Saints overcame a 8-6 half-time deficit to beat the Rhinos 8-18 at AMT Headingley Stadium!
Saints lost winger Tommy Makinson to injury during the warmup, with Joe Batchelor moved into the starting 13, after initially being named on the bench. George Delaney took his spot on the bench.
Leeds has a great chance early on. Lachie Miller threw a cut-out pass to the Leeds right edge, Harry Newman raced down the wing but a great last ditch tackle by Lewis Dodd, assisted by Matt Whitley, held him up inches short of the line.
The video referee was called upon ten minutes in. Leeds again had an overlap down their right edge, Brodie Croft found Luis Roberts who cut inside and powered his way over from close range. The on-field decision of try quickly backed up by the video referee. Rhyse Martin converted, 6-0.
Saints’ first chance came midway through the first half. A Leeds knock on allowed the Red V the chance to start their set in the opposition half for the first time in the contest. Matty Lees broke through early in the tackle count but was tackled by Miller close to the line. Saints unable to break through with the remaining tackles, with Alex Walmsley held up short on the last.
The Rhinos then had a chance to gain a two-score lead. The returning Batchelor wrestled the ball away from Miller illegally, Martin took a shot at goal and converted, 8-0.
Another video referee call was needed with six minutes of the half to go. Deep in Leeds territory, Saints went back down the short-side on the last tackle as Dodd kicked high, Whitley contested for it and forced an error, Moses Mbye picking up the loose ball and finding Waqa Blake, who dove over in the corner for his first points in Saints colours. Jonny Lomax converted well from the left touchline, 8-6 we trailed.
Saints ended the half in control. A turnover on the last tackle gave Saints the ball in Leeds territory for the last minute of the first 40. Welsby’s kick a few tackles into the set was pushed out by Miller, as Saints trailed 8-6 at AMT Headingley Stadium at the break.
⏸ Saints are down by just two points at Headingley at half time.
Live Match Centre
➡ https://t.co/Qaim5sbU0Q🦏 8-6 😇 pic.twitter.com/osKauACHDJ
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 15, 2024
Saints spent the opening ten minutes of the second half camped on the Rhinos line. First the ball went to ground on the last tackle underneath the sticks, before we got held up inches short of the line on the last tackle in the following set, as we looked to keep the ball alive down our right edge.
The Red V took the lead in the 57th minute. On the last, again on the Saints line, it was shifted through the hands from left to right and ended with Lomax throwing a great cut-out pass to Jon Bennison on the wing, who dove over in the corner. Lomax’s kick from the right touchline bounced in off the post, 8-12.
Another soon followed. Leeds kicked the restart out on the full, Saints marched downfield and Moses Mbye spotted a gap from dummy half and took full advantage to score under the sticks. Lomax converted from in front of the sticks, 8-18.
Leeds looked to hit back, as they got ball in good field position for the first time in the second half. Unfortunately for them, Justin Sangare was unable to collect Cameron Smith’s pass underneath the sticks. Another chance quickly followed, but Newman fumbled the ball as he looked to cut inside from the right edge.
That was the final action of the contest, as a strong second 40 minutes from the visitors was enough for the two points at AMT Headingley Stadium!
✊ The Saints bounce back with a big second half performance to give Leeds their first home loss in 2024!
COME ON YOU SAINTS!#COYS pic.twitter.com/xeqWtPWOB6
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 15, 2024
Match Summary
Leeds Rhinos Team: Lachlan Miller, Luis Roberts, Harry Newman, Rhyse Martin, Ash Handley, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Justin Sangare, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Cameron Smith.
Interchanges: Jarrod O’Connor, Michael Goudemand, Tom Holroyd, Alfie Edgell.
18th Man: James Donaldson.
Tries: Luis Roberts (10)
Conversions: Rhyse Martin (1 from 1)
Penalties: Rhyse Martin (1 from 1)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jon Bennison, Konrad Hurrell, Matt Whitley, Waqa Blake, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Sione Mata’utia, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: , Moses Mbye, James Bell, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.
18th Man: Ben Davies.
Tries: Waqa Blake (34), Jon Bennison (57), Moses Mbye (60)
Conversions: Jonny Lomax (3 from 3)
HT: 8-6
FT: 8-18
Attendance: 15,284
