Leeds Rhinos have held St Helens scoreless in the second half to win 30-18 tonight at Headingley, after going into the dressing rooms 22-18 up at half-time.
The Rhinos, who were without skipper Danny McGuire, who failed a late fitness test, scored three blistering tries in the first twelve minutes from Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Adam Cuthbertson and Liam Sutcliffe, with Sutcliffe converting two of them.
But St Helens came back into the game, thanks largely to some smart play by Luke Walsh, who was instrumental in creating tries for Kyle Amor, Walsh himself and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, with Walsh converting them all to give Saints an 18-16 lead until just before half-time, when a try from Carl Ablett, converted by Sutcliffe, restored the lead to the Rhinos.
There was just one try in the second half when Ash Handley touched down Beau Falloon’s kick into the Saints’ in-goal area.
Sutcliffe added the goal, and then kicked a penalty to complete the Rhinos’ second victory of the season.
A full report and photos will feature in Monday’s edition of League Express.
