Match Report – St Helens 42 – 12 Leeds

Leeds Rhinos self-destruct within the second half, dropping Bodene Thompson, James Bentley to sin-binnings, and Zane Tetevano to wild purple card; Saints rating via Konrad Hurrell (two), Alex Walmsley (two), Regan Grace, Agnatius Paasi, Joe Batchelor, Dan Norman

Former Leeds favorite Konrad Hurrell scored two tries towards his outdated membership to assist St Helens to a powerful 42-12 win that takes them six factors clear of their pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive Tremendous League title.

Hurrell, who has loved a brand new lease of life since his transfer from Leeds within the winter, additionally scored in Saints’ 26-0 win at Headingley in April and his well-taken tries within the early a part of every half put them on their approach to a sixth successive league victory.

England prop Alex Walmsley additionally touched down twice as Saints ran in 16 factors within the final 14 minutes towards the fast-fading guests.

Leeds’ distress was compounded by the 76th-minute dismissal of ahead Zane Tetevano for a excessive sort out on Hurrell, along with the sooner sin-binning of Bodene Thompson.

And so they completed with 11 males when former Saints second rower James Bentley, recent from finishing a 3rd ban of the season, was given a yellow card for delaying a play-the-ball.

Leeds Rhinos’ Zane Tetvano was purple carded for a surprisingly wild and excessive sort out on Hurrell

Saints had massive performances from Jonny Lomax and Morgan Knowles, in after sitting out final week’s England sport with minor knocks, however there have been additionally eye-catching shows from kids Jon Bennison and Jake Wingfield in addition to evergreen captain James Roby.

Bennison operated at full-back instead of the injured Will Hopoate whereas Leeds had Aidan Sezer again after a nine-match absence to resume his half-back partnership with Blake Austin

Explosive front-row play from Walmsley and his new England team-mate Matty Lees bought St Helens on the entrance foot from the beginning and it was no shock once they opened the scoring via Hurrell, who proved unstoppable 10 metres from the road.

Hurrell opened the scoring for Leeds with a attempt within the eighth minute

Younger Bennison equipped the ultimate move and he mixed with Hurrell to get winger Tom Makinson shut 10 minutes later earlier than a elegant move round his tackler by unfastened ahead Morgan Knowles bought Walmsley over for the champions’ second attempt.

Makinson kicked each conversions on his approach to a 10-point haul to make it 12-0 however Leeds have been in no temper to roll over.

Alex Walmsley scored two tries within the victory for St Helens

Centre Harry Newman had already proven his class with a neat break and he produced extra devastating footwork to attain the Rhinos’ first attempt within the twenty second minute after winger David Fusitu’a had brilliantly caught Austin’s kick on the total and handed inside earlier than being thrown into contact.

Rhyse Martin added the objective and Leeds thought they’d drawn stage when substitute Sam Walters was the primary to achieve Kruise Leeming’s grubber kick just for slow-motion replays to point he had misplaced management of the ball.

Saints made the many of the reprieve by scoring a pleasant third attempt 5 minutes earlier than the interval, Roby dealing with twice in an exciting transfer earlier than winger Regan Grace compelled his manner over on the nook regardless of the suspicion of a knock-on.

Regan Grace’s attempt was controversially awarded, regardless of suspicions he could have misplaced management

Trailing 16-6 on the break, there was no manner again for the guests when Hurrell collected Makinson’s move off the bottom to attain his second attempt three minutes into the second half.

Thompson pulled a attempt again within the 52nd minute after Saints did not take care of Austin’s excessive kick and Martin’s second objective reduce the deficit to eight factors.

However the house aspect restored their three-score benefit 4 minutes later when substitute Agnatius Paasi charged over from shut vary for his first Tremendous League attempt after Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker had misplaced the ball within the first sort out 15 metres out from his personal line.

Agnatius Paasi scored a vital attempt to take the sport away from Leeds within the second half

The Rhinos have been diminished to 12 males when Thompson was sin-binned for a harmful sort out and it rapidly went downhill from there.

Second rower Joe Batchelor and substitute prop Dan Norman went via gaping holes in a 12-man defence to attain tries and Walmsley crashed over for his second when the Rhinos have been additional depleted.

Joe Batchelor scored St Helens’ sixth attempt as Leeds capitulated late on