Leeds secure top-two finish

The Rhinos had eight different try scorers as they turned on the style to draw level with leaders St Helens, who visit Harlequins on Sunday, while the outclassed Tigers look certain to collect the wooden spoon after conceding a half-century of points for the fifth time this year.

The final touches to a one-sided match were applied by England second rower Gareth Ellis, who rounded off what could have been his final appearance at Headingley with a last-minute conversion of Tansey's third try.

Leeds were simply awesome at times but they were aided by a disastrous start from the visitors, who had hooker Scott Moore sin-binned in the third minute and conceded two tries in his absence.

Winger Ashley Gibson, deputising for leading try scorer Scott Donald on only his second appearance of the season and his first for five months due to injury, immediately took advantage when he squeezed over at the corner for his first try for almost 18 months.

The Tigers were still a man short when Rob Burrow supported a break by his half-back partner Danny McGuire to touch down but the return of Moore briefly helped stem the tide.

The visitors managed to put the champions under pressure and were rewarded on 20 minutes when right winger Richard Owen took Luke Dorn's long pass to cross at the corner and Kirk Dixon added the touchline conversion.

But, with Ellis setting a superb example, Leeds easily re-asserted their authority with three further tries in the second quarter. Makeshift centre Carl Ablett sent in winger Lee Smith, who then returned the favour after taking Sinfield's high kick, before second rower Ali Lauitiiti proved unstoppable on a 10-metre run to the line.

Leeds picked up in the second half as they finished the first and extended their lead after 46 minutes when hooker Tansey raced onto Burrow's perfectly-judged grubber kick to register try number six.

And further tries from Brent Webb, McGuire and two more from Tansey - plus a total of six goals from Sinfield - helped the Rhinos to a landslide victory and a guaranteed second-place finish.