Mason Lino’s Last-gasp Drop Goal Stuns Leeds And Boosts Wakefield’s Playoff Hopes

Wakefield Trinity edged a thrilling West Yorkshire derby pinch Leeds Rhinos, pinch Mason Lino’s driblet extremity successful nan last enactment of nan title securing triumph to move them into nan Super League playoff places.

In beforehand of a sell-out crowd, nan biggest astatine Wakefield for good complete a decade, Trinity – who were playing successful nan Championship past twelvemonth – underlined their playoff credentials to inflict a perchance decisive conclusion connected Leeds successful their ain pursuit of nan apical two.

The crippled seemed destined to beryllium heading for aureate constituent other clip pinch nan scores level astatine 14-14 before, pinch seconds remaining, Lino kicked a nerveless driblet extremity pinch what proved to beryllium nan past footwear of a pulsating crippled to move Trinity into nan apical six. The Rhinos, who missed nan chance to spell 3rd here, will rue this arsenic a missed opportunity.

It was a connection triumph for Daryl Powell’s side, who are playing successful beforehand of crowds 3 times bigger than erstwhile they were relegated from Super League pinch a whimper 2 years ago, but are now reborn nether nan ownership of Matt Ellis. They look to beryllium bona fide contenders for nan title for Old Trafford travel October.

The opening exchanges were suggestive of 2 sides pushing for occurrence this year, pinch some completing astatine a precocious percent complaint and not affording nan different an inch. However, erstwhile nan first correction did get it gave Wakefield an opportunity they wouldn’t walk up, arsenic Max Jowitt converted a punishment to unfastened nan scoring.

Two minutes later, pinch nan momentum down them, Trinity went further up erstwhile a awesome handling move led to Lachlan Walmsley crossing successful nan corner. Jowitt couldn’t convert, but nan hosts were surely bully worth for their early six-point lead.

That effort came aft Brodie Croft had been sent to nan sin-bin for a travel connected Lino but to their credit, nan Rhinos dug successful good for nan 10 minutes they were astatine a numerical disadvantage, moreover kicking a punishment done nan footwear of Jake Connor to constrictive nan arrears to conscionable 4 points.

Jowitt past returned service pinch different penalty, pinch points and gilt-edged attacking opportunities astatine a premium, to make it 8-2. But Leeds continued to amended arsenic half-time approached and they sewage nan effort their efforts deserved arsenic Sam Lisone forced his measurement complete 3 Wakefield defenders, giving Connor a elemental extremity to make it 8-8 astatine nan break.

The tense, nervy quality of proceedings continued aft half-time. Perhaps nan biggest talking constituent successful nan 20 minutes aft nan restart was Leeds losing Connor to a freak incident aft he was punched successful nan look by his teammate, James Bentley, arsenic nan brace attempted to tackle a Wakefield player.

The title past came live successful spectacular manner successful nan last 15 minutes. Leeds had spent astir of nan 2nd half defending their ain statement but successful a uncommon foray down into Wakefield territory, they went up for nan first clip arsenic Jarrod O’Connor grounded nan shot nether utmost unit to put nan visitors successful front.

With Jack Sinfield converting, you wondered if Leeds would beryllium capable to clasp connected from location pinch clip ticking away. However, Trinity responded magnificently arsenic Lino’s inch-perfect walk sent Matty Storton crossed from adjacent scope – and Jowitt converted to make it 14-14 and group up a grandstand finale.

The Rhinos came desperately adjacent to snatching triumph pinch Croft’s driblet extremity going narrowly wide of nan posts but Lino made nary correction astatine nan different end, nervelessly kicking nan winning constituent from agelong scope to spark rapturous scenes.