73 mins
Leeds Rhinos Women 38 York Valkyrie 16
By Sam Brocksom
Four tries from Ruby Enright helped Leeds Rhinos Women to a 38-16 victory over York Valkyrie, as the side get their Super Fours campaign off to the perfect start.
Lois Forsell made one change from the side that beat Huddersfield almost a month ago. Ebony Stead returned on the wing after a knock, she replaced Lacey Owen, who was unavailable for this game. Stead's involvement pushed Nicole Kennedy to the bench and Lois Naidole to the starting back row spot.
In what was a nervy opening 15 minutes, both sides slowly adjusted to the game after having a number of weeks out. York's returning Tara-Jane Stanley almost made an immediate impact with a short ball to Tamsin Renouf, but excellent defence from Evie Cousins kept the back-rower out.
Cousins would again be influential as she crossed for the opening try. It took just short of 20 minutes, but Leeds were able to capitalise on a York penalty, and poor defence from Petra Woods allowed the England international in for a score. Mel Howard was unsuccessful with the conversion, so Leeds led by four.
York would bounce back just minutes later, as former NRL star Megan Pakulis used all her strength to power over the Leeds line from close range. Stanley would add the two to give the away side the lead.
After a couple of penalties conceded by the away side, Leeds would make the field position pay, and it would be a great solo run by Mel Howard that sent Ruby Enright in for a try in the final minute of the half. Howard took on the line, before a deceptive pass back inside allowed the full-back to score under the posts. The assister added the extras to give Leeds a 10-4 lead heading into the break.
It would be York who started the better of the two sides after the break. A Leeds error in the opening set of the half gave Valkyrie field position, and they pounced on the opportunity as Ellie Williamson's cut-out pass bounced nicely for Emma Kershaw to score in the corner. Stanley's missed conversion meant the game remained level.
With the game firmly in the balance, a sensational solo effort that saw Ebony Stead go 80 metres would give the home side the advantage once again. By this point, York were certainly feeling the heat, and having used six of their interchanges already, were in for a tough final half-hour.
The Enright-Howard partnership would again prove fruitful, as the full-back’s second try came thanks to a delicate Howard kick. Leeds looked to seal the game after a break from Howard saw Shannon Brown race away, but an exceptional try-saver from Izzy Brennan brought her down inches from the line. York then scrambled well to null the threat, and a drop from Howard put an end to what could have been the match-winner.
The Rhinos would eventually get over again though, as Enright's third came via some route one rugby. A short ball from Brown sent the homegrown talent over, and sealed the win for Lois Forsell's side. Howard's conversion made for a 26-10 lead.
York's Pakulis would cross for a try to give the away side a chance, but that opportunity was snatched from them after tries from Enright, again, and Nicole Kennedy gave the Rhinos 12 more points before the hooter, meaning they came away with the 38-16 scoreline.
Rhinos: Enright, Whitehead, Cousins, Boyd, Stead, Howard, Walker, Brown, Bennett, Elliston, Murray, Naidole, Donnelly
Bench: Bruce, Short, Blakey, Kennedy
Tries: Enright x4, Stead, Cousins, Kennedy
Goals: Howard 5/7
Lois Forsell made one change from the side that beat Huddersfield almost a month ago. Ebony Stead returned on the wing after a knock, she replaced Lacey Owen, who was unavailable for this game. Stead's involvement pushed Nicole Kennedy to the bench and Lois Naidole to the starting back row spot.
In what was a nervy opening 15 minutes, both sides slowly adjusted to the game after having a number of weeks out. York's returning Tara-Jane Stanley almost made an immediate impact with a short ball to Tamsin Renouf, but excellent defence from Evie Cousins kept the back-rower out.
Cousins would again be influential as she crossed for the opening try. It took just short of 20 minutes, but Leeds were able to capitalise on a York penalty, and poor defence from Petra Woods allowed the England international in for a score. Mel Howard was unsuccessful with the conversion, so Leeds led by four.
York would bounce back just minutes later, as former NRL star Megan Pakulis used all her strength to power over the Leeds line from close range. Stanley would add the two to give the away side the lead.
After a couple of penalties conceded by the away side, Leeds would make the field position pay, and it would be a great solo run by Mel Howard that sent Ruby Enright in for a try in the final minute of the half. Howard took on the line, before a deceptive pass back inside allowed the full-back to score under the posts. The assister added the extras to give Leeds a 10-4 lead heading into the break.
It would be York who started the better of the two sides after the break. A Leeds error in the opening set of the half gave Valkyrie field position, and they pounced on the opportunity as Ellie Williamson's cut-out pass bounced nicely for Emma Kershaw to score in the corner. Stanley's missed conversion meant the game remained level.
With the game firmly in the balance, a sensational solo effort that saw Ebony Stead go 80 metres would give the home side the advantage once again. By this point, York were certainly feeling the heat, and having used six of their interchanges already, were in for a tough final half-hour.
The Enright-Howard partnership would again prove fruitful, as the full-back’s second try came thanks to a delicate Howard kick. Leeds looked to seal the game after a break from Howard saw Shannon Brown race away, but an exceptional try-saver from Izzy Brennan brought her down inches from the line. York then scrambled well to null the threat, and a drop from Howard put an end to what could have been the match-winner.
The Rhinos would eventually get over again though, as Enright's third came via some route one rugby. A short ball from Brown sent the homegrown talent over, and sealed the win for Lois Forsell's side. Howard's conversion made for a 26-10 lead.
York's Pakulis would cross for a try to give the away side a chance, but that opportunity was snatched from them after tries from Enright, again, and Nicole Kennedy gave the Rhinos 12 more points before the hooter, meaning they came away with the 38-16 scoreline.
Rhinos: Enright, Whitehead, Cousins, Boyd, Stead, Howard, Walker, Brown, Bennett, Elliston, Murray, Naidole, Donnelly
Bench: Bruce, Short, Blakey, Kennedy
Tries: Enright x4, Stead, Cousins, Kennedy
Goals: Howard 5/7
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