Wakefield beat rivals Leeds with late Lino drop-goal

Betfred Super League

Wakefield (8) 15

Tries: Walmsley, Storton Goals: Jowitt (3), Lino

Leeds (8) 14

Tries: Lisone, O'Connor Goals: Connor (2), Sinfield

Mason Lino's dramatic last-play drop goal saw Wakefield boost their Super League play-off chances as they narrowly beat Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos by a single point at a sold-out Belle Vue.

Rhinos looked set for victory on a tense evening after Jarrod O'Connor's late try, but Matty Storton ran over to level the scores with minutes left.

With the game seemingly heading for a golden point period, Brodie Clark narrowly missed a drop goal attempt for Leeds, before Lino, superb all evening, kicked from distance to snatch victory for Trinity.

The result takes Daryll Powell's side into the top six, while Leeds missed out on a chance to move level on points with second-placed Wigan.

Wakefield started the better, with Lachlan Walmsley powering towards the line after a free-flowing attacking set.

Leeds hit straight back, but rather than copying the hosts' attacking flair, Sam Lisone was used as a battering ram to storm over to level the scores.

Brad Arthur's team had less possession, but used it to greater effect in the second half, O'Connor darting for the line to score his first try of the season.

Wakefield had shown little penetrative threat during the second 40, but Storton's late finish, converted by Matt Jowitt, meant the scores were level going into the final 10 minutes.

Clark's attempted drop goal for Leeds, dragged just to the left of the posts with minutes remaining, meant the packed out Belle Vue crowd of 10,000 looked set for an extra 10 minutes of rugby.

But Lino, who mixed bruising physicality with pace and agility all evening, kicked from 35 metres to seal a thrilling win with seconds left on the clock.

The Samoan was mobbed by his team-mates, and head coach Powell and chairman Craig Barrass were filmed celebrating wildly in the stands as Wakefield beat their close rivals for the second time this season.

Victory takes them sixth, and boosts their play-off chances significantly.

Rhinos players were seen sinking to their knees at the full-time whistle. They stay in fourth in the Super League after their second loss in their last three games.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Myers, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smith, Faatili, Griffin, Scott, Pitts

Interchanges: Nikotemo, Atoni, Storton, Rourke

Leeds: Miller, Hall, Handley, Newman, Edgell, Croft, Connor, Palasia, O'Connor, Jenkins, McDonnell, Bentley, Watkins

Interchanges: Sinfield, Lisone, Cassell, Littlewood

Referee: Chris Kendall