St Helens took full benefit of a sloppy Leeds Rhinos efficiency to say a deserved Tremendous League victory.
Kyle Feldt kicked two penalty objectives for the house aspect within the opening 25 minutes earlier than Deon Cross prolonged Saints’ benefit by darting over for the sport’s first attempt on the stroke of half-time.
Leeds improved after the break and introduced themselves again into the competition when Riley Lumb went over within the nook for his tenth attempt of the season.
Nevertheless, a string of dealing with errors in stifling warmth restricted the Rhinos’ momentum, and tries from Owen Dagnall and Tristan Sailor assured the factors for an injury-hit Saints aspect.
Leeds keep third within the desk on 20 factors after their first defeat in six, whereas St Helens are fifth, two factors behind.
Rhinos received 17-4 when the edges met final month, however they have been beneath par from the off in Lancashire.
Feldt’s two penalty objectives got here after Harry Newman dedicated a excessive sort out and James Bentley strayed offside, and people infringements have been reflective of an error-strewn first interval from Brad Arthur’s aspect.
Leeds’ one actual alternative within the first half got here through a Ryan Corridor interception, however the veteran winger was halted by an outstanding sort out by player-of-the-match Harry Robertson.
And when Leeds coughed up possession in their very own 20 not lengthy after, Sailor launched Cross, whose intelligent show-and-go deceived Corridor and offered a transparent path to the road.
Half-time supplied much-needed respite for Rhinos, who got here out with extra depth initially of the second half.
They got here again into the competition after an impressive Lachie Miller break – the Australian full-back evading a number of tackles earlier than transferring the ball out large, the place Lumb dotted down.
Jarrod O’Connor went shut for Leeds with a darting effort, and because the recreation opened up, the momentum swung backwards and forwards earlier than St Helens delivered a telling blow.
Off the again of a scrum, deft arms from Jonny Lomax and Sailor put Dagnall into house. He stepped off his left foot to attain his second attempt in two begins and Feldt transformed to make it a 10-point lead.
Leeds – who accomplished simply 69% of their units and made 16 errors – by no means really appeared like bridging that hole.
Sailor made positive for Saints when he burst via a spot within the closing levels to make it 18-4.
