Super League: Leeds Rhinos 36-16 Hull KR

Kevin Sinfield is leaving Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season to switch codes and join Yorkshire Carnegie

Kevin Sinfield went third on the list of all-time rugby league points-scorers as Super League leaders Leeds beat Hull KR to go three points clear at the top.

His three conversions from first-half tries by Stevie Ward, Mitch Achurch and Ryan Hall took him clear of Gus Risman.

Two Kieran Dixon tries and one each for Ben Cockayne and Josh Mantellato meant Hull KR trailed by two at half-time.

Brad Singleton then went over, Hall got his second and a Sinfield try took his tally to 4,062 points.

The victory ensured Leeds extended their lead at the top of the table by a point as St Helens won 17-10 at Hull to rise above Wigan into second place.

Ward's clever dummy saw him burst through and change direction to go over, with Sinfield kicking his first penalty of the evening.

Stevie Ward goes over for a first try of the night for Leeds Rhinos

But the visitors retaliated with two Dixon tries within six minutes of each other - the first came after a good break when he was given the ball by Ken Sio and he then stepped inside moments after Mantellato had ran 60 metres.

Achurch picked a hole in the Hull KR defence to run in for a try to put Leeds back in front, while Sinfield's kick took him level with Risman in third in the all-time points-scoring list on 4,050.

And Sinfield's conversion, after Hall barged his way through to score in the left corner, saw him claim third spot as his own.

The visitors got back into the game as Cockayne's dummy saw him go over and Mantellato scored after a slick passing move, but he fluffed his third conversion to go with Dixon's earlier missed attempt.

The home side's 18-16 half-time lead was extended when Singleton pounced first to ground Paul Aiton's bouncing grubber kick, but Sinfield's kick hit the post.

Rob Burrow played a major part to send Hall flying over in the corner for his second try and Sinfield made it four successful kicks from five attempts.

Sinfield rounded off a significant personal night as he added a penalty and then converted his own try to take his tally to 16 points as Leeds won for the 11th time in Super League this season.

Leeds coach Brian McDermott on Kevin Sinfield:

"This is probably the 20th time I've spoken about Kev's milestones and you never get bored of speaking about them.

"I don't think he ever gets bored of achieving them. It's fantastic isn't it? What a marvellous career he's having.

"We started the game reasonably well but I've got to give Hull KR credit, I didn't expect them to be as energetic."

Hull KR coach Chris Chester:

"They are a bit down but I've told them they should be proud of their performance.

"I'm probably prouder this week than I was last week. There were a lot of great performances out there.

"It was a very brave and courageous performance from my boys. We're down on troops but we're not down on heart and desire.

"Credit to Leeds, though, they were probably the best team overall."

Leeds Rhinos: Hardaker, Handley, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Cuthbertson, Aiton, Peacock, S. Ward, Achurch, Ablett.

Replacements: Walters, Sutcliffe, Singleton, Burrow.

Hull KR: Cockayne, Dixon, Sio, Welham, Mantellato, Campese, Blair, Cox, Boudebza, Green, Larroyer, Ollett, McCarthy.

Replacements: Greenwood, Donaldson, Esslemont, Holker.

Referee: Robert Hicks (RFL).

Attendance: 15,206.