1. IT didn't matter how many key players Leeds had missing, there is something about the sight of that red vee that brings them up to the mark.

They had enough quality on the pitch to trouble any team - from Ryan Hall's strong, set-starting runs, the offloads of Mitch Garbutt and Adam Cuthbertson and the twin dummy half threat of Brad Dwyer and especially the lighting-fast Matt Parcell.

Roared on by that vocal Headingley crowd, Leeds controlled the second half remarkably well - and as predicted by Justin Holbrook ahead of the game, those offloads stuck.

But Saints found a way to hang in there - and come up with the killer plays in the last five minutes.

2. Danny Richardson showed nerves of steel to snatch the win, chipping over the conversion from out wide and then putting himself in the perfect spot to knock over the winning drop goal.

There was a lengthy spell, after Sean Long's departure, in which Saints sorely missed a drop goal expert. That they have one now could be priceless in the tight games to come this year.

But there was much more about Richardson's game than the goals - his switch for Mark Percival's try was a smartly executed play from a player who is still learning his trade.

3. Leeds played a shrewd game, drilling the ball into touch on the last to neutralise the threat of the pacy Saints back three from broken play.

Brian McDermott has clearly studied the tapes of games against Castleford and Hull KR where Messrs Barba, Makinson and Grace have countered.

It is a pretty conservative tactic, but no doubt other clubs will follow suit.

4. One key feature, utilised by both sides on Friday was the short kick off.

Leeds wing Ryan Hall secured the ball from one - and that immediately paved the way for their swift response.

And after the Brett Ferres try, Percival and Jonny Lomax worked well to gather the ball to give Saints a fighting chance in the closing minutes.

The modern game tends to play the percentages, keeping teams back.

But as the Hull KR try at Castleford showed - catch it on Super League Show - the restart should give teams a real chance to mix it up and go on the offensive.

5. Leeds' hooker Matt Parcell had an outstanding game - but opposite him James Robt was again immense. Tackling, mine-sweeping dangerous grubbers, dashing from dummy half and being unlucky to have been held up twice on the line.

He also got his service to Richardson for the drop goal absolutely spot on to help bring home the spoils.

6. Does anything more need to be said about the ale throwing at games?

Let's get it right - it is not about creating atmosphere. Anyone of us who stood on the Scaff, going doolally to Mal Meninga in 1984, will tell you that you can still celebrate boisterously without being anti-social and moronic.

Seriously, when you throw a pint or a bottle of beer in the air where do you expect it to land?

Nobody is talking about accidents, we are talking about the deliberate launching of drinks that soak all and sundry beneath the spray - from little girls to OAPs.

It should not take a Saints player to intervene on this to persuade that tiny element involved to pack it in.

There have been enough warnings now, we need some action now to cut it out once and for all.