SAINTS Women retained the Challenge Cup after a hard-fought 18-8 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road.
It was a tough game with Leeds hitting the front on 15 minutes when Zoe Hornby powered through the Saints defence for a try goaled by Courtney Winfield-Hill.
Saints responded on 34 minutes when Zoe Harris’ kick right was collected by Leah Burke for an unconverted score.
A Winfield-Hill penalty gave Leeds an 8-4 lead at the break.
Saints took it up a notch in the second half, with the carries of Vicky Whitfield and the line clearing charges of Amy Hardcastle getting Saints on the front foot, Saints opened the half’s scoring on 49 minutes when Beth Stott’s clever kick into the ground, close to the Rhinos line was too trick for Leeds to collect.
Wing Eboni Partington was on hand to collect the loose ball first to level at 8-8.
The game changer came on 63 minutes when Winfield-Hill’s penalty missed – and failed to go dead with Rhinos chasing to try and keep in play.
Saints punished them and a minute later 'captain fantastic; Jodie Cunningham took matters into her own hands ten metres out from the Leeds line to see off the defenders and ground the ball with a determined effort.
Stott’s goal made it 14-8 and there was still work to do in defence with the Saints crowd lifting their defensive effort.
With two minutes to go Tara Jones, Stott, Cunningham and Hardcastle to get Partington in at the corner.
Leeds Rhinos Women: Francesca Goldthorp, Natasha Gaines, Hanna Butcher, Caitlin Beevers, Samantha Hulme, Georgia Roche, Courtney Winfield-Hill, Danielle Anderson, Keara Bennett, Aimee Staveley, Chloe Kerrigan, Elychia Watson, Zoe Hornby.
Subs: Emma Lumley, Shannon Lacey, Orla McCallion, Alexandra Barnes.
Tries: Zoe Hornby (15).
Goals: Courtney Winfield-Hill (2).
Saints Women Team: Rebecca Rotheram, Leah Burke, Carrie Roberts, Amy Hardcastle, Eboni Partington, Zoe Harris, Beth Stott, Isabelle Rudge, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Naomi Williams, Paige Travis, Jodie Cunningham.
Subs: Alice Sandham, Emily Rudge, Victoria Whitfield, Rachael Woosey.
Tries: Leah Burke (34), Eboni Partington (49, 78), Jodie Cunningham (64) Goals: Beth Stott (1).
HT: 8-4.
Att: 5,888.
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