The Rhinos suffered their first defeat in the Super 4s after a close contest against York Valkyrie, with the Rhinos tries coming from Ebony Stead, Nicole Kennedy and Liv Whitehead.

Lois Forsell named an unchanged starting line up to the side who beat St Helens in their last fixture, but she brought in Bella Sykes on the bench after the England intrenational made a return to Leeds following a spell playing in the Harvey Norman competition in Australia.

The Rhinos took an early lead with a well worked try.  After shifting the ball out wide a brilliant overhead pass from Liv Whitehead was collected by Ebony Stead, and the winger dived over for the opening try.  Mel Howard’s conversion kick just falling short.

Errors from the Rhinos allowed Valkyrie to enjoy the majority of possession in the first half and they were rewarded when a break from Tara-Jane Stanley was supported by Tamzin Renouf and the second rower stepped through the Rhinos defence to go over under the posts.  Stanley adding the conversion.

Stanley then crossed for her own try on 16 minutes with some nice footwork seeing her weave her way through the Rhinos defence to cross next to the posts.  Her conversion extending her team’s lead to 12-4.

Leeds had to put in a huge defensive effort to keep the hosts from going over again and they managed to hold on to go in at the break eight points behind.

Ten minutes into the second half York extended their lead when Megan Pakulis took the pass from Sinead Peach and found the space to sneak over from close range.  Stanley slotting over the kick in front of the posts.

A great piece of play from Nicole Kennedy got Leeds back in the game, the second rower sprinting clear just inside her own half and having the pace to outrun her defender.  Howard converting.

A York knock on 10m from their tryline gave Leeds their next opportunity, with the ball played wide from the scrum and into the hands of Liv Whitehead to go over in the corner,  Howard though was unable to land the conversion from the touchline.

The comeback was left a little too late for the Rhinos though.  York looking like they were finishing on a high when Monique Donovan kicked through under the posts and collected the kick to get the ball down, but the referee ruled it out.

York Valkyrie: 23. Monique Donovan, 3. Emma Kershaw, 21 Petra Woods, Amelie Lenham, 2. Eboni Partington, 1. Tara-Jane Stanley, 7. Ellie Williamson, 8. Liv Wood, 9. Sinead Peach, 15. Megan Pakulis, 11. Tamzin Renouf, 12 Savanah Andrade, 24. Lisa Parker. Replacements: 14. Izzy Bibby, 10. Jas Bell, 18. Izzy Brennan, 19. Brooke Henderson. 18^th player: 26. Liv Turner

Leeds Rhinos Women: 1. Ruby Enright, 5. Liv Whitehead,  4. Evie Cousins, 15. Connie Boyd, 2. Ebony Stead, 6. Mel Howard, 7. Ruby Walker, 22. Lois Naidole, 9. Keara Bennett, 10. Kaiya Glynn, 27. Nicole Kennedy, 12. Lucy Murray, 13. Shannon Brown. Replacements: 14. Ruby Bruce, 20. Jess Sharp, 26. Georgia Elliston, 28. Bella Sykes. 18^th player: 18. Tally Bryer.