Leeds Rhinos Women 12 York Valkyrie 34

By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos first game of the Betfred Women's Super League season ended in a 34-12 defeat, falling short to York Valkyrie in a tight encounter.

It was the visitors who got the first points on the board. York started the better of the two sides. Sinead Peach's grubber into the in-goal area was a good one, and Tamzin Renouf was first to get to the ball. Tara Stanley slotted over the conversion from out wide.

The Rhinos started to get a foothold of the game when Valkyrie prop Jasmine Bell was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Keara Bennett.

Bennett then found revenge in the best way possible by scoring from dummy half. York thought they had done enough after stopping Caitlin Beevers just short of the line, however a quick play the ball allowed the hooker to score the Rhinos' first try of the 2023 season. Sam Hulme added the extras to make the scores 6-6.

It didn't take long for York to regain their lead.  A sublime pass out wide from Stanley to Ashleigh Hyde allowed the winger to put the ball down in the corner. The York fullback again added the extras, this time from the left-hand side.

The game ebbed and flowed between both sides, and it was the Rhinos that scored next to level the game. Beevers, with a spectacular 60 metre run, got her team on the front foot. The centre was tackled less than a metre out, but Leeds' right edge were in support and the ball was shifted out and Eloise Hayward went in for an easy finish.

With three minutes to go before half time, York took the lead once more through Hollie-Mae Dodd. The England international stepped her way through the Leeds defence to score. Stanley was successful again from the boot to give Valkyrie an 18-12 lead going into the break.

The second half started much like the first, however tries from England internationals Liv Gale and Stanley gave the away side control of the game and a 16-point lead with 15 minutes left. York crossed for their sixth and final try of the afternoon with three minutes remaining. Ellie Hendry opened her account for 2023 by scoring in the right corner. Stanley couldn't convert the try, however a penalty goal five minutes prior to the try meant the match ended 34-12 in favour of the visitors