Sky’s Friday night game was one to remember with a tight encounter between Leeds and St Helens. Here’s a look at what happened…
MATCH DETAILS
A Danny Richardson drop goal in the 78th minute gave St Helens a remarkable 23-22 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley last night, coming from six points behind in the dying stages.
Leeds opened up the scoring after a fantastic Matt Parcell break down the right who then passed it inside for Tom Briscoe to go over and score.
Saints hit back though through Jonny Lomax and Ben Barba, who scored his 20th try of the Super League season, to give them a 10-6 lead going into half-time.
The Rhinos were the first team awake after the break with Briscoe going over for his second of the evening, in the week he celebrated signing a new two-year deal to stay at the Rhinos until at least 2020.
The sides were pretty even in terms of play with Mark Percival adding another score for Saints before Mitch Garbutt added Leeds’ third try just three minutes later.
Leeds thought they had scored the match-winning try when Brett Ferres crossed in the 70th minute, but Saints spoilt their party when Ryan Morgan went over four minutes later.
A nervy last few minutes entailed but Richardson kept his cool adding the one-pointer two minutes before the final whistle to give the Saints a 23-22 win over the Rhinos.
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED
Saints the real deal
Even though it wasn’t their most convincing or dominant performance of the season, this showed that Saints are able to keep their composure and get those points when they need to. Leeds certainly gave it all they had, with Richardson’s boot being the only difference between the sides.
Can Leeds stay in the top eight?
With Catalans and Huddersfield behind the Rhinos in the table, can they keep in the eight? If Wakefield beat Warrington on Sunday, that creates a three point gap above them so they could get dragged into the Qualifiers scrap if they don’t start picking up some points quickly.
Man Of The Match- Matt Parcell (Leeds)
You can see the Leeds side really lift when Parcell is on the field. He organises them and creates so many options for them in attack. The Rhinos should try their hardest to keep hold of him as they look a different side when he is in the 17.
THE RESULT
Leeds Rhinos 22
Tries:ย Briscoe 2, Garbutt, Ferres
Goals:ย Sutcliffe 3
St Helens 23
Tries:ย Barba, Lomax, Percival, Morgan
Goals:ย Richardson 3
Drop Goals: Richardson
SQUADS
LEEDS:ย Walker, Briscoe, H. Newman, Handley, Hall, Moon, L. Sutcliffe, Garbutt, Parcell, Mullally, Ferres, Walters, Cuthbertson.
Replacements: Holroyd, Smith, Dwyer, Ormondroyd.
ST HELENS:ย Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Douglas, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Wilkin.
Replacements: Fages, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Knowles, Lees.
Referee: Ben Thaler
