Play off match report: Leeds Rhinos 42 Wakefield Wildcats 20

The Rhinos trailed three times before finally getting on top of their gallant opponents and finishing with a flourish with a Ben Jones-Bishop hat-trick to earn a trip to Catalan Dragons in next Friday’s preliminary semi-final.

Former Leeds Grand Final winners Richard Mathers, Lee Smith and Ali Lauitiiti all scored tries as the Wildcats played their full part in a thoroughly entertaining match and threatened to spring a shock before finally running out of steam.

They led 16-12 early in the second half but Leeds’ class told in the end, with Jones-Bishop scoring three second-half tries.

Leeds were boosted by the return of half-back Danny McGuire after a four-match absence with a knee injury and he was at the heart of the action as the Rhinos dominated the opening stages.

But Wakefield’s defence was spot on and the only early danger came from a break out of his own half by full-back Zak Hardaker.

Tim Smith was clearly Wakefield’s key player and it was his accurate cut-out pass that enabled winger Ben Cockayne to open the scoring for the visitors on 14 minutes.