Leeds Rhinos lose dramatic playoff eliminator

Catalans Dragons have kept their season alive by beating Leeds Rhinos 24-20 at Headingley in the Super League elimination playoffs.

The hosts came into this game on a run of five straight defeats, but Carl Ablett ensured that his side got off to a good start when he crossed over on 16 minutes.

Sam Williams levelled up the scores when he found the try line on 26 minutes, but the Challenge Cup winners regained their lead before the interval courtesy of a Kallum Watkins try one minute from time.

A resurgent Dragons side turned the game on its head following the break, however, with tries from Zeb Taia and Louis Anderson before the hour changing the complexion of the contest.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan set up a tense finale when he found the whitewash 10 minutes from time, but Williams crossed over at the death to fire Catalan to a fourth straight win and spell the end of Leeds's campaign in heartbreaking fashion.