The Rhinos were clinging to the top of the Super League by their finger-nails following two consecutive losses since their Challenge Cup victory. Wigan Warriors, with an away trip to Langtree Park tomorrow night, are level on points and just trailing on points difference.

Tonight's visitors to Headingley, the Castleford Tigers, were out of contention for a top four spot but still eager to finish on top of the chasing pack and a win tonight would seal fifth spot with one game to go. The Tigers are not in the habit of making anything easy for their near neighbours.

All the pressure was on the Rhinos to regain some form ahead of the semi-final play-offs and put the last fortnight behind them. A loss tonight could signal real trouble at Headingley.

It was the Tigers who opened the scoring after five minutes after a Watkins charge down gifted possession back to the visitors. A quick short pass from Grant Millington put Luke Gale through a gap in the Leeds defence to dive over by the posts. Gale converted for six-nil.

Three minutes later and it was the Tigers second when Denny Solomona took a Michael Shenton offload to round behind the sticks. Gale was again accurate with the boot. It was the best possible start for the Tigers and the worst for the Rhinos.

On eleven a beauty of a kick to the corner by Kevin Sinfield was collected by a flying Ryan Hall to ground one handed in the corner before rolling into touch. Sinfield kicked a great touchline goal for 6-12.

It was then the Rhinos turn to get two tries in three minutes. This time it was a McGuire kick through which was fumbled by McMeeken and picked up by Joel Moon to ground. Sinfield drilled the ball between the sticks to level the scores at 12-12 with just fifteen minutes on the clock.

The half-hour saw Leeds hit the front with Ryan Halls second of the night when Sinfield and McGuire combined with a miss-out pass to allow Hall to ground in the corner. Sinfield failed to convert from out wide but Headingley was collectively breathing sigh of relief as the Rhinos seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

On thirty-seven Castleford got the final score of the half when Luke Dorn took a Gale pass to stretch out and score. Gale slid the conversion attempt wide of the uprights and it was all square heading to the forty.

A sensational try got the second half off to a great start when prop Matt Cook broke for sixty metres before passing inside to the supporting Luke Gale to go under the sticks and give himself a simple conversion.

Within a couple of minutes the Tigers scored another superb try when Roberts and Gale interchanged the ball with Roberts benefitting from the switch-back to go under the sticks and give Gale the easy conversion to take his side out to a twelve point lead.

On fifty-two Ryan Hall earned a penalty deep in the Tigers twenty and youngster Jordan Lilley gave Adam Cuthbertson a short pass to crash over. Lilley, on his first start for the Rhinos and with Sinfield off injured, kicked the conversion.

Seven minutes from the hooter and the Tigers used a rare foray into the Rhinos half for Ben Roberts to slide over drop goal for a seven point lead. Leeds needed eight points in six minutes or their season would be laying in tatters.

Daryl Powell will be wondering where this never-say-die attitude was when his side actually had something to play for earlier in the season. The Tigers defence was nothing short of awesome and on the attack they sought out the Rhinos weaknesses and fully exploited them for an heroic win.

The Rhinos, despite not playing particularly badly, are now seemingly in disarray. Since they slaughtered the Robins at Wembley three games ago they have not been able to step up to the plate and are now in danger of finishing the super 8s in fourth position should results go against them. A nightmare for McDermott's men could be complete with a loss to the Giants next Friday.

Rhinos: Hardaker, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon (T), Hall (2T), Sinfield (2G), McGuire, Cuthbertson (T), Lilley (G), Peacock, Ward S, Ablett, Delaney. Subs: Leuluai, Garbutt, Walters, Singleton.

Tigers: Dorn (T), Gibson, McMeeken, Shenton, Solomona (T), Roberts (DG, T), Gale (2T, 4G), Lynch, Milner, Millington, Holmes, Moors, Wheeldon. Subs: Cook, Boyle, Maher, McShane.

Referee: James Child
Attendance: 15,069