By Charlie Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos were unable to breach a superb defensive display from St Helens as the hosts were made to wait for their first home victory vs the Saints since 2017.

A smart first half try from Owen Dagnall proved enough for the visitors as they defied injuries to both recognised hookers to shut out the in-form Rhinos and make hay in the Headingley sunshine.

Brad Arthur sought to cause as little disturbance as possible to the side that recorded a stellar away victory over league leaders Hull KR last weekend. Loose forward Cameron Smith made his first start since February, with Keenan Palasia dropping to the bench.

After a short delay to kick off due to St Helen’s late arrival, the game began with ten minutes of continuous Rhinos pressure. In oppressive heat, Leeds set up camp ten metres from the goal line, but Saints held firm with steadfast defence. In this period Helens lost Daryl Clark to a Head Injury Assessment. He was replaced by Jake Burns and was later ruled out of the remainder of the contest.

Despite the injury blow and early pressure, Saints grew into the game and began to look the more likely of the sides to break the deadlock. Harry Roberston showed serious pace down the right-hand side to threaten Leeds but a slightly wayward pass to Jonny Lomax saw the stand-off tackled fifteen metres out. Robertson received the ball from the restart and unfurled another mazy run but was eventually tackled.

A few minutes later the Red V were able to make the most of their period of success, working the ball towards the left touchline before Owen Dagnall completed an impressive winger’s try. The youngster burst past Harry Newman before spinning Lachie Miller to squeeze the ball over the line.

Jonny Lomax was unable to convert the following kick from wide right, but Helens continued to ask questions of a somewhat disorganised Leeds defence. Lomax snuck in a speculative grubber kick past the try line but Brodie Croft was able to ground the ball to prevent a second try. However, a high tackle from Jake Connor allowed the Saints captain another chance to influence the game with his kicking, which he pounced upon to stretch the away side’s lead to six points.

It was the start of a difficult passage for Connor, who was perhaps the most surprising omission from Shaun Wane’s Ashes squad after a string of influential performances in recent months. The Rhinos playmaker looked to force opportunities, resulting in two poor passes out to the left-hand side, with one fired low and forwards and another chucked straight into the stands to the dismay of an increasingly restless home crowd.

The first half was ultimately the story of the spoils going to the more organised side. There was one last opportunity for Leeds when Brodie Croft wriggled through, but Tristan Sailor stepped in front of Connor, Croft’s lone support, to make a try saving interception.

The only negative of the half for Saints were injuries, as Jake Burns, on in place of Daryl Clark, himself failed a HIA to leave the visitors without a recognised hooker.

Leeds were aware they needed to show much more fight in the second half to get the home fans back onside and did so early on, showing power in defence through Sam Lisone and Keenan Palasia.
Helens continued to put few feet wrong, however, as the depleted visitors looked to cling onto their slender lead. One such mistake appeared to have come when Dagnall let go a speculative kick on the last from Connor. It bounced favourably back towards Croft, who released James McDonell to touch down in the right corner. However, it was sent up as no try by referee Jack Smith, the decision upheld as it was adjudged that Dagnall was obstructed.

Leeds players continued to look as riled and impatient as the home crowd sounded and struggled to break the visitors down. The referee briefly stopped the match to give the captains a talking to, as tensions threatened to spill over following a couple of high tackles from the Saints.

Just as hope seemed to be following the summer sun in departing from Headingley, Leeds were handed a lifeline. Agnatius Paasi, who had only just returned from yet another HIA, was shown a yellow card for making contact with the arm against Alfie Edgell. St Helens would have to cling on for ten of the remaining thirteen minutes with twelve men. These minutes passed with little incident, however, as St Helens closed in on a staggering sixth consecutive victory at Headingley.

The match was one for the purists, with both sides showing why they have such stellar defensive records this season. Ultimately, St Helens’ inspired performance proved too much as they recorded a first clean sheet for a visiting side at Headingley this season to leapfrog the Rhinos into third.,

TEAMS

Rhinos
1. Lachie Miller, 5. Ryan Hall, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Ash Handley, 21. Alfie Edgell, 6. Brodie Croft, 18. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 7. Cooper Jenkins, 12. James McDonnell, 28. Kallum Watkins, 13. Cameron Smith
Subs: 10. Keenan Palasia, 15. Sam Lisone, 9. Andy Ackers, 11. James Bentley

St Helens
6. Tristan Sailor, 2. Kyle Feldt, 26. Harry Robertson, 4. Mark Percival, 30. Owen Dagnall, 7. Jonny Lomax, 14. Moses Mbye, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Curtis Sironen, 16. Matt Whitley, 13. Morgan Knowles
Subs: 17. Agnatius Paasi, 19. George Delaney, 18. Jake Wingfield, 23. Jake Burns

Tries: Dagnall
Penalties: Lomax