LEEDS RHINOS 38 YORK VALKYRIE 16
SAM BROCKSOM, AMT Headingley, Saturday
TARA JANE STANLEY’S York return ended in defeat, as four tries from Ruby Enright helped Leeds to a strong victory to kick-off their Super Fours campaign.
The Valkyrie star made her return to the field after 706 days out through injury, featuring in the halves – in place of Tamzin Renouf, who returned to her natural position of back row – instead of her typical fullback role.
Home side Leeds made one change as they welcomed back Ebony Stead on the wing, which in turn shifted Nicole Kennedy to the bench – and both went to score tries in the second half as the Rhinos pulled clear to strengthen their grip on second place.
Evie Cousins crossed for the opening try. It took just short of 20 minutes, but Leeds were able to capitalise on a York penalty, and poor defence from Petra Woods allowed the new England international in for a score.
With no conversion from Mel Howard, York took the lead in the game just minutes later, after a short ball for Megan Pakulis saw her crash over from close range. Stanley’s on-target conversion saw them lead by two.
After a couple of penalties conceded by the away side, Leeds would make the field position pay, and it would be a great solo run by Howard that sent Enright in for her first try in the final minute of the half.
Howard took on the line, before a deceptive pass back inside allowed the fullback to score under the posts. The try creator added the extras to give Leeds a 10-6 lead heading into the break.
It would be York who started the better of the two sides after the break. A Leeds error in the opening set of the half gave Valkyrie field position, and they pounced on the opportunity as Ellie Williamson’s cut-out pass bounced nicely for Emma Kershaw to score in the corner. Stanley’s missed conversion meant the game remained level.
With the game firmly in the balance, a sensational solo effort that saw Stead go 80 metres gave the home side the advantage once again. By this point, York were certainly feeling the heat, and having used six of their interchanges already, were in for a tough final half-hour.
The Enright-Howard partnership would again prove fruitful, as the fullback’s second try came thanks to a delicate Howard kick, but a surprising missed conversion kept the lead to ten points with 20 to play.
Leeds looked to seal the game after a break from Howard saw Shannon Brown race away, but an exceptional try-saver from Izzy Brennan brought her down inches from the line. York then scrambled well to null the threat, and a drop from Howard put an end to what could have been the match-winner.
The Rhinos sealed the game thanks to a short ball sending Enright over for her hat-trick, and Howard’s conversion made for a 26-10 scoreline.
Despite Pakulis crossing for a consolation try, Leeds would be able to hold out for the win thanks to late scores from Enright – try number four – and Kennedy.
GAMESTAR: Ruby Enright’s four-try haul saw her comfortably the game’s best player, as she proved to be a constant threat with ball-in-hand.
GAMEBREAKER: Ebony Stead’s 80-metre solo effort gave Leeds the lead 50 minutes in, and from then the home side were in total control.
MATCHFACTS
RHINOS
1 Ruby Enright
2 Ebony Stead
15 Connie Boyd
4 Evie Cousins
5 Liv Whitehead
6 Mel Howard
7 Ruby Walker
26 Georgia Elliston
9 Keara Bennett
13 Shannon Brown
22 Lois Naidole
12 Lucy Murray
8 Ella Donnelly
Subs (all used)
14 Ruby Bruce
17 Grace Short
21 Frankie Blakey
27 Nicole Kennedy
Tries: Cousins (18), Enright (39, 57, 72, 80), Stead (49), Kennedy (78)
Goals: Howard 5/7
VALKYRIE
23 Monique Donovan
3 Emma Kershaw
25 Adaoha Akwiwu
21 Petra Woods
2 Eboni Partington
1 Tara Jane Stanley
7 Ellie Williamson
8 Liv Wood
14 Izzy Bibby
15 Megan Pakulis
11 Tamzin Renouf
12 Savannah Andrade
18 Izzy Brennan
Subs (all used)
9 Sinead Peach
10 Jas Bell
16 Agnes Wood
24 Lisa Parker
Tries: Pakulis (25, 75), Kershaw (42)
Goals: Stanley 2/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6, 10-6; 10-10, 16-10, 20-10, 26-10, 26-16, 32-16, 38-16
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Player of the Match
Rhinos: Ruby Enright; Valkyrie: Megan Pakulis
Penalty count: 6-0
Half-time: 10-6
Referee: Josh Pemberton