Super Saints stop Rhinos

St Helens closed the gap on Leeds at the top of the engage Super League to just two points with a 26-12 win over the Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie.

Francis Meli bagged a second-half brace to help Saints come out on top in a repeat of last year's Grand Final and extend their winning run to 11 games.

Leeds's cause was not helped by the dismissal of Nick Scruton for a dangerous tackle on Keiron Cunningham, and the reigning champions have now lost two in a row for the first time under Brian McClennan.

Saints had been on top when both sides had been at full strength, Meli's first try of the contest following on from first-half efforts from Maurie Fa'asavalu and Bryn Hargreaves to make it 18-6.

Thundering

The early exchanges had set the tone for a thundering contest that saw plenty of big hits, none more so than the two James Graham received from Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai in the first few minutes.

Fa'asavalu was also the subject of some heavy work from both Ryan Bailey and Gareth Ellis, though the officials were not impressed, placing the incident on report.

Rather than retaliating in kind, the Saints sub got retribution in a different way, breaking through some weak tackling to get the opening try after 24 minutes.

Leeds responded in rapid fashion, the impressive Danny McGuire, who had gone close earlier with a clean break, putting in delightful grubber kick that was pounced on by Kevin Sinfield.

Boosted by the skipper's score, the reigning champions looked to be on course for a quick-fire second only for Brent Webb to wait too long to play in Lee Smith, the pass falling behind the winger and allowing Saints to escape.

Within six tackles the ball was down the other end of the field for Sean Long to put in a low kick that took a cruel bounce off the upright into the path of Hargreaves, who gratefully fell on the ball for his fourth try in a week following a hat-trick against Bradford.

Although Long couldn't add the extras, a 10-6 lead at the break put Saints in control and Meli's first, coming after referee Steve Ganson had angered the home fans and players by judging a knock-on by Smith to give Saints an extra set of six, increased the gap even further.

Dismissal

The decision by the whistle blower, proved correct by television replays, resulted in the contest boiling over, Scruton's needless lift and throw on Cunningham leaving the Rhinos a man light with over 20 minutes to play.

Before the forward had even had time to turn the taps on to start his early bath Meli had crossed for his second on the left flank, though Long's third straight missed conversion meant the gap was only 12.

Despite being down a man Leeds, as expected of reigning champions, continued to fight on, giving themselves a lifeline when Scott Donald scored for the 14th consecutive game.

However it proved to be a false dawn for the Rhinos in the evening sunshine, and when Leon Pryce climbed highest to claim an up-and-under and land over the try line, the game was up.

Long - who had put up the bomb for his half-back partner to score - added the conversion and also slotted over a late penalty to put Saints right back in the race for top spot, while also laying down a marker ahead of the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final between the two heavyweights.