Super League: Leeds hang on to win 22-16 at Warrington with 11 men

Rhyse Martin landed three conversions and two penalties for a 10-point individual haul

Leeds upset the Super League formbook as they won at third-placed Warrington.

But, after looking comfortable, they had to survive a frantic final 10 minutes in which both Liam Sutcliffe and Rob Lui were sin-binned.

From 22-6 down, Wire closed to within a converted score's distance after two tries from winger Josh Charnley.

But they could not force a draw and extra-time - and Leeds won in the end thanks to converted first-half tries from Lui, Alex Mellor and Ash Handley.

Rhyse Martin landed all three conversions, plus a penalty either side of the break.

Leeds began the night nine points adrift of Wire, having won just five of their previous 10 games this season, while their hosts had won six on the spin.

But the Rhinos were ahead inside eight minutes when Lui jumped to claim a high ball before earning the chance to crash over,

Wire were level on 17 minutes when Stefan Ratchford converted a try by hooker Danny Walker, but Leeds stretched clear with tries by the returning Mellor, back after a ban, and Handley, who was returning after concussion.

After going in at half-time 20-6 ahead, Martin's boot took them further clear before the final 10 minutes of drama at the Halliwell Jones.

First Sutcliffe was penalised for a high tackle on Josh Thewlis, following which Charnley went over for the first of his two late tries.

Then Lui was sin-binned too, for holding down Blake Austin.

Warrington did score again, when the unmarked Charnley this time cashed in on a two-man advantage - but, although Ratchford landed the kick, it gave the hosts just 38 seconds from the restart to find another score and Leeds hung on for a fourth straight win.

While Warrington have six days until their next game at Hull KR on Sunday, the Rhinos' packed schedule continues on Friday night when they host leaders Catalans Dragons at Headingley.

Warrington coach Steve Price:

"We deserved everything we got. We came up with 19 errors and completed at 60 per cent and you don't give yourself a chance to win the game when you deliver that.

"Our tackle control was not up to standard. That performance was not acceptable. We were disappointing from the first set when we made less than 30 metres.

"They dominated field position for the majority of the game and were clearly the better team, while we had one decent set in the first half when we scored a try but we needed to be better.

"It's individuals' responsibility to control the football, be disciplined and to get the tackle control right, which are all effort areas and they did that better than us."

Leeds coach Richard Agar:

"It was a magnificent effort from our boys. As the energy dropped out of the game it was like touch and pass in the second half. We were clinging on and had to hang on by our fingernails for dear life.

"But we hung on and came up with some great last-ditch efforts and only conceded with 11 men in the second half with a few minutes left on the clock.

"It was an enormous task to come to Warrington on the back of a really tough schedule and the spirit we showed sticking in for each other was fantastic.

"We go again in four days' time and I'm thinking: 'how do we do it again?'. The boys need mentally refreshing because, after a good backs-to-the-wall effort like that, you could hear a pin drop in the dressing room. They are absolutely exhausted. I've never heard a dressing room so quiet."

Warrington: Thewlis; Lineham, Mamo, King, Charnley; Austin, Ratchford; Hill, Walker, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Davis.

Replacements: Philbin, Butler, Akauola, D Clark.

Leeds: L Sutcliffe; Handley, T Briscoe, Broadbent, L Briscoe; Lui, Leeming; Oledzki, Dwyer, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Thompson.

Replacements: Hurrell, Holroyd, O'Connor, Donaldson.

Sin-bin: Sutcliffe (70), Lui (76).

Referee: Liam Moore (RFL).

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