St Helens Women 20 Leeds Rhinos Women 20

The home side made the faster start to the game as they almost crossed inside the first two minutes, Cunningham finding space out the back and releasing Rebecca Avenell, Courtney Hill wise to the danger and forcing the winger over the sideline.

Saints would hit the front ten minutes later, a Leeds error followed by a penalty for a ball steal putting the Rhinos behind their own sticks as Faye Gaskin kicked the Red V in-front off the tee.

Leeds were not deterred though, Johnson with a quick play the ball allowing Courntey Hill to exploit the lack of numbers on the blindside, the halfback finding Chloe Kerrigan on the short ball, Kerrigan rushing through and drawing in the fullback before releasing Goldthorp to score. Hill hitting the post from the touchline. Leeds leading 4-2.

A moment of hope would quickly fade into one of disappointment, Crowl kicking behind the Leeds line for what looked to be a certain try for Avenell, instead the ball knocked on and Crowl then finding herself in the sin bin for an off the ball incident.

Avenell would eventually get the try she was twice denied, Faye Gaskin kicking cross-field to find her winger on the edge, Gaskin unable to convert from touch. 6-4.

Some off the cuff play would lead to the Rhinos second of the game. The ball offloaded by Laverick on the last tackle, the pass finding Caitlin Beeevers who powered her way past three Saints players and to the try line, Hill converting to make it 10-6 in favour of the Rhinos.

On the stroke of halftime Paige Travis would then find herself free of a would be tackler, Travis breaking 35 metres to squeeze her way into the corner and put the home team back on level terms Gaskin missing from the touchline.

The second half would start as equally fast paced as the first, both sides trading blows and looking to break the other. Saints going close through Leah Burke but Sophie Nuttall forcing her from the field of play.

Minutes later Caitlin Beevers would bag her second of the game in emphatic style! Anderson taking the initial hit-up into the line, the offloading the speedster to race clear of the covering defenders and backing herself into the corner in a footrace with Jodie Cunningham. Hill unable to convert. 14-10 Leeds.

Cunningham would have her revenge almost immediately. The kick off spilt by Leeds, Saints then shipping the ball right off the scrum to find an overlap on the edge, the Saints fullback dummying her way into the corner. Gaskin converting from the right side to give the Red V a 16-14 lead with 20 minutes left to play.

Courtney Hill would once more weave and step her way onto the list of try scorers. Anderson once more laying the platform with a trademark offload to find the halfback, Hill doing the rest as she turned defenders inside out on her way to the left corner. Hill then adding the extras from her own try to push the Rhinos out to a 20-16 lead with 10 minutes to play.

St Helens pushed Leeds all the way to the end of the game and after some sustained pressure on the goal line the defence would give way. The ball shipped wide to the left edge on the last play of the game, Leah Burke squeezing into the corner to secure a point in a gripping encounter.

Leeds Tries: Beevers (2), C.Hill, Goldthorp

Leeds Conversions: Hill 2/4

St Helens Tries: L.Burke, Avenell, Cunningham, Travis

St Helens Conversions: Crowl 0/1 Gaskin  2/4