SAINTS’ reign as champions is over after they suffered an agonising 20-13 defeat at treble-seeking Leeds.

They had produced a brave effort to lead 13-8 with 12 minutes to go until the game turned on a 40/20.

Kevin Sinfield’s kick gave Leeds the perfect position to launch a raid, with Ryan Hall somehow forcing the ball over the line despite a three-man tackle which looked to have forced the ball out on the line.

A late Kallum Watkins try gave a harsh scoreline as Saints tried to chase the game with forced passing.

But nobody can fault the effort Saints put into this for 80 minutes and they suffered as a result, with Tommy Makinson hobbling off after the break, with Alex Walmsley being helped off at the end.

There had been plenty of big efforts from the men in the red vee, with Kyle Amor being a tower of strengthin the middle, Atelea Vea running strongly, Jon Wilkin and James Roby giving great leadership and Adam Quinlan being faultless at full back.

Saints got off to the worst possible start when Jordan Turner dropped Zak Hardaker kick off, but they produced a great defensive set to repel the early storm with Adam Swift defusing the danger from Danny McGuire’s kick on the last tackle.

Adam Quinlan then safely took another McGuire kick and then Saints had their share of the ball.

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After they had forced an error from Kallum Watkins Saints pressed the line.

But it took a wonderful piece of individual play from the outstanding James Roby to open the scoring on seven minutes.

Showing strength, footwork and vision – reminiscent of Ellery Hanley’s Wembley effort of 1989 – Roby spun out of six would be tacklers to score.

Luke Walsh goaled, but then Saints had to be back on their defensive mettle as the Rhinos always looked capable of piecing the line aand attack from deep.

After Joel Moon had broke through the middle, foiled by a super effort from Quinlan, the ball came right were Tom Briscoe looked certain to score.

Adam Swift had other ideas and caught him with the perfect tackle on the line to force the Leeds wing to fumble in the act of grounding.

Saints went up the other end and were unlucky not to score on the right when Tommy Makinson’s inside ball was intercepted by a Leeds player running back in play.

But they added a Walsh penalty on 17 minutes to push the score up to 8-0.

Again they were close with another attack on the left, but Walsh’s kick wide to Swift was just a little too quick.

Leeds countered like the great side they are, and after Vea had gone high on Rob Burrow Zak Hardaker crossed from the pressure from the penalty.

A Sinfield penalty squared it up by Walsh chipped over a drop goal to give Saints a 9-8 lead at half time.

The sight of Makinsoon hobbling at half time was a worry and he was off within five minutes of the restart with forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook moving into the centres.

Saints foiled Carl Ablett on the line with a three-man tackle, but then went up the other end and were unlucky not to score when Amor backed himself from a break but was foiled by Hardaker.

Saints stretched their lead with a wonderful passage of play when they dispossessed Watkins, with Wilkin whipping the ball wide for Turner to send Mark Percival dashing in at the corner.

But crucially Walsh missed the goal, and although they had pressure on the Leeds line Roby was foiled by a magnificent Jamie Peacock tackle on the line.

In the next play a Leeds 40/20 turned the game on its head, rejuvenating the shattered Rhinos.

A penalty off the back of that finally took its toll with Hall going over and being awarded the try.

Sinfield hoofed over for a lead they would not relinquish.

Leeds: Hardaker; Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Garbutt, Burrow, Leuluai, Ablett,Delaney, Cuthbertson. Subs: Singleton, Keinhorst, Peacock, Lilley.

Saints: Quinlan; Makinson, Percival, Jones, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Masoe, Roby, Amor, Vea, Wilkin, Flanagan. Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Greenwood, Savelio.