By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women produced their best performance of the season so far to go second in the Women’s Super League table, with two tries from Connie Boyd helping them to victory. 

The Rhinos had a lot to prove coming into this game after being dumped out of the Challenge Cup by Saints earlier this year. This afternoon’s win also marked the first Leeds win over Saints since the 2023 play-offs.

Lois Forsell welcomed back overseas pair Mel Howard and Georgia Elliston to their side this afternoon, and both added significant impact. Saints, meanwhile, saw Leah Burke, Alyx Bridge and Mia Drescher drop out of the side in place of Rebecca Rotheram, Paige Travis and Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth.

Three first half scores from a trio of Rhinos homegrown talents gave them a 16-0 lead at the break, before a further two touchdowns sealed the win.

Saints, after being kept scoreless for the first hour, added a try through Dani McGifford and hoped to form a comeback, something they couldn’t quite manage.

The opening 10 saw plenty of aggression but no points scored, with the pair feeling each other out before striking.

It would be Leeds who broke the deadlock, with Boyd’s first score coming thanks to a well-worked team move. The returning Howard fired a pass to winger Ebony Stead, who got the ball back inside to her centre partner to finish off the move. Howard was successful with the conversion. Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth looked to respond almost instantly, but dropped the ball short of the line.

Leeds had more of the opportunites in the opening 40, but their execution let them down. It wouldn’t be until the half-hour mark where Stead dotted down that they would get their next points.

After a hgh tackle on Lacey Owen, Leeds used the repeat set to their advantage, and a lovely ball from Howard to Stead saw the winger over. Ruby Enright added Leeds‘ third on the stroke of half-time. Howard’s two points meant that the Rhinos took a 16-0 lead into the break.

Saints started the second half well, but much like the first half they couldn’t quite capitalise. Leeds made them pay for their lack of execution, with Howard’s one-two with Frankie Blakey seeing her over for a try.

At 22-0 down wih 15 to go, Saints looked to form a late comeback and tries from Dani McGifford and Katie Mottershead brought them back to within 10 points. McGifford scored from a passing move down the left edge, whilst Mottershead crashed over from dummy half.

With the game still in the balance, Leeds looked certain to seal the game with Stead having the ball in hand over the Saints try-line. However, an excellent last-ditch effort from Rebecca Rotheram forced an error.

Stead would make up for that mistake after intercepting a Zoe Harris pass. The winger would break free before offloading excellently to Boyd for her second and the match-winner.         

SAINTS

23 Liv Leach
21 Hollie Bawden
4 Amy Hardcastle
3 Rachael Woosey
25 Dani McGifford
6 Zoe Harris
7 Faye Gaskin
11 Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth
17 Caitlin Casey
16 Erin McDonald
14 Paige Travis
12 Emily Rudge
13 Jodie Cunningham

Subs (all used)

1 Rebecca Rotheram
8 Vicky Whitfield
9 Katie Mottershead
28 Jadine McVernon 

Tries: McGifford (66) Mottershead (70)

Goals: Gaskin 2/2

RHINOS

1 Ruby Enright
2 Ebony Stead
16 Connie Boyd
27 Nicole Kennedy
5 Liv Whitehead
6 Mel Howard
7 Ruby Walker
13 Shannon Brown
9 Keara Bennett
10 Kaiya Glynn
11 Lucy Murray
12 Lacey Owen
8 Ella Donnelly

Subs (all used)

14 Ruby Bruce
17 Grace Short
21 Frankie Blakey
26 Georgia Elliston  

Tries: Boyd (13, 74), Stead (33), Enright (39), Howard (53)

Goals: Howard 4/5