thommo
29th March, 2008, 12:36 AM
Leeds' dominance of Super League XIII continues, with the Rhinos earning a hard-fought 14-10 victory against St Helens at Knowsley Road.
http://img.skysports.com/08/03/218x298/AliLauitiitiSeanLong_755493.jpg
Played in driving wind and at times heavy rain, the repeat of last season's Grand Final was perhaps never destined to live up to its pre-match billing.
Instead, a low-scoring encounter ensued in which both sides had chances to win - the visitors just about making the better of theirs to also repeat the victory they scored in July 2007 - the last time Saints lost at home.
Daniel Anderson's side had the advantage of a back wind on the opening half but nevertheless went into the interval two points behind - Saints gaining the upper hand in terms of territory but also making far too many handling errors.
Ali Lauitiiti's first-half try was cancelled out by a response from Paul Wellens in a second period which proved a nip and tuck affair even after Luke Burgess scored Leeds' second.
The Rhinos were immediately on the offensive and took the lead on eight minutes a with penalty which came following a rather confusing offside decision - Kevin Sinfield booting the two points.
But Leeds nevertheless had early problems in terms of personnel, with both Danny McGuire (left thigh) and Jamie Jones-Buchanan (left shoulder) departing the field in the opening 10 minutes.
Advantage
Saints tried to take advantage, but a dive for the line two minutes later from stand-off Leon Pryce - which had more than a hint of double movement about it - was denied by video referee Phil Bentham.
Sean Long finally levelled with a penalty on 19 minutes after Simon Worrall conceded a penalty for interference, a similar concession from Ryan Bailey enabling the scrum-half to kick the home side into the lead four minutes later.
St Helens were by now establishing themselves - especially in the manner in which they restricted Leeds' own sets.
However, after Saints conceded a penalty in their own half, the Rhinos suddenly had a platform from which to build and promptly scored the game's opening try.
The move was inspired by Brent Webb and ended with Lauitiiti sprinting through on an angled run from close range to touch down in the left-hand corner.
Sinfield kicked the extras; however, a St Helens penalty, kicked by Long, pulled their deficit back to two points just past the half-hour.
Long's arm was not long enough moments later when, as Saints pressured their opponents' line, he tried to run onto a chip through from James Roby - Webb instead mopping up.
However, presented with another relatively simple-looking penalty opportunity on 35 minutes, Long's chance to level the match instead sailed wide of the left-hand post.
Long missed again - albeit a more difficult attempt - two minutes later but his side were still making territorial inroads and forced Leeds into their fourth goal-line drop out of the first half.
They failed to make such advantage pay, however, and Leeds looked to show them how to do it with their very first set of the second period.
But the video referee ultimately decided that, running onto Rob Burrow's chip towards the left-hand corner, Scott Donald had knocked on instead of grounding the ball.
Saints were back in the lead on 48 minutes following a high tackle by Lauitiiti on Leon Pryce halfway - the home side then taking full advantage of the subsequent penalty with stand-in skipper Wellens eventually running through to touch down.
Long failed to convert, as did Sinfield when Leeds were awarded a penalty after 51 minutes.
Back in the fray
Jones-Buchanan was by now back in the fray and Leeds were also back on the offensive, with prop Burgess's strength carrying him past Wellens and over the line for their second try just before the hour - Sinfield this time converting.
Leeds then laid seige to Saints' line but failed to turn their next two sets into points; with ten minutes remaining the game was still the home side's for the taking.
Sinfield then knocked on in his own half with five minutes to go, but Saints' response only resulted in an offside decision from referee Ashley Klein.
Donald desperately conceded another goal-line drop out with just over a minute remaining; however, Saints' final chance went begging as, tackled by Gareth Ellis, Willie Talau's final pass to Francis Meli went forward.
http://img.skysports.com/08/03/218x298/AliLauitiitiSeanLong_755493.jpg
Played in driving wind and at times heavy rain, the repeat of last season's Grand Final was perhaps never destined to live up to its pre-match billing.
Instead, a low-scoring encounter ensued in which both sides had chances to win - the visitors just about making the better of theirs to also repeat the victory they scored in July 2007 - the last time Saints lost at home.
Daniel Anderson's side had the advantage of a back wind on the opening half but nevertheless went into the interval two points behind - Saints gaining the upper hand in terms of territory but also making far too many handling errors.
Ali Lauitiiti's first-half try was cancelled out by a response from Paul Wellens in a second period which proved a nip and tuck affair even after Luke Burgess scored Leeds' second.
The Rhinos were immediately on the offensive and took the lead on eight minutes a with penalty which came following a rather confusing offside decision - Kevin Sinfield booting the two points.
But Leeds nevertheless had early problems in terms of personnel, with both Danny McGuire (left thigh) and Jamie Jones-Buchanan (left shoulder) departing the field in the opening 10 minutes.
Advantage
Saints tried to take advantage, but a dive for the line two minutes later from stand-off Leon Pryce - which had more than a hint of double movement about it - was denied by video referee Phil Bentham.
Sean Long finally levelled with a penalty on 19 minutes after Simon Worrall conceded a penalty for interference, a similar concession from Ryan Bailey enabling the scrum-half to kick the home side into the lead four minutes later.
St Helens were by now establishing themselves - especially in the manner in which they restricted Leeds' own sets.
However, after Saints conceded a penalty in their own half, the Rhinos suddenly had a platform from which to build and promptly scored the game's opening try.
The move was inspired by Brent Webb and ended with Lauitiiti sprinting through on an angled run from close range to touch down in the left-hand corner.
Sinfield kicked the extras; however, a St Helens penalty, kicked by Long, pulled their deficit back to two points just past the half-hour.
Long's arm was not long enough moments later when, as Saints pressured their opponents' line, he tried to run onto a chip through from James Roby - Webb instead mopping up.
However, presented with another relatively simple-looking penalty opportunity on 35 minutes, Long's chance to level the match instead sailed wide of the left-hand post.
Long missed again - albeit a more difficult attempt - two minutes later but his side were still making territorial inroads and forced Leeds into their fourth goal-line drop out of the first half.
They failed to make such advantage pay, however, and Leeds looked to show them how to do it with their very first set of the second period.
But the video referee ultimately decided that, running onto Rob Burrow's chip towards the left-hand corner, Scott Donald had knocked on instead of grounding the ball.
Saints were back in the lead on 48 minutes following a high tackle by Lauitiiti on Leon Pryce halfway - the home side then taking full advantage of the subsequent penalty with stand-in skipper Wellens eventually running through to touch down.
Long failed to convert, as did Sinfield when Leeds were awarded a penalty after 51 minutes.
Back in the fray
Jones-Buchanan was by now back in the fray and Leeds were also back on the offensive, with prop Burgess's strength carrying him past Wellens and over the line for their second try just before the hour - Sinfield this time converting.
Leeds then laid seige to Saints' line but failed to turn their next two sets into points; with ten minutes remaining the game was still the home side's for the taking.
Sinfield then knocked on in his own half with five minutes to go, but Saints' response only resulted in an offside decision from referee Ashley Klein.
Donald desperately conceded another goal-line drop out with just over a minute remaining; however, Saints' final chance went begging as, tackled by Gareth Ellis, Willie Talau's final pass to Francis Meli went forward.