Sep 22

Leeds Rhinos 10-12 York Valkyrie: Match Report

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York Valkyrie will defend their Betfred Women’s Super League title, after a tense play-off semi-final win over Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley.

The 12-10 victory was built on a strong defensive performance, after Leeds fought back in the second half.

York played out the last few minutes with just 12 players after Tamzin Renouf was sent to the sin bin, but they hung on for a place in next month’s final.

A strong start for the Valkyrie saw them almost open the scoring after just five minutes.

Rhinos’ Amy Hardcastle failed to clear a Sade Rihari kick in goal, but neither Lacey Owen or Lisa Parker could take advantage and touch down after the error.

With a quarter of the game gone, York were still enjoying the better of the territory and possession but still couldn’t engineer a way through on the last of their sets.

It took a mazy run from Georgie Hetherington to set up the Valkyrie just outside the 10 metre area. On the next of the set, Kelsey Gentles used her strength to force her way over for the opening try. Marshall converted.

Hetherington almost extended the lead soon after, only to knock on over the try line after pressure from Caitlin Casey in the tackle.

What followed was Leeds’s first spell in the York 20 metre zone. The Rhinos had back to back sets, but York’s tryline defence passed the first real test.

Just before the break, former Valkyrie, Liv Whitehead looked to have space in the corner, only again for York’s defence to stand firm and take the winger into touch.

It was the ideal start to the second half for York, after a high kick was fumbled by Whitehead.

Tamzin Renouf pounced on the loose ball and fed Savannah Andrade who scooted in for the second try of the game. It gave Marshall an easy attempt at goal in front of the posts.

York’s defence was tested again with back to back Leeds sets near their own line but again they denied the Rhinos with some strong tackling.

Leeds were looking a better side as the second half wore on and continued to build pressure on the York line.

Eventually their pressure told, when Ebony Stead’s arcing run got her through the defence and in at the corner. Keara Bennett added the goal to get the Rhinos back in to it with just over ten minutes to go.

York’s task of keeping the lead was made harder with six minutes to go, when Renouf was sin binned for a late challenge.

Leeds took advantage when a kick through on the last tackle wasn’t cleared by Eboni Partington and Lucy Murray won the chase to get a hand on the ball and put Leeds to within two points, with the conversion going wide from Bennett.

As the clock counted down, the Valkyrie kept possession to seal the win to take them back to the Grand Final.

Leeds: Stead, Cousins, Hardcastle, Robinson, Whitehead, Butcher, Casey, Sykes, Bennett, Donnelly, Hoyle, Murray, Dainton

Subs (all used): Bruce, Northrop, Walker, Glynn

18th Player: Greening

Tries: Stead (66), Murray (78)

Goals: Bennett (1/2)

York: Hetherington, Wilton, Roberts, Parker, Partington, Rihari, Renouf, Bell, Wood, Brennan, Owen, Andrade, Pakulis,

Subs (used): Marshall, Gentles, Sharp (not used) Exley

18th Player: Stimpson

Tries: Gentles (20), Andrade (42)

Goals: Marshall (2/2)

Sin Bin: Renouf (74)