Scott Donald scored twice as Leeds ran in six tries past struggling Hull KR to keep pace with engage Super League leaders St Helens.

The Australian wing touched down in either half as the in-form Rhinos outclassed a Rovers side who found themselves 16-0 down at the break after an abject display.

Scores from Donald, Ryan Hall and Matt Diskin were the least Leeds deserved for their stunning superiority against a Rovers side who barely managed to escape their own half.

But Rovers coach Justin Morgan reminded his men they could actually perform and two quickfire tries after the break from Rhys Lovegrove and Luke Dyer encouraged hopes of a famous fightback.

That it did not materialise was largely due to Leeds' potency in attack, and further tries from Clinton Toopi and Donald put Tony Smith's title hopefuls home and dry.

Despite bottom side Salford losing at home to Saints, Rovers are not yet safe from relegation, though they played like they were in the opening period.

In the 14th minute Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield and second row Jamie Jones-Buchanan combined to send Donald scuttling over in the left corner.

It was indicative of the Rhinos' early control and the visitors' hopes were hit further in the 17th minute when Chris Chester was sent to the sin-bin for deliberately slowing play down.

With Sinfield dictating play for Leeds, Rovers' line began to lead an increasingly charmed existence.

It came as no surprise to anyone when Academy product Hall, 19, claimed their second try in the 24th minute.

The lightning-quick winger collected Jamie Thackray's neat offload and raced 40 metres down the right flank, outstripping Mark Lennon before diving over in the corner.

Sinfield failed to add the extras but they stretched their lead on the half hour mark when Diskin advanced forward at pace from close range to claim Leeds' try third which Sinfield garnished with an additional two points.

Leeds' 16-0 interval advantage looked commanding enough but they had not bargained for a stirring fightback from the visitors, who played like a side transformed after the break.

The Rhinos were caught napping in the 42nd minute when Ben Fisher and James Webster linked up to send replacement Lovegrove burrowing over from point-blank range.

Paul Cooke added the extras to spark hopes of an improbable fightback.

That prospect gained further credence as Rovers, playing like a side transformed, cut the deficit further in the 49th minute.

Mark O'Neill's teasing grubber kick into the right corner was seized upon by Dyer and Cooke produced an exquisite touchline conversion to reduce Leeds' advantage to four points.

But Leeds remained a danger on the counter-attack and Carl Ablett's fine break down the right flank sent Toopi racing clear and Ian Kirke's delightful long offload gave Donald his second on the opposite flank.

Rovers hit back through Ryan Tandy - which Cooke converted - but McGuire's last-minute score gave Leeds the final say, while Sinfield claimed his fifth goal from six attempts.