Leeds Rhinos went up to second in the Women’s Super League standings with a convincing 28-12 victory at St Helens, leapfrogging their opponents in the process.
Connie Boyd got the Rhinos off to a strong start when she powered over on the left edge in the 12th minute.
Three minutes before the break, Australian half-back Mel Howard shifted the ball out to winger Ebony Stead who went over for the visitors’ second try.
On the stroke of half-time Rhinos extended their lead as Stead found full-back Ruby Enright to dive over, and once Howard slotted the extras the Rhinos went into half-time with a 16-point lead.
Howard got her name on the scoresheet after the break, receiving a short ball from fellow half-back Frankie Blakey to dot down next to the sticks before converting her own try.
Saints eventually got on the board as Rachael Woosey sent wing Dani McGifford away to score in the left corner and Faye Gaskin added the extras from the touchline with 13 minutes remaining.
And Saints threatened a comeback five minutes later as hooker Katie Mottershead powered over from close range.
But the Rhinos extinguished those hopes moments afterwards when Stead raced down the wing and found Boyd on her inside to score her second of the match and condemn Saints to their first league defeat of the season.
