By Guy Harvey

Tony Smith’s reserves side returned to action back on the road at old foes St Helens. With a loss in the first game at Leigh Leopards, Smith and his men eagerly wanted to record the win but with a solid performance.

With the gale force winds and torrential rainfall it certainly made it challenging conditions, with both sides capable of playing expansive rugby it would change both teams' game-plans. But Saints looked to start the game at ferocious speed, forcing a drop with the first set. However, Leeds were looking for a similar start, going for the short drop out and winning back possession. Both sides traded sets, but Leeds would post the points first, Sinfield running at the line threw a trademark dummy pass and slid through the saints' defence at ease to score under the posts, converting his own try seconds later.

Both sides looked dangerous in attack and Saints did cross the whitewash but Leeds defending well held them up over the line. Leeds looking confident with the ball broke the defensive line with Fergus McCormack racing through to offload to his brother Ned, with pace to burn and space ahead of him was scoring in the corner quickly but with the conversion missed Leeds held a 10 point lead. Saints would hit back close to the half hour mark when loose forward Leon Cowen crashed over taking the pass metres from the Rhinos try line. The Rhinos looking at heading into the break with the lead, would be a step to far after Saints would break the Rhinos defensive line but with full back Edgell to beat George Whitby would be in support to take an easy stroll under the post converting his own try and sending the sides in all square at half time.

The break certainly didn’t slow both sides down at all and after a few minutes Leeds would take back the lead after a superb individual effort from Riley Lumb spinning out of a would be tackle only to turn and see free space ahead of him, racing in to score under the posts and Sinfield converting.

Saints hit back minutes later, moving the ball across the field quickly finding Dayon Sambou but as the Rhinos defender tangled to take him down, Sambou managed to get the offload away to Benjamin Davies who dives over from close range on the right flank. With a fantastic conversion from Whitby given the extreme wind the sides were level again at 16 all.

With the rain really coming down both sides didn’t drop in form at all, and you’d be forgiven if you actually felt as though you were witnessing a Super League game. Both sides looking dangerous in attack but both sides defence just as effective, but Leeds would take back their lead moments later when Tom Nicholson-Watton powered over from a few metres out of Saints’ try line, again Sinfield converting giving Leeds a 22-16 lead.

St Helen’s thought they had pegged back Leeds’ advantage when they scored in the right corner, but winger Gillespie did enough to get Ben Will in to touch before he grounded the ball. However they would score with fifteen minutes left on the clock, Leeds struggling and on the back foot wouldn’t stop Saints from surging forward before McKenzie Buckley would crash over on the left flanks and Whitby converting again making it 22 all.

That would be St Helens final points of the night however and with ten minutes left on the clock Leeds would take a lead they wouldn’t let go of this time, Harrison Gilmore with another forwards effort crashing over just besides the posts giving an easy conversion for Sinfield considering the conditions. Leeds would make sure of the result with seconds remaining after looking likely of scoring again, referee Matthew Clayton blew for a high tackle. Sinfield opted for the two points giving the Rhinos an eight point advantage. But with barely any time on the clock the young Rhinos would see the game through and get their first win of the season.

StHelens Reserves

• Benjamin Lane
  
• Ben Will
  
• Jonathan Vaughan
  
• Dayon Sambou
  
• Theerapol Ritson
  
• Benjamin Davies
  
• George Whitby
  
• Noah Stephens
  
• Jake Burns
  
• Brett Bailey
  
• McKenzie Buckley
  
• Sam Royle
  
• Leon Cowen
  
• Ciaran Nolan
  
• Harvey Braddish
  
• Niall Dean
  
• Alfie Sinclair
  
• Jamaine Carty
  

Leeds Rhinos Reserves

• Alfie Edgell
  
• Riley Lumb
  
• Jack Smith
  
• Ned McCormack
  
• Josh Gillespie
  
• Fergus McCormack
  
• Jack Sinfield
  
• Kieran Hudson
  
• Mason Corbett
  
• Harrison Gilmore
  
• Ben Littlewood
  
• Leon Ruan
  
• Tom Nichols-Watton
  
• Dylan Proud
  
• Leo Aliyu
  
• Ashton Robinson
  
• Kyden Frater
  
• Shane Tuohey