Leeds Rhinos Under-16s brought an end to their recent winless run as two tries from Noah Sheriffe led the try scoring in a 36-20 result against Wakefield Trinity at Stanningley.

Having bounced back from a scoreless visit against Hull FC with improved performances versus Leigh and Huddersfield, the Rhinos found the opening score inside ten minutes as Sheriffe got over the try line. Both sides took turns trying to find an early advantage, but a knock on by Jayden Kershaw handed Leeds a scoring chance and Simon Brown’s side took it with both hands. Shifting wide from their scrum feed quickly, Sheriffe found himself in enough space to beat Enoma Imasuen Osawe and finish in the corner for a morale-boosting score.

The try was the first of five consecutive scores for the home side, who flexed their muscles with a classy first half. A spell of pressure by Wakefield evaporated when Joe Gill showed clean heels to collect an attempted grubber kick by Freddie Buckborough and turn goal line defence into a devastating attack from Leeds. Although the centre was unable to crown his break with a fifth try of the campaign, Leeds bided their time for a gap to open up and Oli Vincent was the beneficiary as the half back dummied his way through the Trinity defence to score by the posts.

Five minutes later, Wade Smith extended the Rhinos’ advantage to 14 points as they punished Wakefield’s right side again. A knock on from the visitors by Buckborough gave Leeds the ball deep in Trinity’s territory and a shift across the field caught Wakefield out again as Smith dived over in the corner.

Stan Marriott and Alfie Quinn continued the Leeds onslaught as a stunning first 40 minutes continued. A bullocking run for the try line on 24 minutes saw Marriott get the prop’s second try of 2026, before an initial break down the sideline by Quinn saw the winger fend out of two Trinity tackles to finish a sensational solo effort before the half time whistle. Sheriffe added a third conversion to make the score 26-0.

Wakefield needed a response to get themselves back in the contest, and tries either side of half time saw them begin a slow comeback. Off the back of Zac Painter’s break that should have seen the half back score, Dylan Padgett made sure to finish the try himself before the end of the first half, and the lock forward was quick to get over for the first score of the second period too. Beating poor defence from Leeds minutes into the new half, the loose forward stepped round the challenge of Wieland to find the line to make the score 26-12.

The Rhinos managed to stem the flow of Wakefield points as Brown’s side composed themselves quickly to come close to adding their first try of the new half – Smith losing a quick pass from Sheriffe that would have put the winger over. Better defence also looked to be holding firm against a reinvigorated Trinity side, but inevitably a third try came as Lucas Da Silva stretched out to score.

With their advantage whittled down to just 10 points with 20 minutes to go, Rhinos fans were fearing the worst, but a confident attack climaxed with a driving chance from Owen Mara-Jupp, who came up close to the line. From the chance, Brough managed to weave a pass away for Lewis Kilner to get the ball down for tries in consecutive games.

With a win all but wrapped up for the home side, James Sanderson’s consolation try with five minutes left kept the scoreline interesting, but a final score of the night from captain Sheriffe crowned a 36-20 final score.

Teams

Rhinos

1. Toby Wieland, 2. Alfie Quinn, 3. Joe Gill, 4. Noah Sheriffe, 5. Wade Smith, 6. Henry Brough, 7. Oliver Vincent, 8. Stan Marriott, 9. Lennon Kelly, 10. Thai Hazelwood, 11. Myles Hartley, 12. Dillon Eshun, 13. Owen Mara-Jupp

Subs: 14. Lewis Kilner, 15. Archie Butler, 16. Kazimierz Ciuraj-Davison, 17. Dylan Duckmanton, 18. Laike Smith, 19. Evan Armstrong, 20. Charlie Hagan 

Tries: Sheriffe (8, 79), Vincent (17), Smith (20), Marriott (25), Quinn (32)

Goals: Sheriffe 4/7

Trinity

1. Calub Winterhalder, 2. Taylor Wainwright, 3. Freddie Buckborough, 4. Lucas Da Silva, 5. Enoma Imasuen Osawe, 6. Jayden Kershaw, 7. Zac Painter, 8. Lucas Foster, 9. Clayton Callaghan, 10. Alfie Moore, 11. Ben Whitworth, 12. Sam Burns, 13. Dylan Padgett

Subs: 14. Nathan Wilson, 15. Kieran Allot, 16. Ed Sorge, 17. James Sanderson, 18. Howard Jones

Tries: Padgett (38, 42), Da Silva (54), Sanderson (75)

Goals: Kershaw 3/4