Leeds Rhinos 30-10 York Valkyrie: Match Report

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York Valkyrie fell to a 30-10 defeat at AMT Headingley by Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Women’s Super League.

A performance that at times showed glimpses of what they are capable off was also characterised with some handling errors and weak tackling.

However, they only trailed by eight points at the break, but a fast start to the second half from the Rhinos meant York were always playing catch up.

Despite bringing the deficit back to eight, a strong finish from Leeds meant the game slipped away from the Valkyrie.

The teams went set for set in the opening stages, with both struggling to complete because of handling errors. York were getting the better of the territory, but an interception from Lacey Owen interception set Leeds up, and from the resulting set, Kaiya Glynn shrugged off the defence for a converted try.

Owen had a hand in the next try moments later, hitting a great line to release Nicole Kennedy down the right. Mel Howard couldn’t add the goal this time.

York were on the back foot, but a penalty and a six again call allowed them their best chance of the game so far, only for the ball to go dead as they tried to work the overlap.

However, they kept the pressure on. Monique Donovan was held up over the line, and Sinead Peach put Megan Pakulis through a lovely gap, only for some good reaction from Leeds to stop her.

The try eventually came after the ball was shifted left. Petra Woods took them near and Tamzin Renouf finished in the corner. Ellie Williamson landed a touchline conversion.

An error from the restart put the Valkyrie under pressure but now, their goal line defence did enough to stop Leeds from going in again.

However, when Ruby Enright broke from in her own half, only a last ditch effort stopped her from scoring just before the break. From here, Leeds moved the ball left and Ebony Stead scored in the corner, to open up the lead again.

Leeds had the brighter start after the break, getting a chance 10 metres out from the York line as the game restarted.This time, Connie Boyd went through from close range to score, again too far out for Howard to convert.

Leeds nearly scored again when Ruby Bruce was held up after a drop out gave them possession. While the Valkyrie survived that, more errors led to more pressure on their own line.

Back to back penalties finally got York up the other end of the field, and although they didn’t score, the pressure on territory eased for a while.

When Sade Rihari showed some nice footwork, she slipped through from 10 metres out to score, and bring York back to within eight points. Howard couldn’t convert to close the gap further, but the Valkyrie were back in it.

That was almost short lived, as Leeds went up the other end of the field and thought they’d scored, only for Ruby Walker’s effort to be ruled out.

More try line pressure followed, and after the Rhinos kept the ball alive, Grace Short saw the gap and scored. Howard added the goal.

Keara Bennett added a further try, diving over from acting half. Walker added the goal for the final points of the game.

Leeds: Enright, Whitehead, Kennedy, Boyd, Stead, Howard, Walker, Brown, Bennett, Glynn, Murray, Owen, Donnelly

Subs: (all used) Bruce, Short, Wambalu, Blakey

18th Player: Bryer

Tries: Glynn (12), Kennedy (14), Stead (39), Boyd (41), Short (68), Bennett (74)

Goals: Howard (2/5), Walker (1/1)

York: Turner, Ellis, Donovan, Woods, Partington, Rihari, Williamson, O Wood, Bibby, Paukulis, Renouf, Parker, Peach

Subs: (all used) Moxon, Bell, A Wood, Brennan

18th Player: Kershaw

Tries: Renouf (25), Rihari (58)