The Rhinos had just one thought on their minds as their plane lifted off early this morning for the trip to Perpignan to take on the Catalans Dragons, the two points and a winning margin of seven or more points to go top.

In the back of their minds they will also have been looking for revenge for last season undignified exit from the play-offs at the hands of today's hosts when the Dragons upset the form book to end Leeds season.

A win for the Dragons would see them up to sixth and a big win, by more than forty-one points, would see them above Wigan into fifth. If the game wasn't spoiled by the strong winds then the stage was set for a cracker.

With a gale blowing into their faces it was the Rhinos who opened the scoring thanks to a Cuthbertson offload to Ablett which saw the Rhinos second row drag three tacklers over the line with him. Sutcliffe added the two.

Ten minutes later and the Dragons were back on level terms, on their first real attack in the Leeds twenty. Dureau was the provider as he dummied twice and then passed to Elliot Whitehead to cross. Dureau kicked the conversion for 6-6.

The Dragons almost took the lead when Casty was prevented from grounding the ball by the boot of Carl Ablett and his team mates dragged the Dragon back into the field of play.

With five left until the interval the Rhinos hit the front again. Watkins had gone close and on the next play the ball Hardaker put in a switch pass and put Stevie Ward through a gap to crash over. Sutcliffe failed to convert but Leeds were in a narrow 10-6 lead.

The opening exchanges of the second half were all Dragons as they turned the game on its head with sixteen unanswered points in twelve minutes. On forty-one Ward was penalised for a high tackle and Whitehead went through a gap for his second of the night.

On forty-six Pelissier reversed over the line on the back of a couple of penalties and on fifty-two Pomeroy found Cardace who grounded one-handed in the corner. Dureau converted the first two and the Dragons were in command at 22-10, looking like they might register their first home win in four attempts against the Rhinos.

But after a shocking start to the half the Rhinos soon found another gear and ran in twenty-eight unanswered points in the last twenty-five of the half.

On fifty-five Singleton went over off a McGuire pass to score under the sticks. A minute later and Leeds were back on level terms when Moon, Hall, and Moon again sent McGuire over. Sutcliffe converted both to put his side back on level pegging at twenty-two all.

Just after the hour and Leeds regained the lead that they'd lost twenty minutes earlier when a grubber from Sutcliffe wrong-footed Willie Tonga who ended up on his backside allowing the kicker to collect and ground unopposed.

The lead was just four points going into the last five minutes but two tries late on made it look like a comfortable Leeds win. On seventy-six Kallum Watkins crossed off a Burrow pass as the Dragons tired and with the final hooter warming up Zak Hardaker returned a goal-line dropout to walk in a simple try and wrap up a 38-22 win for the visitors.

This was a good win for the Rhinos which puts them to the top of the table at the one-third point of the regular season. Not a game for the purists and one which fell victim to the strong wind and was marred with dropped balls and clumsy penalties.

The Rhinos played the conditions the best and didn't panic when they went two converted tries behind. It leaves the Dragons stuck in the bottom four and needing a turnaround in form if they are to realise their pre-season potential.

It will be a happy late flight back to the UK for the Rhinos who will now be looking forward to a busy Easter programme.

Dragons: Escare, Cardace, Pomeroy, Taia, Tonga, Bosc, Dureau, Casty, Henderson, Lima, Anderson, Whitehead, Baitieri. Subs: Elima, Pelissier, Garcia, Bosquet.

Rhinos: Hardaker, Handley, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Surcliffe, McGuire, Singleton, Aiton, Peacock, Ward, Ablett, Cuthbertson. Subs: Burrow, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Achurch.

Referee: Richard Silverwood
Attendance: 8,876