Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PROP STARS FIRE SAINTS
Rampant Walmsley and Thompson rock Rhinos
St Helens 27 Leeds 22
PROP idols Alex Walmsley and Luke Thompson took centre stage as St Helens won the latest Super League Friday night thriller.
In a breathless contest the home side led 10-0 and trailed 10-22 before the two England front-rowers grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck.
Walmsley, who missed most of last season with a neck injury, stormed over twice in the space of six minutes to close the gap to two points.
Then Thompson followed suit to give Justin Holbrook’s side an advantage they would not relinquish again – despite a desperately close late call when Tui Lolohea thought he’d levelled matters.
It provided another terrific contest under the competition’s new highspeed laws. And despite defeat, the Rhinos have already made significant strides under coach David Furner since their opening-night defeat at Warrington and could yet challenge the top sides again this season.
There seemed to be little indication of what was to come when Saints raced into a 10-0 lead despite losing centre Kevin Naiqama to a head knock in the first two minutes.
Theo Fages opened the scoring with a disputed try, Leeds players believing there was a double movement after he picked up a Konrad Hurrell mistake.
Soon after Jonny Lomax touched down a loose ball after Regan Grace’s long-range break had laid the platform.
But the home side were 10-22 down by the break as the Rhinos – with Hurrell rampant in Naiqama’s absence – found their feet.
Opposite centre Kallum Watkins crossed first after smart hands from left to right, before Hurrell crashed over in the opposite corner.
The Tongan international then turned provider for his winger Ash Handley, and Leeds had a fourth try when giant prop Mikolaj Oledzki forced his way over despite.
Then the tide turned again.
There was no stopping Walmsley from a James Roby pass, and soon after he beat four Leeds defenders to make it 20-22. Thompson then rampaged through the visitors’ defence.
Leeds came forward again and Lolohea was convinced he had touched down with seven minutes remaining.
But the video referee backed on-field official Robert Hicks’ no-try call thanks to Mark Percival’s last-ditch tackle before Roby added a late drop goal.