HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 10 LEEDS RHINOS 56
AMY KNAPTON, Laund Hill, Sunday

LEEDS ran in ten tries in a commanding performance, producing a clinical attacking display from start to finish. 

The visitors spent no time setting the tone as they opened the score inside the first two minutes. Lucy Murray crossed for the Rhinos’ first try after an impressive opening set, with Mel Howard adding the conversion to give Leeds an early 6-0 advantage. 

Huddersfield briefly regained possession but a knock-on from Mollie Iceton handed the ball straight back to the Rhinos. Leeds capitalised through Liv Whitehead, who spotted a gap on the right edge and raced over for the visitors’ second try of the day. Howard maintained her perfect record from the tee to extend the lead. 

Sustained pressure from Leeds forced a goal-line dropout as the Giants struggled to contain the Rhinos’ attack. Although Huddersfield’s defence held firm for a short spell, the Rhinos soon found another breakthrough when prop forward Kaiya Glynn powered through the middle to score beneath the posts, leaving Howard with a straightforward conversion. 

The Giants responded well after forcing a knock-on from the kick-off, earning a good field position inside the Rhinos’ half saw Becky Grady dance her way through the Leeds defence to score Huddersfield’s first of the day. Tegan Sant converted to reduce the deficit. 

Following the hydration break, Huddersfield earned a penalty and forced another goal-line dropout, but they were unable to turn sustained pressure into points. Instead, Leeds struck again on the final tackle as Connie Boyd finished well in the left corner, although Howard was unable to convert. 

Huddersfield hit back through Faye Barraclough, who crossed on the right wing, but the difficult conversion attempt drifted wide.

Any hope of building momentum was quickly shut down as substitute Shannon Brown crossed shortly afterwards, with Howard adding the conversion.

Leeds finished the first half strongly. After the Giants forced a goal-line dropout from the restart, the Rhinos regained possession and Boyd grabbed her second try of the afternoon. Howard’s conversion clipped the posts on its way over to send Leeds into the break with a commanding lead. 

The second half began quietly, with several stoppages for injuries, before Leeds resumed control. A high tackle gifted the Rhinos good field position and Lois Naidole muscled her way over, despite being surrounded by defenders. Howard converted once more. 

Although Huddersfield continued to earn penalties, they struggled to make them count. The Rhinos took full advantage, with Evie Cousins crossing twice in quick succession. Her first saw her break down the wing before finishing beneath the posts, while her second came after finding space out wide. Howard converted one out of the two tries.

Whitehead grabbed her second late in the contest, racing almost the length of the field to cap an outstanding performance. Howard added another successful conversion as Leeds rounded off an impressive attacking display. 

Despite Huddersfield earning several penalties throughout the second half, they were unable to turn them into further points as the Rhinos comfortably closed out a convincing victory to continue their strong form.

GAMESTAR: Liv Whitehead was outstanding throughout, claiming two tries while posing constant threats with her pace, support play, and defensive awareness. 

GAMEBREAKER: Leeds took control inside the opening two minutes through Lucy Murray’s early try, setting the tone for a dominant victory. 

MATCHFACTS

GIANTS
5 Mollie Iceton
2 Faye Barraclough
3 Elle Frain
4 Fran Copley
28 Madison Clegg
6 Becky Grady
30 Tegan Sant
10 Lauren Exley
9 Meg Preston
14 Jess Harrap
11 Amy Bennett
16 Eva Izumi
29 Charlotte McDaid
Subs (all used)
7 Sam Hulme
15 Georgia Cussons
17 Kacy Haley
20 Leah Mae Beckett

Tries: Grady (13), Barraclough (26)
Goals: Sant 1/2

RHINOS
1 Ruby Enright
5 Liv Whitehead
4 Evie Cousins
15 Connie Boyd
27 Nicole Kennedy
6 Mel Howard
7 Ruby Walker
10 Kaiya Glynn
9 Keara Bennett
26 Georgia Elliston
12 Lucy Murray
11 Lacey Owen
8 Ella Donnelly
Subs (all used)
14 Ruby Bruce
13 Shannon Brown
21 Frankie Blakey
22 Lois Naidole

Tries: Murray (2), Whitehead (6, 65), Glynn (10), Boyd (24, 39), Brown (31), Naidole (49), Cousins (54, 63)
Goals: Howard 8/10

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 6-18, 6-22, 10-22, 10-28, 10-34; 10-40, 10-46, 10-50, 10-56

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Giants: Becky Grady; Rhinos: Liv Whitehead

Penalty count: 5-1
Half-time: 10-34
Referee: James Jaundrell