Five-try Leeds cruise past winless Huddersfield

Lachie Miller (centre) scored 12 points for Leeds Rhinos

Betfred Super League, Headingley

Leeds (6) 28

Tries: Miller, Watkins, Handley, Connor, Hall Goals: Miller 4

Huddersfield (0) 6

Tries: Burgess Goals: Flanagan

Leeds Rhinos ran in five tries to comfortably see off Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Giants at Headingley and move fifth in Super League.

The Rhinos dominated the first half but it took until eight minutes before the break for Lachie Miller to score the opening try and give them a slender 6-0 half-time lead.

But the points flowed in the second half as Kallum Watkins went over five minutes after the interval before Ash Handley scored their third try.

The game was put beyond doubt by Jake Connor's score, and Ryan Hall completed the rout before Tom Burgess scored a late consolation for Huddersfield, who remain winless in eight games and sit bottom of the table.

It was fifth win of the season for Leeds and their second in a row after last week's 28-0 success at Salford Red Devils.

But for the opening half hour, the hosts were frustrated with Tom Holroyd and Keenan Palasia having tries ruled out by the video referee, and Morgan Gannon being held up over the line.

But finally they broke through as James Bentley's excellent offload, while being held by two defenders, freed Harry Newman who picked out Miller on a great line and he sidestepped the backfield defence to score.

Five minutes after the break, Watkins, who returned to Leeds last week on a deal until the end of the season, scored their second try - his 13th against Huddersfield in 23 games for Leeds.

He picked an excellent line to take a short pass, stepped off his right foot into a gap, and had the power to see off the last defender to the line.

Soon after, Leeds' third try put the game beyond doubt as Connor chipped a crossfield kick on the last tackle which was superbly claimed by Handley, who then only had to fall over the line.

The try of the night was Leeds' fourth as James McDonnell broke through the Giants' line and exchanged passes with Bentley before passing out the back of his hand to send Connor over.

Hall claimed Leeds' fifth try on another difficult night for Huddersfield, but they did at least get on the board five minutes from time as Burgess ran a good line and took a short pass to beat the defence and score.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller; Hall, Newman, Handley, Lumb; Connor, Frawley; Jenkins, O'Connor, Holroyd, McDonnell, Gannon, Palasia.

Interchanges: Sinfield, Lisone, Bentley, Watkins.

Huddersfield Giants: McGowan; Carr, Sutcliffe, Jake Bibby, Halsall; Gagai, Flanagan; Burgess, Golding, Wilson, Hewitt, Greenwood, Milne.

Interchanges: Algar, Sykes, Jack Bibby, Billington.

Referee: Jack Smith.