Hull of a win for Rhinos

Leeds made it two wins from two under new coach Brian McDermott with an impressive 32-18 triumph over Hull FC at the KC Stadium.

The Rhinos followed up their thrilling 32-28 triumph over Bradford at Millennium Magic with another hard-fought success at the start of the new campaign.

They crossed four times in the opening half to move 20-6 ahead, Brent Webb grabbing the first of them before limping out of the action.

Australian forward Mark O'Meley did cross twice, though the Airlie Birds were unable to bounce back from their derby defeat to Hull KR last Sunday.

Obst debut

They had been 14-0 in front before succumbing to the Robins just five days ago but this time around never got their noses ahead.

Having fought back from 28-10 down to beat the Bulls on opening weekend, the Rhinos simply picked up from where they left off in Cardiff.

They managed a try inside two minutes, Hull falling asleep when James Jones-Buchanan offloaded the ball. Keith Senior broke away down the left and with Webb in support on his right shoulder, the centre passed the ball back inside.

Webb was denied a second soon after by a try-saving tackle from opposite number Richard Whiting; the full-back was injured in attempting to score again and despite his best attempts on the sidelines, never returned.

Having seemingly weathered the early storm, Hull hit back in the 15th minute when O'Meley took a short pass and barged his way over from close range.

However Leeds were in no mood to let slip their supremacy; Ryan Hall enjoyed an easy run-in down the left to put the visitors 10-6 ahead.

Their next try again came down Hull's right - an area Rovers had exploited in the Welsh capital - as the rampant Rhinos produced a flowing, 10-pass move that ended with Rob Burrow fending off an overworked Whiting to ground the ball.

Before the half-time hooter a fourth arrived thanks to the efforts of just one man - Ben Jones-Bishop.

Moved from the wing to full-back to replace Webb, the youngster accepted a tap back from skipper Sinfield, after a rather aimless Sean Long grubber, before accelerating through a broken defensive line.

Injury worries

It took them only eight minutes to extend their lead after the interval too; Chris Clarkson seizing on the scraps following Burrow's up-and-under to the right.

Yet it was far from plain sailing for McDermott's men, particularly with an injury to Brett Delaney leaving them desperately short of fit bodies on the bench.

O'Meley's second try - an almost carbon copy of his first - gave Hull renewed hope but even with their health issues, Leeds still found a response through Weller Hauraki.

The debutant saw his own grubber ricochet into the hands of team-mate Danny Buderus, who slipped the ball back inside to allow the kicker to canter over under the uprights, leaving an easy conversion.

Drop goals from Burrow and Sinfield made sure of the victory in the closing stages after Sharp's try had briefly cut the gap down to 12 points again.