SAINTS missed out on returning to the top of the First Utility Super League table after being beaten 46-18 at Leeds.
In a carbon copy of the last time the two sides met the Rhinos ran up a large half time score only for Saints to almost threaten a comeback.
This time the Champions had given themselves too much to do though after being down 22-0 at the break.
Josh Jones, Jordan Turner and Kyle Amor all crossed as Saints at least made a fight of it but Leeds caught them on the break a number of times to set a marker ahead of their Challenge Cup meeting at the end of the month.
Saints made a couple of changes from the side that beat Widnes in the Challenge Cup.
Mose Masoe started in place of Alex Walmsley whilst Matty Fleming came in at centre to allow Josh Jones to move to lock.
Keiron Cunningham had talked all through the week about his charges needing to start strong.
So he wouldn’t have expected Saints to knock on right from the kick off.
Kyle Amor was the culprit but a big tackle from Mose Masoe won the ball back with Leeds on the attack.
Saints lost it again on their next set and again had to be sharp in defence to quell the danger.
Both sides were guilty of butter fingers but on Saints’ next set they were finally punished for an error.
It was lost in Leeds’ territory, returned with interest by Paul Aiton and Kallum Watkins scored in the corner.
Sinfield goaled and then on 11 minutes Saints lost the ball again and Kylie Leuluai ploughed over.
And it got worse as Saints hoofed the restart out on the full and Leeds duly added their third try in 15 minutes through Ryan Hall.
Shellshocked, Saints sent on Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Alex Walmsley to steady the ship.
They completed back to back sets for the first time in the match and then forced a drop out.
Saints were having a good little spell but after forcing Leeds on the back foot they failed to deal with a high ball and it took a wonder tackle by Adam Swift to keep the scoreline down.
James Roby was then denied a try by the video referee after he spotted a knock on in the build up.
It was a better spell from Saints but they’d given themselves a mountain to climb after a poor opening 20 minutes.
And at the back end of the first half, Ash Handley took advantage of some fortuitous bounces to increase the pain further.
Down 22-0 at half time Saints needed to score first and quickly.
And they did just that as Matty Fleming out jumped Ryan Hall to pat a high ball back to Josh Jones.
Mark Percival converting.
Saints continued to press and were handed another lifeline when Zak Hardaker was given 10 minutes for upending Travis Burns.
The stand off was on a mazy run but was unceremoniously dumped on his neck by the full back.
The visitors should have pressed home their numerical advantage but a drop out saw them on the back foot and Carl Ablett catching them on an edge.
Ash Handley then made the situation worse when he polished off a breathtaking move.
Saints hit back immediately as Leeds fumbled the restart through Jordan Turner and then with 15 to go Kyle Amor got on the end of Roby’s kick.
But Handley’s hat-trick try and Hall’s second dashed any hopes of a comeback.
Match Summary:
Rhinos:
Tries: Watkins, Leuluai, Hall (2), Handley (3), Ablett
Goals: Sinfield (7 from 9)
Saints:
Tries: Jones, Turner, Amor
Goals: Percival (3 from 3)
Penalties:
Rhinos: 7
Saints: 5
HT: 0-22
FT: 18-46
REF: Richard Silverwood
ATT: 18,514
Teams:
Rhinos:
1. Zak Hardaker; 27. Ash Handley, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Joel Moon, 5. Ryan Hall; 13. Kevin Sinfield, 6. Danny McGuire; 8. Kylie Leuluai, 9. Paul Aiton, 10. Jamie Peacock, 14. Stevie Ward, 20. Jimmy Keinhorst, 12. Carl Ablett.
Subs: 7. Rob Burrow, 15. Brett Delaney, 17. Adam Cuthbertson, 30. Mitch Garbutt.
Saints:
17. Mark Percival; 22. Matty Dawson, 30. Matty Fleming, 3. Jordan Turner, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Travis Burns, 7. Luke Walsh; 8. Mose Masoe, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 21. Joe Greenwood, 12. Jon Wilkin, 4. Josh Jones.
Subs: 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Alex Walmsley, 15. Mark Flanagan, 25. Andre Savelio.
