3 hrs
Leeds Rhinos Women 30 York Valkyrie 10
By Sam Brocksom
Leeds Rhinos Women have claimed back-to-back wins after a 30-10 victory over York Valkyrie at AMT Headingley.
Head coach Lois Forsell made two changes from the home win over Featherstone a fortnight ago. Lucy Murray returned from a HIA, whilst Nicole Kennedy featured in the centres. Tally Bryer and Grace Field dropped out as a result.
Scoring three tries in each half, it would be a comfortable showing from the home side, who now sit on four league points after three rounds.
After a scrappy opening 10 minutes which saw errors from both sides, Leeds finally found their groove. Scoring her first try since April 2023, Kaiya Glynn crossed the whitewash to give Leeds the advantage. Mel Howard was successful with the conversion, giving Leeds a 6-0 lead.
Centre Nicole Kennedy then dotted down just minutes later, with Leeds increasing their lead to 10 after spreading the play to the right edge, allowing the London Broncos dual-reg player to score. Howard couldn't add the extras.
Leeds couldn't quite keep the ascendancy, as York managed to claw their way back into the game. Back rower Tamzin Renouf opted to run the ball on the last tackle, and somehow managed to dot the ball down in the corner. Ellie Williamson added the difficult conversion from the touchline.
With the game back level in terms of momentum and field position, an excellent breakaway from Ruby Enright helping Leeds to their final try of the half. The full-back was tackled inches away from the line, but Leeds scored on the next play after spreading the ball through the hands to Ebony Stead, who crossed for her ninth of the season. Howard couldn't convert, leaving the score at 14-6 in the Rhinos' favour at half-time.
Taking no time at all to get into the swing of things after the break, a solid first set turned into a repeat opportunity, with Leeds forcing a York error close to their own line. Capitalising on the field position, Connie Boyd added her ninth of the season after the home side spread the ball from right to left, allowing the centre to continue her great try-scoring form. Howard couldn't convert.
Leeds continued to pile on the pressure, but after three consecutive sets on the York line, Leeds were unable to make the most of the field position. A high tackle from Kennedy brought York back into the game, who ended up with some territory of their own.
Leon Pryce's side eventually got their second of the day via half-back Sade Rihari. Fooling the defence with a dummy, she was able to round full-back Stead, who was operating in that position after Enright had left the field. Williamson couldn't add the extras so the score remained 18-10 after an hour of play.
Fast forward 10 minutes, and Leeds extended their lead to 14 points after a great play down the blind side. Running the ball on the last, Ruby Walker was influential in a move that allowed Grace Short to cross for a try. Howard was back on target from the boot to convert.
Leeds added another try to put the game to bed. Keara Bennett was able to dive over from the ruck after a great run from Connie Boyd took Leeds close, before the England international hooker was there to finish the opportunity. Ruby Walker took over kicking duties and added the two to take the game to 30-10 in Leeds' favour.
Leeds: Enright, Stead, Kennedy, Boyd, Whitehead, Howard, Walker, Brown, Bennett, Glynn, Owen, Murray, Donnelly
Bench: Bruce, Wambalu, Blakey, Short
Tries: Glynn, Kennedy, Stead, Boyd, Short, Bennett
Goals: Howard 2/5, Walker 1/1
Head coach Lois Forsell made two changes from the home win over Featherstone a fortnight ago. Lucy Murray returned from a HIA, whilst Nicole Kennedy featured in the centres. Tally Bryer and Grace Field dropped out as a result.
Scoring three tries in each half, it would be a comfortable showing from the home side, who now sit on four league points after three rounds.
After a scrappy opening 10 minutes which saw errors from both sides, Leeds finally found their groove. Scoring her first try since April 2023, Kaiya Glynn crossed the whitewash to give Leeds the advantage. Mel Howard was successful with the conversion, giving Leeds a 6-0 lead.
Centre Nicole Kennedy then dotted down just minutes later, with Leeds increasing their lead to 10 after spreading the play to the right edge, allowing the London Broncos dual-reg player to score. Howard couldn't add the extras.
Leeds couldn't quite keep the ascendancy, as York managed to claw their way back into the game. Back rower Tamzin Renouf opted to run the ball on the last tackle, and somehow managed to dot the ball down in the corner. Ellie Williamson added the difficult conversion from the touchline.
With the game back level in terms of momentum and field position, an excellent breakaway from Ruby Enright helping Leeds to their final try of the half. The full-back was tackled inches away from the line, but Leeds scored on the next play after spreading the ball through the hands to Ebony Stead, who crossed for her ninth of the season. Howard couldn't convert, leaving the score at 14-6 in the Rhinos' favour at half-time.
Taking no time at all to get into the swing of things after the break, a solid first set turned into a repeat opportunity, with Leeds forcing a York error close to their own line. Capitalising on the field position, Connie Boyd added her ninth of the season after the home side spread the ball from right to left, allowing the centre to continue her great try-scoring form. Howard couldn't convert.
Leeds continued to pile on the pressure, but after three consecutive sets on the York line, Leeds were unable to make the most of the field position. A high tackle from Kennedy brought York back into the game, who ended up with some territory of their own.
Leon Pryce's side eventually got their second of the day via half-back Sade Rihari. Fooling the defence with a dummy, she was able to round full-back Stead, who was operating in that position after Enright had left the field. Williamson couldn't add the extras so the score remained 18-10 after an hour of play.
Fast forward 10 minutes, and Leeds extended their lead to 14 points after a great play down the blind side. Running the ball on the last, Ruby Walker was influential in a move that allowed Grace Short to cross for a try. Howard was back on target from the boot to convert.
Leeds added another try to put the game to bed. Keara Bennett was able to dive over from the ruck after a great run from Connie Boyd took Leeds close, before the England international hooker was there to finish the opportunity. Ruby Walker took over kicking duties and added the two to take the game to 30-10 in Leeds' favour.
Leeds: Enright, Stead, Kennedy, Boyd, Whitehead, Howard, Walker, Brown, Bennett, Glynn, Owen, Murray, Donnelly
Bench: Bruce, Wambalu, Blakey, Short
Tries: Glynn, Kennedy, Stead, Boyd, Short, Bennett
Goals: Howard 2/5, Walker 1/1
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