SAINTS Women handed Leeds Rhinos their first defeat of the season, emerging victorious to the tune of 20-14 at Thatto Heath.

The kicking game of halves Faye Gaskin and Zoe Harris gave Saints repeat sets.

A low cross kick from Harris was dropped, allowing Katie-May Williams to react first and touch down.

The Rhinos big pack put the pressure firmly back on the Saints line and eventually it cracked .

Rhinos were stronger up the middle and Saints needed a bit of guile and wide running to pay dividends.

A charge down of Tara Jones’ last tackle kick gave the Saints another six and after Becca Rotheram and the tireless Channy Crowl had driven the ball in Gaskin took control.

Taking the ball in the middle she drifted left before shimmying her way through the line and stepping inside the full back to score.

Saints bombed two overlaps on the left by turning the ball inside.

And Rhinos made Saints pay with a trybut five minutes to the break the Saints stretched their lead with Williams’ second try.

Again the Rhinos responded with a long-range break, then a try from dummy half.

Saints were first on the scoreboard in the second half and after a powerful 40 metre run from Williams the ball was moved right to Emily Rudge, who ran a delightful inside line to score.

Gaskin converted and the Saints were six in front again.

In the final ten minutes Saints showed the desire to scramble their way through repeated Rhinos sets to hang on for the win.

Gaskin was her usual prompting self directing traffic with the strong running Katie-May Williams the pick of the backs.

The pack as a unit did well with a special plaudit for Channy Crowl.

Saints: Rotheram; Burke,Williams, Williams, Burke; Harris, Gaskin; Taylor, Jones (C), Lovejoy, Mura, Rudge, Crowl.

Subs: Marsh, Rudge, Gladman, Ward.

Leeds: Booth; Hill, Spurr, Price, Robinson; Hill, Butcher; Priim, Forsell, Anderson, Staveley, Graves, Marshall. Subs: Townend, Beevers, Lacey, Johnson.