Leeds Rhinos 38-16 York Valkyrie: Match Report

Aug 8

3 min read

York Valkyrie began their Betfred Women’s Super League Super 4s at Headingley, with a by Leeds Rhinos.

Despite a strong first half from the Valkyrie, they went into the break four points behind after a late try from Leeds’ Ruby Enright just before the break.

The second half belonged to Leeds, who outscored York by five tries to two for their second win over the Valkyrie this year.

Megan Pakulis scored twice, and Tara-Jane Stanley kicked two goals on her return after two years out with injury, but it wasn’t to be enough to stop the Rhinos.

The better of the early territory went to the Valkyrie, and despite getting close to the line on a couple of occasions, they couldn’t turn it into points. However some strong defence meant they were keeping Leeds mainly in their own half of the field.

More than fifteen minutes had gone before Leeds had a good set in York’s 30 metre area, and they scored when Evie Cousins galloped through space to score.

An error under a high ball with an awkward bounce, followed by a penalty led to more good field position for the Rhinos. This time, Mel Howard knocked on under pressure.

The Valkyrie were still tackling hard, and in attack, they got a roll on up the middle of the field for Megan Pakulis to crash over beneath the posts to level the scores. Tara-Jane Stanley added the goal to put York ahead.

There was more Leeds pressure just before the break, but the Valkyrie try line defence held on again. However, from a drop out the Rhinos came again and this time scored through Ruby Enright, who took a pass from Howard. She converted to give Leeds a four point half time lead.

An early mistake from Leeds after the restart allowed York to score quickly as Emma Kershaw went in at the corner to level the game.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued as Leeds then regained the lead. Ebony Stead slipped around the tacklers and went 80 metres to score a converted try.

Leeds were starting to get the better of the play, and scored again through Enright, when she followed up a Howard grubber to give the Rhinos a 10 point advantage.

York were struggling to reach the same levels of possession as earlier in the game, and any errors were being punished by an increasingly confident Leeds side.

Leeds’ offload game was causing problems, and when Shannon Brown fed Enright for her hat-trick with around five minutes to go, it proved too much for York to recover from.

Another converted try from Megan Pakulis closed the gap but that was cancelled out through Nicole Kennedy’s effort moments later for the Rhinos.

A short kick off then allowed Leeds possession high upfield, and Enright went on to cross for a fourth. Howard converted on the final whistle.

Leeds: Enright, Whitehead, Cousins, Boyd, Stead, Howard, Walker, Elliston, Bennett, Brown, Murray, Naidole, Donnelly

Subs: Bruce, Blakey, Short, Kennedy

18th Player: Bryer

Tries: Cousins (17), Enright (40, 57, 74, 84), Stead (48), Kennedy (80)

Goals: Howard (5/7)

York: Donovan, Kershaw, Akwiwu, Woods, Partington, Stanley, Williamson, O Wood, Bibby, Pakulis, Renouf, Andrade, Brennan

Subs: (all used) Peach, Bell, A Wood, Parker

18th Player: Henderson

Tries: Pakulis (26, 78), Kershaw (41)

Goals: Stanley (2/3)