Saints were beaten 24-16 by Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley Stadium in a clash of two of the top three in the Betfred Super League.

First Half

Leeds had the first opportunity for points three minutes in. Curtis Sironen caught Brodie Croft late and the hosts had a penalty in front our our sticks. They opted for two points which Jake Connor converted, 2-0 the Rhinos led.

Saints responded well. A penalty for offside pushed us into the Leeds half. A few tackles in, Daryl Clark peeked through a gap down the middle inside the Leeds twenty and found Alex Walmsley in support on his outside and he scored from close range. Tristan Sailor added the conversion, 2-6.

The hosts tried to respond. Maika Sivo broke down the left wing but was tackled well by Harry Robertson. The following tackle, on the last, Ash Handley tried to power his way over from close range but Saints held him up over the try-line to force the turnover.

We had our first trip to the video referee 23 minutes in. Leeds moved the ball through the hands from right to left, which ended with Sivo stumbling over under pressure in the corner. The try wasn’t given but the Rhinos were awarded a penalty after Kyle Feldt was judged to have taken Handley out off the ball, despite Chris Hankinson obstructing Jonny Lomax first.

After several repeat sets on our line, Leeds had their first try 26 minutes in. They moved it left from under the sticks, Jake Connor found Chris Hankinson who ran back inside from the left edge to score. Connor added the conversion to give the Rhinos the lead, 8-6.

Minutes later, Saints retook the lead. A penalty for a high shot on Feldt pushed Saints into Leeds territory. A few tackles in, we moved the ball right, Joe Shorrocks found George Whitby, he moved the ball onto Jonny Lomax and he threw a cut-out pass to Feldt on the wing who backed himself and powered over in the corner. Sailor added the conversion from the touchline, 8-12.

Saints pressed for more points. A chipped kick from Jack Welsby was fumbled twice by Leeds, giving the Red V a full set inside the Rhinos ten. The visitors opted for an early kick in the set, with Welsby forcing Fergus McCormack to concede a dropout.

More sets followed, but Saints did have a third try in the final minute of the first half. Again we opted for an early kick, this time Welsby putting in a low one down the left edge and Sailor won the race, finishing well under pressure in the corner. He couldn’t convert his own try with the final kick of the half, 8-16 we led at the break.

Second Half

Saints had the first chance for second half points. A penalty on halfway put the Red V deep into Leeds territory. We used up the full set before George Delaney was held up a metre short of the line on the last tackle.

Five minutes into the half, Leeds had a second try of the game. Saints were forced to concede a dropout after a kick from Connor and the hosts scored in that set on the last tackle, as Brodie Croft fired a cut-out pass to Harry Newman who scored from close range. Connor converted, 14-16.

Saints kicked the restart out on the full, in that set Delaney was deemed to have caught Kallum Watkins high and the hosts opted for two points. Connor converted to level the game at 16-16.

A Saints error from a high kick gifted Leeds possession deep inside our own half. From the scrum, the Rhinos went left but Handley fumbled the ball under pressure from the visitors.

With less than eight minutes to go, Leeds had a penalty for a late shot by David Klemmer. The Saints forward saw a yellow card for the incident. The hosts opted for two points which Connor converted, 18-16 they led.

Four minutes later, the Rhinos had a try. The hosts were awarded a penalty as Daryl Clark supposedly caught Keenan Palasia low. They shifted the ball from right to left and Sivo scored in the corner. Connor converted, 24-16.

Cameron Smith saw yellow in the final minute for slowing down the ruck as Saints looked to get back into it. Saints were unable to crack the Rhinos defence though, 24-16 the final score at AMT Headingley Stadium.

Match Summary

Leeds Rhinos Team: Fergus McCormack, Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Maika Sivo, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Cooper Jenkins, Chris Hankinson, James McDonnell, Kallum Watkins.

Interchanges: Keenan Palasia, Cameron Smith, Presley Cassell, Danny Levi.

18th Man: Tom Nicholson-Watton.

Tries: Chris Hankinson (26), Harry Newman (46), Maika Sivo (77)

Conversions: Jake Connor (3 from 3)

Penalties: Jake Connor (3 from 3)

Sin Bin: Cameron Smith (80)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, George Whitby, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, David Klemmer, Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley, Joe Shorrocks.

Interchanges: Shane Wright, George Delaney, Jake Davies, Tom Humphreys.

18th Man: Alfie Sinclair.

Tries: Alex Walmsley (8), Kyle Feldt (31), Tristan Sailor (40)

Conversions: Tristan Sailor (2 from 2)

Sin Bin: David Klemmer (73)

HT: 8-16

FT: 24-16

Attendance: 13,452

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Kyle Feldt
3 Harry Robertson
4 Mark Percival
6 Tristan Sailor
7 Jonny Lomax
17 George Whitby
8 Alex Walmsley
9 Daryl Clark
13 David Klemmer
11 Curtis Sironen
16 Matt Whitley
22 Joe Shorrocks
12 Shane Wright
15 George Delaney
28 Jake Davies
30 Tom Humphreys

Leeds Rhinos Line up

28 Fergie McCormack
5 Ryan Hall
3 Harry Newman
4 Ash Handley
2 Maika Sivo
6 Brodie Croft
7 Jake Connor
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Jarrod O'Connor
15 Cooper Jenkins
14 Chris Hankinson
12 James McDonnell
11 Kallum Watkins
13 Keenan Palasia
17 Cameron Smith
20 Pressley Cassell
23 Danny Levi

Last updated 4 Jun 26 21:59:40

FT

⏹️ Full time in Round 13 at Headingley, the hosts take the win.

80'

With 47 seconds left, Smith is shown a yellow card. 🟨

🦏 24-16 😇

79'

The Rhinos use their Captain’s Challenge after being judged to have knocked on.

Challenge unsuccessful.

🦏 24-16 😇

78'
Goal
Jake Connor for Leeds Rhinos
77'
Try
Maika Sivo for Leeds Rhinos

The Rhinos with the man advantage and on the back of two penalties, pull the ball left and Sivo goes in at the corner.

76'

Rhinos get yet another penalty, we are judged to have pushed at the play of the ball.

🦏 18-16 😇

75'

🔄 Whitley on, Robertson off.

Clark claims he’s been kicked out at, but a penalty is given the other way.

🦏 18-16 😇

74'
Goal
Jake Connor for Leeds Rhinos
73'
Yellow Card
David Klemmer for Saints

🟨 Klemmer is sent to the bin for a late tackle.

In front of the sticks and less than 10m away, so the Rhinos call for the kicking tee.

72'

Whitby goes for a spiral bomb, but he scuffs the kick and it bounces out by the halfway line.

71'

🔄 Shorrocks off, Delaney on.

🦏 16-16 😇

70'

Handley knocks on again as the Rhinos try attack on the left.

69'

Shotttt by Davies on Sivo! 💥

68'

Handley from the scrum tries to go past Robertson, but he knocks the ball on.

67'

Rhinos end their set by our 40m line, a high kick by Feldt is knocked on though, so they get another dangerous attack.

66'

Rhinos hold us in our own half.

65'

Connor tries the same again, but Feldt gets out of the in-goal.

64'

🔄 Shorrocks on, Walmsley off.

🦏 16-16 😇

64'

The Rhinos get a set from close range, but we hold them out.

Connor kicks into the in-goal and we have to clear it for a GLDO.

63'

🔄 Whitley off for a HIA, Jake Davies comes on.

🦏 16-16 😇

63'

Welsby catches a bouncing ball, but Feldt is judged to have obstructed a chaser, despite not moving.

🦏 16-16 😇

61'

Whitby goes for a high one, we pat it back and Klemmer shifts it to the left. Percival dabs a short grubber into the corner for Leeds to come out of their own 10m.

60'

Another high bomb from Connor, Rhinos knock it on and Sailor takes it out of dodge.

59'

Great chase off an early kick from Welsby, Sironen takes McCormack down strongly.

58'

Rhinos have us back by our own line, Welsby rises highest to a Connor high bomb just in front of our own line.

57'

🔄 Klemmer on, Shorrocks off.

🦏 16-16 😇

56'

The Saints go close with Feldt but he’s just short of the line!

Some great play by Shorrocks getting an offload, Lomax through the middle, and then Robertson cutting through and getting it to Whitby.

54'

Leeds lose the ball though carrying it into our 40.

54'

Lomax is judged to have stayed in a tackle too long, Cam Smith and him come face to face after it, unsure why. Leeds penalty though…

54'

54′ 🔄 Delaney off, Walmsley on.

🦏 16-16 😇

51'

We get into the Rhinos’ half, Welsby’s high kick is chased brilliantly by Shorrocks and Whitby.

51'

Connor kicks high, Welsby is under it but taken off the ball and Leeds give away a penalty.

50'
Goal
Jake Connor for Leeds Rhinos

Leeds kick from halfway and push by our line.

Delaney puts a strong hit on a Leeds man, but he’s judged to have gone high, so Leeds have a penalty which they kick from bang in front of the posts

48'

Looked like a Leeds man knocked on but the ball goes out on the full, gifting the hosts more dangerous ball.

47'
Goal
Jake Connor for Leeds Rhinos

🦏 14-16 😇

46'
Try
Harry Newman for Leeds Rhinos

The Rhinos hit back.

A strong tackle sees the ball go loose, play is allowed to go on and a sharp pass to Newman sees him run in.

44'

Connor kicks swirling bomb, Feldt races back and pats it behind the dead-ball line for a GLDO.

44'

Delaney with three carries in that set, including the final one which makes the hosts start off their own line.

43'

Rhinos get pinged for an offside, so we go into their territory now.

42'

Good opening defence for this second half, Leeds don’t get out of their own half.

Second half is underway. Come on you Saints!

🦏 8-16 😇

In a week’s time. We are back HOME.

Saints 🆚 Wire.

Be there.

HT

⏸️ The Saints have the lead at Headingley as we go into the break

40'

Sailor’s kick is close but just misses.

That’s the first forty minutes.

🦏 8-16 😇

40'
Try
Tristan Sailor for Saints

⛵️ SAILORRRR! 😄

What a great try, Percival got an offload away, Welsby kicked a grubber into the corner and Tristan’s chase is rewarded as he somehow got the ball down!

🦏 8-16 😇

37'

Whitby dabs a small grubber into the in-goal, Welsby chases and takes a Leeds man behind the dead-ball line.

36'

Smart Welsby kick forces a knock on, scrum for Saints 10m out.

35'

Percival with a great hit on Croft to close that attack out.

35'

Brilliant defence from the Red V. Rhinos pinned in their own 40.

34'

The Saints have the Rhinos back by their own line. A high kick is almost caught and grounded by Percival, but he loses it.

32'

🔄 Delaney on, Walmsley off.

🦏 8-12 😇

32'
Goal
Tristan Sailor for Saints

🎯 What a kick from Sailor, off the touchline!

🦏 8-12 😇

31'
Try
Kyle Feldt for Saints

FELDTYYY 🤠

Superb shape on the right, a terrific pass gets to Kyle and he still had plenty to do to dot it down, but he does!

🦏 8-10 😇

30'

Only our second penalty of the game, we go into their 40m to start this set.

29'

Good reply from the Red V, we keep them by the halfway line.

28'
Goal
Jake Connor for Leeds Rhinos

Connor adds the two.

27'
Try
Chris Hankinson for Leeds Rhinos

After consistent pressure by our own line and two penalties in our own 10m, the Rhinos go in for their first try with Chris Hankinson.

25'

St.Helens judged offside, yet another penalty given away by our own line.

25'

The Rhinos’ challenge is successful, so they have a scrum 10m out.

🦏 2-6 😇

25'

Percival with a strong hit forces the ball loose, we try playing quickly but Sailor gets held in a tackle so the Rhinos can force a Captain’s Challenge.

🦏 2-6 😇

20'

Off the GLDO, Sivo in a tackle goes for an offload, but Feldt is judged to have knocked on going for the loose ball.

19'

Welsby fields a high kick well, but has to concede a GLDO.

19'

We get up to halfway from an attack, Rhinos controlling most of the territory, with errors helping them though.

17'

A Croft kick by the try line ricochets around, Newman tries a pass off the ground but Hall knocks on.

16'

The referee judges us offside again, another reliever for the hosts.

15'

Jarrod O’Connor knocks on as the Rhinos try to push by our 10m line.

14'

Captain’s Challenge from the Saints.

Clark was judged to have knocked on. We contest the decision.

After a long review, the decision is judged unsuccessful.

🦏 2-6 😇

14'

🔄 Alex Walmsley off for a HIA, Shane Wright comes on.

13'

Outstanding defensive read by Robertson to stop a Rhinos attack.

12'

Sivo again brought down, but Klemmer is judged to have stayed in too long. Let off again for Leeds.

11'

Off that offside penalty, the hosts push on the wing with Sivo but Robertson brings him down very well.

On the last, Handley tries to power over from close but he’s held out.

🦏 2-6 😇

10'

A little let off for the hosts, Whitby’s kick is chased well and we take Sivo down early but we’re judged offside.

9'
Goal
Tristan Sailor for Saints

Tristan Sailor adds the kick 🦵

🦏 2-6 😇

8'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

BIG AL! 💪

A smart scoot from Daryl Clark, he got an offload away to a supporting Walmsley who goes closer to the sticks!

6'

Rhinos get penalised for being offside, Whitby kicks us closer to the half way line.

6'

Leeds get held in their own half, Connor punts the ball to the 10m line.

5'
Goal
Jake Connor for Leeds Rhinos

A penalty is given for that late tackle and gifts Leeds the chance to kick an early penalty, and Jake Connor slots over the two from 25m out.

🦏 2-0 😇

4'

Leeds get a penalty for a late collision, Connor takes matters into his own hands and tries pushing Sironen.

3'

Ah but we knock on the ball with Feldt early in a carry.

3'

Great defence from St.Helens, Leeds don’t make 25m.

1'

Good opening set from our men who receive the ball. We get just into their half.

Kick Off

▶️ KICK-OFF! Game underway at Headingley between the Rhinos and our Saints!

😇 Here is how St.Helens lineup for Round 13 of Super League against Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley Stadium tonight!