TWO classy Tommy Makinson finishes book-ended Saints’ Challenge Cup victory over holders Leeds – but the 70 odd minutes in between were often far from pretty at times.

Going into the last eight is all that counted, however, Saints were often left frustrated by the slow-it down tactics deployed by the heavily forwards-orientated injury-hit Leeds team, resulting in an ugly spectacle albeit with an exciting finish.

Understandably teams like Leeds, defending a piece of silverware, were always going to use tactics to nullify Saints’ strength, denying them the quick play the ball and momentum that an Alex Walmsley carry or a Makinson or Regan Grace return gives them.

In that sense the six again restart rule, following on from last week’s game of bogged down rucks, is giving a licence to make it a scrappy and disjointed affair – creating the sort of spectacle that will have armchair fans switching for the off button in droves.

Maybe Saints have to be better at responding – as often you could see that frustration manifest itself in talking back to the ref, the lapses in concentration and a tendency to push passes in tight spots.

They did feel justifiably hard done to when skipper James Roby planted the ball down from dummy half, but the ref did not go to the screen.

It all became quite a vicious circle and Saints – left feeling the effects of losing middles Matty Lees and Sione Mata’utia were suddenly in a real battle as the first half wore on.

The introduction of fit-again heavyweight Agnatius Paasi was a game changer, with his barn-storming running creating havoc with one particularly aggressive carry leaving Leeds’ King Vuniyayawa on the deck.

The momentum had already shifted before Rhinos went down to 12-men following the red-carding of Zane Tetevano on 45 minutes for a late hit on Theo Fages after his first half dig on the same player had gone unpunished.

Another rampaging Paasi run and a Gidleyesque Jack Welsby flick sent Grace in at corner for his first with his brace soon following courtesy of a Jonny Lomax cut-out pass.

Mentally Saints must have started humming the words to “We’re on the march with Woolfy’s Army…” as the clocking off cards went in.

Two soft Brad Dwyer tries made it a nerve-jangling ending but they switched their game heads back on, epitomised by the chase to Fages’ deep kick, to wrap it up.

Saints: Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Welsby, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Thompson, Bentley, Mata’utia.

Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Paasi, Dodd.

Tries: Makinson (3, 79), Grace (48, 61)

Goals: Makinson (5)

Leeds: Broadbent; Briscoe, Mellor, Sutcliffe, Briscoe; Martin, Smith; Oledzki, Leeming, Prior, Walters, Donaldson, Tetevano.

Subs: Dwyer, O’Connor, Vuniyayawa, Gannon.

Tries: Oledzki (10), Dwyer (65, 71)

Goals: Martin (3)

Half time: 8-6