THERE were shades of 2019 Super League semi-final with the way Saints Women were beaten 20-18 courtesy of a late Leeds Rhinos try at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Having led from the outset, in an enthralling game that was part of the double header, Saints fell to a late Fran Goldthorpe try with Courtney Winfield-Hill tagging on the winning conversion.

It will come as no consolation to the women in the red vee - but the 80 minutes was an outstanding advert for the game and did a tremdous job in showcasing the sport.

It is Saints’ second defeat on the spin and they will look back and reflect on where the game went away from them after looking so strong from the outset.

Saints started well, with Beth Stott sending Jodie Cunningham over from close range to open up a 4-0 lead.

They soon doubled that when stand off Zoe Harris went through a gap to make it 8-0.

It was looking even more promising when England centre Amy Hardcastle powered down the left-hand side, fending off Fran Goldthorp’s challenge en route to the tryline. Harris converted, giving Saints a 14-0 lead.

But then Leeds were a allowed a toe-hold in the game and they didn’t need asking twice.

First, Caitlin Beevers went over from close range and in a quick-fire double Jasmine Cudjoe dashed through from dummy half to cut Saints’ lead to four points at the interval.

It took Leeds just two minutes into the restart to level matters with Goldthorp piercing the Saints defensive line with a try-scoring run.

Saints re-asserted themselves when off the back of a big carry from prop Chantelle Crowl, Tara Jones went over from dummy half.

Crucially Harris’ goal went wide and Saints had a 18-14 lead.

They looked to press that home but were twice denied with Eboni Partington having her score chalked off by the video referee.

Paige Travis’s effort met the same fate with the referee sending it up as a try, but the video referee giving it the thumbs down.

It meant Saints frantically had to defend a four-point lead and as Leeds chanced their hand.

And this is where the TWS was re-visited by the ghosts of that sickening last play of the game defeat at the hands of the Rhinos in 2019.

Leeds won the race to a kick with Goldthorp scoring to the right of the sticks. Winfield-Hill was left with the formality of converting to consign Saints to their second successive defeat after the loss at York.

Saints Women Team: Rebecca Rotheram; Leah Burke, Carrie Roberts, Amy Hardcastle, Eboni Partington; Beth Stott, Zoe Harris; Chantelle Crowl, Tara Jones, Shona Hoyle, Naomi Williams, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham. Subs: Victoria Whitfield, Paige Travis, Darcy Stott, Rachael Woosey.

Tries: Jodie Cunningham (3), Zoe Harris (18), Amy Hardcastle (21), Tara Jones (61).

Conversions: Zoe Harris.

Leeds Rhinos Women: Francesca Goldthorp; Eloise Hayward, Hanna Butcher, Caitlin Beevers, Sophie Robinson; Georgia Roche, Courtney Winfield-Hill; Danielle Anderson, Keara Bennett, Alexandra Barnes, Chloe Kerrigan, Elle Frain, Zoe Hornby. Subs: Orla McCallion, Jasmine Cudjoe, Adaoma Akwilkill, Sophie Nuttall.

Tries: Caitlin Beevers (27), Jasmine Cudjoe (32), Francesca Goldthorp (42, 78).

Conversions: Courtney Winfield-Hill (2).