Saints » Results

A great second-half kicking performance from Kevin Sinfield saw Leeds home 22-10 against Saints.

The Rhinos’ captain continuously pinned the Saints attack deeper and deeper into the Saints 20 and the home side had no answer.

It laid the platform for Ryan Hall and Jordan Tansey to finish the game off.

Thankfully, the rain that has dogged the week relented and both sets of fans were treated to a great game – if a little niggly.

Saints began with the same team that thrashed Huddersfield last week.

New signing Chris Flannery also arrived just before the start – somewhat luckily and bleary-eyed as his flight from Australia had been delayed five hours – and managed to watch his new colleagues from the dug out.

Leeds started brightly with Burrow and Sinfield combining well to give Webb an overlap opportunity. But Webb ballooned the ball into the stand when a lower pass might have sent their wingman in.

Toopi then screamed up the left but Saints were caught offside giving Sinfield an easy two points.

Saints had a chance on 11 minutes when Leeds were caught offside twice in quick succession but Gilly got in the way of a pass intended for Cayless and the ball was dropped.

A few seconds later Leeds bombed a certain chance. Matty Smith’s kick on the Rhinos’ twenty was charged down and Toopi nearly went the full length. A couple of metres from the line Gidley managed to ankle tap the centre Ste Tyrer wrapped it up.

A couple of tackles later, the ball was knocked on.

Saints nearly hit back straightaway. Great kicking by Matty Smith forced a drop out and a few tackles later Graham and Benno did the hard yards before great hands put Talau in the corner. But the video ref ruled it out for a blatant knock on.

Shortly afterwards, a great handling move was ruled illegal by Silverwood because of a forward pass from Matt Gidley. Ade starting and finishing the move.

But finally, just before the half hour mark, Saints got the try they craned. Matty Smith gained some great yards after a penalty and Roby scooted in. Tyrer booted the extras.

It was no less than the boys deserved after a period of sustained attacking play.

Leeds hit back through McGuire - with the Saints defence nowhere - and Sinfield put them two to the good.

But Saints didn’t let their heads dip and just before the end of the half a great attacking move from Saints put them back ahead. Pryce and Jammer combined to give Talau a great opportunity to put Tyrer in.

And the wing man didn’t disappoint.

Into the second half, the pendulum swung the other way as Burrow scooted over to put Leeds ahead again with Sinfield tagging on the extras.

A great kick from Sinfield into the corner was then expertly diffused by Tyrer and from the resultant tap Saints went full length but were unable to make it count.

As the half wore on, Sinfield continued to grind the Saints attack down with his kicking and it was always going to take something special to break the Rhinos’ line.

Cunningham went close with a kick through, Wilkin could have done better when presented with options 20 metres out and then Ste Tyrer touched the ball on a forty-twenty attempt to gifting Leeds possession 20 yards out.

From the scrum Ryan Hall went in although there was more than a hint of obstruction in the build up. Sinfield just wide with the conversion.

Tansey then intercepted to race clear and seal the win.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Roby, Tyrer

Goals: Tyrer (1 from 2)

Leeds:

Tries: McGuire, Burrow, Hall, Tansey

Goals: Sinfield (3 from 5)

Penalties:

Saints: 8

Leeds: 8

HT: 10-8

FT: 10-22

ATT: 10074

MOM: Matt Gidley

REF: Richard Silverwood

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2, Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 24. Ste Tyrer; 6. Leon Pryce, 21. Matty Smith; 8. Nick Fozzard, 9. Keiron Cunningham (c), 10. Jason Cayless, 11. Lee Gilmour, 15. Mike Bennett 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 17. James Graham, 22. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.

Leeds:

1. Brent Webb; 2. Scott Donald, 3. Clinton Toopi, 4. Keith Senior, 25. Ryan Hall; 6. Danny McGuire, 7. Rob Burrow; 16. Ryan Bailey, 9. Matt Diskin, 10. Jamie Peacock, 12. Gareth Ellis, 11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 13. Kevin Sinfield (c).

Subs: 23. Jordan Tansey, 14. Ali Lauitiiti, 8. Kylie Leuluai, 18. Ian Kirke.