hull 24 Leeds 48: Four-star Ryan Hall fuels Rhinos cup romp

By Richard Bott for MailOnline Updated: 17:30 EST, 18 April 2010

Make no mistake Leeds have Wembley on their minds. However much they attempted to play down the importance of this all-Super League confrontation in the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup, it was an obstacle they were determined to overcome.

And they did it with aplomb after their indifferent start to the defence of their Super League crown. Leeds have lost three Challenge Cup finals since they won at the old Wembley 11 years ago, one of them in the dying seconds against Hull at Cardiff in 2005.

But the prospect of a second successive fourth round defeat - they lost at home to St Helens last season -focused their minds far more than thoughts of revenge.

Four tries from flying winger Ryan Hall, the top-scorer in Super League last season with 32, embellished this victory after Hull had led twice.

Delighted Leeds coach Brian McClennan said: 'It was a pretty good performance with a lot of positives. We knew we were up for the challenge. We rose to the occasion and it is probably the best defensive performance we have given this year.'

McClennan admitted taking a gamble on England captain Jamie Peacock when Ali Lauitiiti failed a fitness test. 'Jamie [out with a broken foot for a month] wasn't in the picture until Ali got a muscle strain. So it was a bit of a throw of the dice. But he did well.'

Hull were the team in the wars. The continued absence of Challenge Cup talisman Sean Long - three times a Lance Todd Trophy winner with St Helens - was a massive blow. The disappointment showed in Long's face at pitchside.

Then Hull lost Lee Radford, prop Mark O'Meley, centre Kirk Yeaman and kicker Danny Tickle during the game.

'Our changing room is like a war zone but we didn't help ourselves. Some of the tries we conceded were unacceptable,' said coach Richard Agar.

The kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes because match referee Steve Ganson pulled a muscle during the warm-up and had to swap places with video referee Richard Silverwood.

And it was Ganson who ruled out a try for Leeds winger Lee Smith in the fourth minute when Silverwood went to the screen after Smith had been tackled by Hull full back Jordan Tansey in the act of scoring.

The video replay showed Smith's foot had strayed over the touchline before he grounded the ball. So Hull claimed first blood when winger Tom Briscoe, who scored four tries in a 46-30 Super League defeat at Headingley the previous weekend, scored from Willie Manu's clever kick to the line.

But Leeds were ahead after 13 minutes when back rower Carl Ablett waltzed over from Hall's pass with Hull forward Radford lying prone with a rib injury. A needless obstruction by Danny Washbrook on Danny McGuire gifted Sinfield two easy points from a penalty kick but Hull nosed ahead again with a converted try by Tansey at the end of the opening quarter.

It was the last time they were in front because Leeds, with Ablett impressive and scrum half Rob Burrow starting to weave his magic, dominated the rest of the first half.

They scored four tries in 13 minutes, two from Hall and one each from Brent Webb and Ian Kirke, three embellished by Sinfield's trusty boot, to lead 30-10 at the break. And when Hall completed his hattrick six minutes into the second half it was as good as over.

Hull rallied with the first of two tries from centre Richard Whiting and one from substitute Jordan Turner while Burrow was in the sin bin.

Burrow, the smallest player in rugby league at 5ft 5in, blotted his copybook by throwing a punch at giant Tongan Epalahame Lauaki in an act of retaliation. By the time Burrow returned, Hall had scored his fourth try and Sinfield landed his eighth goal.