Match Report | Rhinos Reserves 40 St Helens Reserves 4

By Guy Harvey

Chev Walker welcomed Ian Talbot and his Saints side to AMT Headingley, with the visitors arriving in difficult form, having managed just one win in their previous seven outings — a result away at London. By contrast, the youthful Rhinos were riding high on a five-match winning streak, sitting third in the Reserves Grade table, and hunting a second successive appearance in the Reserves Grade Grand Final. With the Rhinos also boasting a number of Super League and Championship appearances across their squad, it promised to be a challenging afternoon for the side from Merseyside.

Leeds Rhinos were quickest out of the blocks, with centre Ned McCormack producing a burst of sizzling footwork to carve through the Saints’ defensive line before racing forty metres to touch down. The conversion was missed, leaving the Rhinos ahead 4–0.

Leeds were not done there. Just moments later, winger Marcus Qareqare broke down the left edge after sharp hands through the middle freed him in space, and Jacob Hardy was first to react to Qareqare’s punt kick, grounding the ball to score. Zak Lloyd added the extras, and within seven minutes Leeds had established a commanding 10–0 lead.

Qareqare then turned provider into scorer. A perfectly weighted looping pass from halfback Harry Smith cut out the Saints’ defence to find the winger, who squeezed over down the left touchline. Lloyd converted from the touchline and, with only sixteen minutes on the clock, the Rhinos had surged into a 16–0 lead.

Leeds continued to press, with winger Riley Lumb the next to cross. Coming off his wing and breaking through the opposition line, Lumb sprinted clear to score just left of the uprights. Lloyd was narrowly off target with the conversion, making it 20–0. St. Helens responded midway through the half when centre Matthew Penketh scrambled over from close range, though the conversion was missed, reducing the deficit to 20–4.

A quieter spell followed, with both sides sharing possession and errors, before Lumb grabbed his second of the game. A superb offload from McCormack, just as the centre appeared to have been wrapped up by the Saints’ defence, released Lumb to tiptoe down the touchline and score untouched in the right corner. The touchline conversion was missed, and Leeds went into the interval with a 24–4 advantage.

The break appeared to disrupt both sides’ rhythm, with errors and resolute defending from each team keeping the scoreboard still for much of the second half. Wade White threatened when he made a break down the right flank, only for the visitors’ defence to scramble across and force him into touch before he could ground the ball. Riley Lumb found himself in a similar position shortly after, only to be called into touch by the touch judge.

It took until the sixty-second minute for Leeds to find a way through. Second row Zak Lloyd was held up inches from the try line before finding an offload to dummy half Elliott Fox, who scooted over to touch down. Lloyd converted to make it 30–4.

Despite the heavy deficit, St. Helens remained physical in both attack and defence, but the Rhinos’ defensive line held firm. Leeds extended their lead with ten minutes remaining when scrum half Harry Smith delivered a delicate grubber kick behind the Saints’ defensive line, allowing Jacob Hardy to race through for his second try of the game. Lloyd was again successful with the boot, stretching the advantage to 36–4.

With the final hooter approaching, Fox completed a brace, twisting and turning his way over from a play-the-ball just inches from the try line. The conversion was missed, but it mattered little — Leeds ran out emphatic 40–4 winners, keeping their Grand Final hopes very much alive.

Leeds Rhinos Reserves

Wade White
Marcus Qareqare
Jacob Hardy
Ned McCormack
Riley Lumb
Harley Thomas
Harry Smith
Joe Butterfield
Joe Diskin
Tom Nicholson-Watton
Oliver Smart
Jacob Stead
Zak Lloyd
Elliott Fox
Evan Jones
Hughie Tinkler
Robin Smith
Kai Irvine

St. Helens Reserves

1.Jack Campbell
23. Lukas Stableman-Blue
24. Oscar Knox
5. Matthew Penketh
4. Joel Kilgannon
6. Tyler McGann
7. Luca Walsh
13. Alfie Tate
27. Cole Marsh
10. Oliver Evans
11. Deacon Swarbrick
12. Harvey Braddish
18. Chris Matagi
14. Rhyley Hyde
15. Sam Oakes
16. Matthew Evans
17. Toby Bottell
3. Noah Carter