There was an agonising defeat for Leeds Rhinos Women in their final game of the Super 4s against St Helens.  A hard fought contest saw the Rhinos chase the game throughout, and despite fighting back they just fell short.

Leeds Rhinos Women welcomed back Ella Donnelly after four games out with injury and Lacey Owen also returned to the starting line-up and Frankie Blakey coming back on the bench.

Leeds made a positive start, showing intensity in defence and having plenty of possession, but they were unable to make the most of the territory.  There was an early half chance for Ruby Walker who made good ground before Mel Howard attempted to send Ebony Stead away but the winger was unable to collect the ball and her flick pass back inside to Boyde resulted in a knock on.

Anna Dennis then got Saints on the front but a big tackle from Liv Whitehead and Howard was enough to stop the threat.

On 12 minutes it was the visitors who broke the deadlock through Emily Rudge.  After Saints were punished for an elbow in the tackle, Leeds failed to capitalise on the chance with Hardastle taking possession for teh visistos, catching the ball in the in-goal.  St Helens punished the Rhinos, with a great break from Harris through the Rhinos defence, before Jodie Cunningham sent Rudge away with a short ball.  Gaskin converting.

Minutes later Saints were in again, this time former Rhinos player Caitlin Casey going over from dummy half and Gaskin adding the extras.

Leeds looked like they had pulled one back after great work from Evie Cousins put Whitehead away in the corner, but she was ruled to be in touch.  Ella Donnelly was then stopped inches from the line after a big drive, leaving the hosts frustrated after half an hour.

Ruby Bruce's introduction to game helped bring a new spark to the team and it wasn’t long before she had got the first points on the board for Leeds.  After looking like she was going for the pass, the hooker was able to catch the St Helens defence off guard to open up a gap and scoot over for the try.  Howard added the conversion.

Bella Sykes attempted to keep up the momentum when she raced away from own half, evading the tackles of Saints, but was eventually brought down. 

Bruce then pulled produced another piece of magic, with a fantastic break from deep in the Saints half.  She then showed composure to get the ball to Stead and the winger raced clear to the corner.  Howard though was unable to add the touchline conversion.

There were further chances before the end of the half, again some great skill from Bruce who this time combined with Lacey Owen to make good groundand then some scrambling Saints defence prevented Liv Whitehead getting over in the corner.  In the final minute Lucy Murray and Stead linked up to put Enright through, but she was held short before Connie Boyd appeared to sneak over from dummy half, but the centre ran into her own player as she stretched to get the ball down so was penalised for obstruction.

With just two points in it at the break the scoreline reflected the tightly fought contest at AMT Headingley, but within seven minutes of the restart St Helens extended their lead after a break from Gaskin got Saints in a strong position and Katie Mottershead’s short pass was scooped up by Vicky Whitefield who crashed over under the posts.

The Rhinos hit back on 55 minutes when Liv Whitehead was on the end of a perfectly placed kick from Ruby Walker.  Again Howard was unable to add the extras from the touchline. 

St Helens, who were fighting for a place in the semi final against Leeds, and another game for their retiring players looked determined to give themselves the best chance of finishin in the third spot and on 68 minutes it was the second of those departing players who got on the scoreboard.  After stopping the visitors on the line, the ball was passed out back to Jodie Cunningham who skipped her way through under the posts, giving Gaskin another simple conversion kick, which she converted.

There was a setback for Leeds as Liv Whitehed was forced from the field after taking a knock, forcing Lois Forsell to move Evie Cousins onto the wing, Stead moving to full back and Enright also switching to wing.

Cousins made an almost instant impact in her new role, with Stead putting her through in the corner.  Once again though Howard’s conversion kick dropped short.

In the closing stages, Leeds welcomed back Whitehead and Naidole, who had gone off with a HIA, and the team dug deep to get another try.  Whitehead making up for lost time, after Cousins went close, with her second of the game.  Howard though was unable to land the conversion kick to level the game, leaving the final score 24-22 to St Helens.

The Rhinos will now play the team who finish in third, which will be decided after Sunday’s game between Wigan and York.  The match will be played at AMT Headingley on Friday 18^th September.

Rhinos:
1. Ruby Enright, 5. Liv Whitehead, 4. Evie Cousins, 15. Connie Boyd, 2. Ebony Stead, 6. Mel Howard, 7. Ruby Walker, 8. Ella Donnelly, 9. Keara Bennett, 22. Lois Naidole, 11. Lacey Owen, 12. Lucy Murray, 28. Bella Sykes, Replacements:13. Shannon Brown, 14. Ruby Bruce, 21. Frankie Blakey, 26. Georgia Elliston. 18^th player:18. Tally Bryer

Saints

31. Anna Dennis, 2. Phoebe Hook, 4. Amy Hardcastle, 3. Rachael Woosey, 25. Dabi McGifford, 6. Zoe Harris, 7. Faye Gaskin, 11. Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth, 17. Caitlin Casey, 16. Erin McDonald, 14. Paige Travis, 12. Emily Rudge, 13. Jodie Cunningham. Replacements: 1. Rebecca Rotherham, 5. Vicky Whitfield, 9. Katie Mottershead, 20. Alyx Bridge, 18^th player: 28. Jadie McVernon.