St Helens booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup with a 22-14 win over Leeds Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Here’s our verdict.
Action
Both head coaches will have looking for a response from their respective sides but Brad Arthur will have been the happier of the two men at the start of the game. The Rhinos got the contest underway on the front foot and dominated field position with some intense defending and fine kicking.
The Rhinos took the lead, too, as Jake Connor punished a Morgan Knowles ruck infringement by kicking a penalty. However, it must be said that Leeds never looked like getting over the St Helens try line and after weathering the storm, Saints edged their way into the contest.
It was the hosts who found the opening try of the contest, too. Putting a kick up to the corner, Jonny Lomax watched on as Kyle Feldt patted the ball back to Joe Batchelor before getting it back to touch down in the corner.
Leeds just couldn’t get their attack going and that theme continued into the second half as St Helens took control of the contest and put the side from Yorkshire to the sword. Harry Robertson was the man who had the biggest say after the break and he set up Saints’ second try, slipping by a weak Riley Lumb challenge to burst away and put the ball on a plate for Tristan Sailor.
George Delaney ensured Wellens’ side went back to back to kill the game off, blowing a hole in the Leeds line and breaking away before being pulled down with 10m to go. A quick play the ball ensured Leeds couldn’t set themselves, though, and Jonny Lomax put Matt Whitley over.
Sailor returned the favour for Robertson to put the result beyond doubt as his perfectly weighted grubber allowed the centre to touch down.
Leeds hit back with around 15 minutes left as Ash Handley finished Connor’s teasing kick over the top. Harry Newman squeezed over late to reduce Saints’ lead to eight points, but the Rhinos didn’t have it in the them to threaten the home side late on.
Key man
Harry Robertson. The centre was the difference maker in the second half as he scored one and set one up. He just keeps getting better and better in the red V.
Good day for
Paul Wellens. After falling short last week against Hull KR, he will have been delighted with the way his side weathered Leeds’ early dominance before killing off the Rhinos in the second half.
Bad day for
Andy Ackers. Left the action just before the half-time break with what looked to be a hamstring injury and Leeds will now have their fingers crossed that the hooker can avoid a lay-off.
Bigger picture
Brad Arthur has work to do with this Leeds Rhinos side who looked so jaded in attack at the Totally Wicked Stadium. They’ve had injury issues but they still look undercooked with the ball in hand and that needs to change fast.
St Helens progress into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals and they’ll have their tails up as they look ahead to next week’s crucial Super League clash with Warrington Wolves.
Teams
St Helens: Jack Welsby; Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison; Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax; Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.
Bench: Matt Whitley, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.
Leeds Rhinos: Lachlan Miller, Riley Lumb, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall; Brodie Croft, Jake Connor; Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Cooper Jenkins; James Bentley, James McDonnell, Keenan Palasia.
Bench: Sam Lisone, Morgan Gannon, Jack Sinfield, Tom Nicholson-Watton.
