Leeds end Giants' top-four hopes

Leeds Rhinos finished the regular season with a 56-10 victory that ended Huddersfield Giants' hopes of making the cut for the top four.

The Giants began the day knowing a win at Laund Hill and defeat for York Valkyrie away to bottom club Barrow Raiders would see them join Wigan Warriors, Leeds and St Helens in the extended top-four play-off series.

That faint hope was quashed in the opening nine minutes as Leeds took control through tries from Lucy Murray, Liv Whitehead and Kaiya Glynn, all converted by Mel Howard.

Tries from Becky Grady and Faye Barraclough, either side of a Connie Boyd score for Leeds, brought some hope to the home side, but the Rhinos ran away with the game as Shannon Brown crashed over and Boyd scored her second to make it 34-10 at half-time.

The second half was a procession as Lois Naidole scored a try against her former club, Evie Cousins marked her return to action with two more, and Whitehead scored her own second to secure second place for Rhinos and condemn Giants to the bottom four play-offs.

The result became academic as York, as expected, were far too strong for Barrow, beating them 44-12.

The game was over as a contest by half-time after tries from Petra Woods, Amelie Lenham, Izzy Bibby (2), Agnes Wood and Adaoha Akwiwu all but ensured that vital fourth place for Valkyrie.

Brooke Henderson added two more early in the second half before Lucy Dickinson struck back for the Raiders.

Woods and Akwiwu both added their own second tries, before Leah Clough's try at least ensured Barrow, who have lost all seven of their regular-season fixtures, reached double figures.