In torrential rain at AMT Headingley, Leeds Rhinos Women got back to winning ways in a physical Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Giants.

Ebony Stead was in superb form, scoring a hat trick for her side and Izzy Northrop continued her impressive season with another two tries against her former club.

Giants made the best start with an early try from Tilly Davies who collected a kick from former Rhinos player Sam Hulme and dived through for the opener.  Hulme adding the conversion.

The Rhinos hit back on 12 minutes with a try from Ebony Stead and Mel Howard converted to bring the score level.  The visitors kept up the challenge and a good cover tackle from Lucy Murray stopped Megan Preston on the charge into the Rhinos half.

Leeds built into the game and on 18 minutes were rewarded with their second try when Mel Howard created space for Izzy Northrop to go over for her ninth try of the season.  Bethan Dainton, who started for the second consecutive week at centre, then looked like she was going to add to the score after some classy attacking play but Leeds were  pulled back after she crossed the line for a forward pass.

Howard was next on the scoreboard when Ruby Bruce shifted the ball away to her captain and the Australian backed herself and found her way through the Giants defence.  Her conversion making it 16-6.

A good link up between Tally Bryer and Howard almost created a try for Nuttall on the wing, but once again the chance was ruled out when the referee ruled another forward pass.  On 33 minutes though Leeds made no mistakes, as Izzy Northrop took a short pass before holding off one defender and then weaving past two more to get her second try of the game.  Howard once again on target with the conversion.

Before the end of the first half good work from Frankie Blakey sent Ella Donnelly away for a try under the posts and Howard's conversion brought the half time score to 28-6.

The Rhinos made a positive start to the half with a second try from Ebony Stead.  Howard putting in a chip kick which landed at the feet if Bryer, who then kicked on ahead and Stead scooped up the ball to get the second half scoring underway.

On 69 minutes Ruby Bruce picked up the ball in the ruck and quickly broke away to catch the Giants defence out, which opened up space in the corner for her to score.  Howard added the conversion.

Giants responded with their best spell of the game and were rewarded when Freya Whitehead crashed over from dummy half and Hulme converted to make it 34-12.

Minutes later though Stead completed her hat trick when the she raced onto the end of a perfectly place kick from Bryer.  The pair then combined five minutes later to get the ball away to Evie Couisns who found herself with plenty of space to race to the corner and score. 

Leeds wrapped up the win, with some good build up play that set up an opportunity for Shannon Lacey to crash over from close range.  Howard's made it seven succesful conversions when her kick just went over to bring the final score to 54-12.

SCORERS

Rhinos Try Scorers: Shannon Brown, Evie Cousins, Ebony Stead x3, Ruby Bruce, Ella Donnelly, Izzy Northrop x2, Melanie Howard

Rhinos Conversions: Melanie Howard x7

Giants Try Scorers: Freya Whitehead, Tilly Davies

Rhinos Conversions: Sam Hulme x2