York Valkyrie 18-14 Leeds Rhinos: Match Report

York Valkyrie kept their hopes of reaching the Betfred Women’s Super League play offs alive with a 18-14 win over Leeds Rhinos at the LNER Community Stadium.

They led 12-4 at the break after tries from Tamzin Renouf and the influential Tara-Jane Stanley.

Megan Pakulis scored to open up a second half lead of 14 points, however, a comeback from Leeds Rhinos meant it was a tense end to the game.

It was one of the Valkyrie’s best performances of the season, and was their first of the year against a team higher than them in the table.

However, it wasn’t the best of starts when just four minutes into the game, Leeds opened the scoring opened through Ebony Stead, who was on the end of a slick move wide.

Tara Stanley showed some of her best form to create a try for the Valkyrie. She stepped through the defence 40 metres out to break clear, and Tamzin Renouf was in support to score. Stanley added the goal to put York ahead.

The Valkyrie built pressure with repeated sets near the Leeds line, and some vintage footwork from Stanley saw her jink over for a converted try.

It led to a spell of dominance from the Valkyrie, with Stanley at the heart of almost every threat.

York were looking to keep the ball moving when in possession and they had another couple of half chances before the break, but they couldn’t turn them into points in the face of some scrambling Leeds defence.

A penalty near York’s line allowed Leeds an early chance in the second half, and after Georgia Elliston was held up, Izzy Bibby collected a kick through to snuff out the danger.

It was York who scored next though through Megan Pakulis for what proved to be the crucial score. She took a short ball from Sinead Peach to burrow her way through from close range for a converted try and open up a 14 point lead.

However Leeds hit back when Nicole Kennedy broke clear, and Howard converted to close the gap and set up a tense final quarter of the game.

An error under a high ball from York gave Leeds territory 10 metres out from the line. From the resulting scrum, Leeds moved the ball quickly to the left and Liv Whitehead scored in the corner, Howard couldn’t land the conversion from near the touchline.

It looked like York had extended that lead when Monique Donovan followed her own kick through to score, only for the referee to rule it out.

However, with the final whistle going just moments later, it ultimately didn’t matter as the Valkyrie saw out a memorable win.

York: Donovan, Kershaw, Woods, Lenham, Partington, Stanley, Williamson, O Wood, Peach, Pakulis, Renouf, Andrade, Parker

Subs: (used) Bibby, Bell, Brennan, (not used) Henderson

18th Player: Turner

Tries: Renouf (9), Stanley (16), Pakulis (50),

Goals: Stanley (3/3)

Leeds: Enright, Whitehead, Cousins, Boyd, Stead, Howard, Walker, Naidole, Bennett, Glynn, Kennedy, Murray, Brown

Subs: (all used) Bruce, Sharp, Elliston, Sykes

18th Player: Bryer

Tries: Stead (4), Kennedy (55), Whitehead (65)

Goals: Howard (2/3)

#OurEra | #ThisIsYork ⚔