Leeds Rhinos Reserves 48 St Helens Reserves 0

By Guy Harvey

Chev Walker led his Reserves side into their third game of the season looking at keeping their 100% record intact but with Saints coming to town it was going to be no easy task, but a duo of tries for Harley Thomas and Ethan Clarke-Wood as well as a dominant team display meant it was a comfortable win for the Rhinos.

Saints looked to have scored after seven minutes after a looping bomb was put Alfie Edgell under pressure however the referee blew his whistle and pulled Saints for Boeing offside. This was helped seconds later when they were penalised for another offside. Leeds took full advantage of the territory and when Alfie Edgell threw a great cut out pass to find Harley Thomas on the left edge the winger performed an extravagant acrobatic flip to score in the corner.

Although the defence had been tough, and strong Leeds went back to back with their tries moments later when a half break from Matt Frawley saw him find Ethan Clark-Wood in support letting the centre race just shy of 50 metres to score under the post with a conversion added by Harley Thomas Leeds were ahead by ten.
Leeds stretched their lead even further just after midway through the first half when an offload from nowhere caught the Saints defence off guard but not Noah Whittingham who took the ball at speed just inside the visitor's half but with the full back still to beat he had work to do to score which he performed with ease and with the conversion from Thomas, the Rhinos had a !6 point advantage with no reply from Saints.

Leeds was defending well and minutes later forced a knock on from Saints while trying to push them back into their own try area. With a scrum ten metres out in the centre of the field Leeds used a move straight from the training ground and with quick hands found winger Callum Webster who dove over in the corner in spectacular fashion, Thomas adding the extras for a 22-0 scoreline.

With only minutes remaining you’d have been forgiven for thinking that was the points scored for the half but as Saints went to kick downfield, a charge down from Matt Frawley allowed the Australian the opportunity to regather the ball and stretch his legs but as he was taken down he managed to find Ethan Clark-Wood in support and the centre raced away to score his second of the night, however Harley Thomas couldn’t add the extra’s and Leeds had a 26-0 half time lead.
Leeds wasted no time in extending their lead in the second half once the ball found Shane Tuohey’s hands he raced around the edge of the Saints defence but find himself surrounded by Saints defenders and after a scruffy offload was picked up it found its way to George Brown who darted through to score under the posts with an easy two points added by Thomas and the conversion.

Leeds was really piling the pressure on now and moments later were scoring again after a delicate grubber kick evaded all of the Saints defence saw Brown quickest to react and score the try that he couldn’t add the extra two points and Leeds were 36-0 ahead.

Everything Leeds were trying was coming off for them and they were playing with real confidence which was echoed by Jayemm Oladipupo charging over for the try from close range in typical forwards fashion, this time Thomas adding the extras and Leeds had 42-point lead.

St Helens then began to find some strength in themselves and hold out the Rhinos long enough so they could have their own possession but it was in vain as they couldn’t get on the scoreboard and with fifteen minutes remaining Presley Cassell got himself on the scoresheet after being so dominant all gamer charging down the middle to score under the posts with another easy conversion for Thomas two make it 48-0.

Saints were still grinding away, but the relentless Rhinos defence wouldn’t allow the visitors out of their half allowing multiple sets for the home side in the Saints half. But a half break from Saints centre Vaughan and an offload to Reilly Cosgrove who raced down the touchline almost saw the visitors score but for a last-ditch tackle from Shane Tuohey forced a knock on and the chance had gone for the visitors. It would be too much on the night for Saints and see Leeds take the big win.

Leeds Rhinos Reserves
1. Alfie Edgell
2. Callum Webster
3. Ethan Clark-Wood
4. Jack Smith
5. Harley Thomas
6. George Brown
7. Matt Frawley (23)
8. Toby Warren
9. Joe Diskin
10. Tom Nicholson-Watton
11. Noah Whittingham
12. Oliver Smart
13. Presley Cassell
14. Shane Tuohey
15. Zak Lloyd
16. Lore Jones-Buchanan
17. Jayemm Oladipupo
18. Dacx Jones-Buchanan

St. Helens Reserves
1. Reilly Cosgrove
2. Elliot Jamieson
3. Jonathon Vaughan
4. Mathew Penketh
5. Joel Kilgannon
6. Kian Mcgann
7. Cole Marsh
8. Brett Bailey (No Number)
9. Jack Burns
10. Samuel Oakes
11. Harvey Braddish
12. William Keeley
13. Jake Davis
14. Matthew Evans
15. Oliver Evans
16. Oscar Knox
17. Oliver Garmston
18. Christopher Matagi