Rugby Lions chose the wrong game to rest several key players as they were handed a comprehensive beating by impressive Leeds.

Lions director of coaching Geoff Davies made ten changes from last weeks clash with Exeter in order to see some of the fringe members of his squad perform, but he could not take many positives from this performance.

Leeds' disappointing start to the season may have left them with virtually no hope of promotion from Premiership Two, but they progressed easily in this cup clash.

Rugby League favourite Wendell Sailor was the main thorn in Lions' side scoring five, with three of them coming in the first 24 minutes as his side ran riot.

The only bright moments from the home side came from Chris Tarbuck's try and Denzil Evans' conversion, but this was more than countered by injuries to captain Mark Ellis (knee), and Tarbuck who was taken to hospital after the game with a suspected broken arm.

With a half-time deficit of 32-7 Lions staged a brief period of resilience before crumbling under an avalanche of tries as Leeds scored a further six times to embarrass their host further.