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Rugby League

Leeds retain Super League crown

05/10/2008

Leeds Rhinos have successfully defended the engage Super League title, beating St Helens 24-16 at Old Trafford.

In a repeat of last year's Grand Final, the league's top two teams met to battle it out with Saints hoping to avenge their 2007 defeat.

Departing head coach Daniel Anderson's side were expected to lift the trophy after claiming a convincing victory over the Rhinos to earn their place in the final just a fortnight earlier.

But Brian McLennan's team had come through a tough match with Wigan and it appeared to have prepared them well for a physical encounter on a rainy night in Manchester.

St Helens started well, taking the lead after five minutes through newly-crowned Man of Steel James Graham. The prop was put in following a fine break by Lee Gilmour, who linked up with Paul Wellens to create the try.

And Gilmour was again causing problems for the Leeds defence minutes later, bringing Saints down the pitch before Matt Gidley was bundled into touch as he dived for the line.

Determined not to allow their opponents the same runaway victory they had recorded two weeks earlier, the Rhinos began to hit back with 20 minutes gone, diminutive scrum-half Rob Burrow leading the way.

He found Jamie Jones Buchanan near the line and the forward's slick hands out of the tackle allowed man of the match Lee Smith to cross.

Captain Kevin Sinfield added the extras from wide out and the scores were tied at 6-6.

With half an hour played the errors started to come from both sides, as steady rainfall made handling a difficult proposition.

But Leeds continued to press and took the lead through a lively effort from Ryan Hall.

Rhinos fans held their collective breath as Sinfield's long pass looked like it might be intercepted, but centre Keith Senior instinctively shipped it out to Hall.

The winger, in for the injured Brent Webb, beat his man with a neat kick along the ground and pounced on the ball in the corner.

Sinfield once again made the difficult conversion, sending his side into the break with a 12-6 lead.

But Saints wasted no time in hitting back in the second half, as a Sean Long kick to the corner was tapped down by Ade Gardner to send Matt Gidley over.

Long's second conversion of the night levelled the scores but Leeds went ahead just minutes later as Burrow continued to cause problems.

He found a gap to bring Rhinos within five metres of the line before Sinfield kicked in behind the defence and Danny McGuire slid in for the score.

Saints continued to battle back as the game truly came to life, with several thumping tackles needed to keep Leeds in front.

But the Rhinos' strong defence was eventually broken down once more as a James Roby mis-pass found Gardner in the corner.

With Long missing the conversion Leeds remained in front with 20 minutes left to play.

And that lead was soon extended, as McGuire gathered a knock-on from a high kick and sidestepped his way to the line to give Leeds an eight point cushion following Sinfield's conversion.

Needing two scores to salvage the match, St Helens began to get desperate but could not find a way through as the clock ticked down and Leeds claimed a hard-earned 24-16 victory.