Saints » Results

Saints pulled themselves to within two points of Leeds Rhinos with an impressive display at Headingley.

In a game that always was going to be tight, an epic defensive stint from both sides left the scores at just 10-6 at half time; Kevin Sinfield cancelling out Fa’asavalu’s fifth of the season, before Bryn Hargreaves got his fourth in two games.

Meli fired Saints further ahead after half time before Nick Scruton was sent off for a gratuitous spear on Keiron Cunningham.

Meli then grabbed his second before Scott Donald made the closing stages exciting.

But Leon Pryce settled the matter with a superb high take from Long’s bomb. Saints winning 26-12.

Continuity was the name of the game for Saints, who begun with virtually the same side that beat Bradford last week - Matt Gidley returning from a groin strain.

There were no real surprises for Leeds who started with Jamie Peacock in the second row and Jamie Jones-Buchanan on the bench. Saints would also need to quell the attacking of Kylie Leuluai and Ryan Bailey alongside half backs Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow, who both signed five-year contracts earlier in the week, if they were to be successful.

Steve Ganson also refereed his first game involving St Helens with, of course, every decision heading Saints’ way being derided by the Headingley support. In all fairness, he was in a no win situation as soon as he was appointed.

On a fantastic night for fast, free flowing Rugby League, Leeds got the game underway – Saints putting in a decent set and kick in return.

On Leeds’ first attack Webb and Senior combined to create space for Scott Donald, but the Saints covering tacklers bundled him into touch.

Meli then defused a nice chip through from McGuire.

On eight minutes, Saints won their first penalty of the night and got the opportunity to put some pressure on what so far was a steadfast Leeds’ defence.

Saints worked it into the Leeds’ 20 where Wilkin opened up some space for Talau to draw the man and feed Meli. The winger ran straight through Lee Smith, but his pass went straight into the hands of the Leeds’ player.

From there, Leeds found themselves in Saints’ 10 by virtue of two penalties, but failed to make the pressure count; coughing it up on the first tackle.

On the quarter of an hour mark, Wellens took a great Pryce ball to open up the Leeds’ line. Willie Talau then took the ball on, but was held up over the line and adjudged to have lost the ball.

Roared on by a boisterous away support, Saints began to sniff openings but found Leeds a tough nut to crack. Maurie Fa’asavalu was introduced to the action and immediately found himself being ‘chicken-winged’ by Ryan Bailey – a form of tackle that was supposed to have been outlawed by the RFL.

20 minutes in and Gidley found a gap for Ade to exploit from around 60 yards out. Super League’s top scorer evaded one, then kicked ahead and put in an excellent covering tackle on Scott Donald.

From there, Leeds scooted up the other end of the field and it took a great tackle on Gareth Ellis from Meli to stop a certain try.

In a game against the League’s top two, it was always going to take a piece of magic to break the deadlock – and it came from the League’s Man of Steel.

Saints were starting to get some joy down the centre of the field and Roby exploited it to the max; allowing James Graham to power on and pass to a rampaging Maurie Fa’asavalu who went over. Ashley Klein giving it after looking for an obstruction earlier in the tackle count.

Long with the extras.

But Leeds nearly hit back straightaway firstly through Peacock then Diskin who went close.

Ganson then penalised Saints for offside and they had to quell another six on their own line. But on the fifth tackle, a cute chip through was pounced on by Sinfield and the scores were level – Sinfield knocking over the two.

Half an hour in: Leeds 6 Saints 6

Leeds could have scored twice after drawing level but Saints keep their cool and stoutly defended some stunning breaks from the home side.

And it paid off as a post led to Bryn Hargreaves notching up his fourth in two games just minutes before the interval.

Long took the ball to the Leeds’ line, after some good work from Willie Talau, chipped through – hitting the post on the way – before the former Leyther plonked the ball down with no one in five yards of him. Long wide with the two-pointer.

Half time and time to draw breath: Leeds 6 Saints 10

Saints had the first chance to put points on the board when Ganson penalised Leeds for stripping and then won another six on the Rhinos’ line.

And with the ball moving left it was no surprise when Wellens flung a superb pass out to Meli who strolled in at the corner. Long short with the conversion.

On 50 minutes, Burrow’s high ball was diffused by Francis Meli who was being steadfast all night in defence.

Four minutes later Keiron Cunningham was then up-ended in an unceremonious tackle by Nick Scruton – suspiciously looking like a spear – with the Saints’ captain being dumped on his head. Scruton seeing red.

And Saints made Leeds pay, working the ball left once more, through Talau, and into Meli’s hands. Long wide with the extras.

With the extra man, Saints were pulling Leeds left and right and more scores looked inevitable – though not from Long who was held up over the line with Sinfield making an excellent tackle.

Leeds then stopped a trademark score from Keiron Cunningham after 12 sets on their own line.

And moments later, they were up the other end of the field going over in the corner through Scott Donald. Sinfield making it a six point game from the conversion.

Leeds were coming at Saints in waves and it was taking some pretty stunning tackling to keep them ahead in the game.

But Saints looked to have finally killed the game off when Leon Pryce took a high Sean Long kick and went under the posts with 12 minutes to go – confirmed by Ashley Klein. Long extending Saints lead to 12.

Ade Gardner had a try chalked off for a double movement five minutes before time, but the night belonged to the Saints – confirmed when Sean Long notched a penalty.

Match Summary

Leeds:

Tries: Sinfield, Donald

Goals: Sinfield (2 from 2)

Saints:

Tries: Fa’asavalu, Hargreaves, Meli (2), Pryce

Goals: Long (3 from 6)

Penalties:

Leeds: 7

Saints: 11

HT (Sts First): 10-6

FT (Sts First): 26-12

REF: Ste Ganson

VID REF: Ashley Klein

ATT: 18,303

Teams:

Leeds:

1. Brent Webb; 5. Lee Smith, 12. Gareth Ellis, 4. Keith Senior, 2. Scott Donald; 6. Danny McGuire, 7. Rob Burrow; 8. Kylie Leuluai, 9. Matt Diskin, 16. Ryan Bailey, 10. Jamie Peacock, 19. Carl Ablett, 13. Kevin Sinfield (c).

Subs: 11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 17. Nick Scruton, 21. Jordan Tansey, 24. Luke Burgess,

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 17. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham (c), 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 11. Lee Gilmour, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Paul Sculthorpe.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 21. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 29. Sam Thompson.