Deja-vu for Leeds Rhinos as yet again they lost a final, this time as Warrington Wolves won 35-18 in the 2012 Carnegie Challenge Cup. Rhinos must wonder if they will ever win it again as this was the third year in a row they have lost and brings it to six of their last finals, they have not lifted the trophy in this Century as 1999 was their last win.
Within 7 minutes Warrington Wolves converted pressure into points as a sweet kick to the corner allowed Joel Monaghan to dot down. Brett Hodgson added the extras 0-6. Leeds Rhinos levelled the score on 20 minutes following a penalty which they took quickly and then some straight running saw Ian Kirke use his hight to stretch over, Kevin Sinfield added the extras 6-6. Shortly after this the heavens opened and so on 23 minutes Rhinos opted to kick a penalty 8-6. Given the conditions Wolves tightened up their game and got their reward on 29 minutes with a power try to Trent Waterhouse again Hodgson added the extras and Wolves were back in front 8-12. As the clock ran down it looked like this would be the score at the break, but then Lee Briers gave a needless penalty and Sinfield slotted on 39 minutes to give us the half-time score of 10-12.
The second period and Rhinos pressed the Wolves and on 43 minutes thoughjt they had scored as Delaney dotted down having gathered a spilled ball. The video ref however ruled a knock-on against the Rhinos, a decision that probably was a game changer though correct. Wolves now started to take control and on 49 minutes Chris Riley scored, followed on 55 minutes by Ryan Atkins and then Tyrone McCarthy on 59, Hodgson converted the last two to take the score out to 10-28. Rhinos now needed to score, but Lee Briers droped a goal on 62 minutes and with the score at 10-29 that looked like that was that. Rhinos never give in until the fianl whistle and so they were given hope when Kallum Watkins went over on 70 minutes but with the conversion missed it would take a miracle to secure a win from 14-29.
The final nail in the Leed Rhinos coffin was banged in by the Lance Todd winner Brett Hodgson who went over on 74 minutes and then converted to take Warrington Wolves out to 14-35. Rhinos did have the last hurrah as Kallum Watkins scored again on 78 minutes to give us the final score of:
Leeds Rhinos 18-35 Warrington Wolves
Scorers
Leeds (10) 18
Tries: I Kirke, K Watkins 2
Goals: K Sinfield 3
Warrington (12) 35
Tries: J Monaghan, T Waterhouse, C Riley, R Atkins, T McCarthy, B Hodgson
Goals: Hodgson 5
Teams
Leeds: Z Hardaker; B Jones-Bishop, K Watkins, C Ablett, R Hall; K Sinfield (capt), S Ward; K Leuluai, R Burrow, J Peacock, J Jones-Buchanan, B Delaney, R Bailey.
Replacements: I Kirke, S Lunt, D Griffin, J Keinhorst.
Warrington: B Hodgson; C Riley, R Atkins, S Ratchford, J Monaghan; L Briers, R Myler; G Carvell, M Higham, C Hill, T Waterhouse, B Westwood, B Harrison.
Replacements: A Morley (capt), M Monaghan, P Wood, T McCarthy.
Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).
Att: 79,180.