By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women emerged victorious in a thrilling contest against rivals St Helens, with try doubles from halves pair Mel Howard and Ruby Walker helping them to victory.

The Rhinos made one change, with prop Ella Donnelly injured in last week’s win over York. Kaiya Glynn returned in her place.

Saints started with youngster Anna Dennis at full-back, whilst Amy Hardcastle started on the wing. Rebecca Rotherham swapped for Zoe Harris on the subs bench.

It was a professional start from the Rhinos, led by Walker who scored following a six again in the opening Leeds set. The youngster took on the line and powered her way through the Saints left edge.

Connie Boyd would cross shortly after. An error on Saints’ 20 gave Leeds easy field position, and the centre pounced after an offload from Lucy Murray. Howard missed the conversion so Leeds led 10-0.

With the Rhinos remaining in control and Saints continuing to make mistakes, Walker added her second after a linebreak on half-way saw her round Dennis to score. Howard made no mistake from in front of the sticks.

From then though, Saints started to wake up, and a Luci McColm try got them right back into the contest. That was followed by a long-range effort from Katie Mottershead, who caught Leeds lacking after a quick ruck. Gaskin’s conversion made for a 10-16 scoreline at the break.

The second-half would again go in Leeds’ favour, with Howard crossing for her first try after she forced a drop-out on the previous set. Shaping to kick, the Australian took the line on herself, and despite Saints players adamant she was held up, the referee awarded the try. To make matters worse, try-scorer McColm left the field through injury.

Saints fired straight back to reduce the deficit back to six. England international Vicky Whitfield proved too strong for the Rhinos’ middle unit, powering over from a strong carry. A well-worked try from Phoebe Hook minutes later allowed Faye Gaskin to potentially level the game, but the conversion went wide, meaning Leeds led 20-22 with half an hour left on the clock.

With Leeds’ advantage under real threat, the screw was turned, and a pass from Walker to Evie Cousins put the centre over, before it was ruled forward. The half-back then put Frankie Blakey through a gap, but the pass went to ground.

With that chance wasted, Saints then took the lead for the first time in the game as Rachael Woosey crossed following a Gaskin line break. The Leeds defence was unset, and the Red Vee touched down on the left., making it 22-24 after the missed conversion.

The turning point would prove to be a professional foul from Paige Travis, who interfered in the ruck as Leeds ried to get a quick play-the-ball. That advantage allowed a gap to open for Howard to score her second, giving Leeds the lead back with just five minutes to go.

As Saints remained a player down, Leeds sealed the win with a try from Ebony Stead, who caught a Howard kick, bumped off two defenders and sent the travelling Leeds fans beserk.