engage Super League Grand Final 2007

13th October                         Champions!

St Helens: (6) 6
Tries: Roby
Goals: Long

Leeds: (8) 33
Tries: Webb, Lauitiiti, Donald, Smith, Jones-Buchanan
Goals: Sinfield 6
Drops: Burrow

Images are used in this story. We ask you to not save these to your computer or use them in any way. All images used on this site are used with permission from the agency.

The defending champions came into the engage Super League Grand Final clear favorites to secure yet another cup victory, and tie up the treble in 2007.

The Leeds pack was once again dominated by players brought through our very own youth system, as the lads managed to score five tries against the current holders of the competition. It was the third time this season the Rhinos had kept the Saints scoreless in the second half.

St Helens had the first chance of the game in the second minute after hooker Matt Diskin obstructed Sean Long, but the 12 degree kick almost in front of the post was missed.

Leeds did well to keep St Helens at bay in the opening few sets of the game, especially after Lee Smith got thrown in to touch in one of the only mistakes of the game (first tackle).

14 minutes had past and we were already in front from a penalty kick which was earned by a Long high shot. Skipper Kevin Sinfield slotted over the kick to put the Rhinos in the lead.

In the next couple of sets, Leeds added even more points to the scoreboard. Scott Donald scooted on the left wing before he offloaded to fullback Brent Webb, who crashed over the line by beating Paul Wellens with a neat sidestep to the corner. Sinny added the extras on offer to make the score 8-0.

The dominating Leeds fans were hoping that was in until half time but Saints hit back on the 26th minute with the most complicated try of the year yet.

Long made a great break and dummied in the centre of the field before offloading to Lee Gilmour, whilst the Man of Stee, James Roby, was ready to take the pass and beat Brent Webb to score over the whitewash. 

Long then made his final attempt at goal to make the half time score 8-6, although a brilliant McGuire chip into the the corner failed to reach super fast Scott Donald.

Now after the dodgy half time entertainment, Leeds were fired up. More fired up than ever before.

As the hooter sounded Saints had the early pressure, but failed to convert it into points, even though Leeds' Donald that almost scored in the first half, knocked on, playing the ball on his own 40. After watching it on Sky Sports it seems Klein made the wrong decision.

The desperate Saints defence failed to hold out any longer as Burrow made a superb break through and Sinfield recovered his own charged down kick via handing Ali Lauitiiti the ball to just push Matt Gidley and the St Helens defence away, to slide into the corner right in front of the Leeds fans.

Two tries in two minutes - the boys were over again after Scott Donald made a break from nowhere - Wellens was the last defender and Scott just speeded up as he met their star full back to go over the white wash. This was the star full back Sky Sports had billed as the top full back in SL prior to the game. Surely this was what every Leeds fan in Old Trafford was waiting for?

On our next set, Rob Burrow slotted a one pointer over the Leeds goal posts, which meant if St Helens were going to steal this final from us, they would have to do so with three tries. But there was still more to come from the Rhinos.

It was a big set from the entertainers; Long kicked a 40-20. Although it was probably beyond Saints to win this game, Leeds defended well, yet when the possesion was turned over, Gareth Ellis was forced to knock on by Keiron Cunningham on deep inside our own half.

Yet again an amazing defence summed up their determination to win it for not only themselves - Tony Smith, the fans and their own friends and family. At the end of the Leeds set, McGuire slanted a perfect kick across to Leeds who almost stole the ball from Meli and crossed the line.

The evening was sealed and ended with a bang with only four seconds remaining on the clock, and the lads were still trying and pushing, just to make the reward sweeter. The ball was handed over to JJB, who just wasn't going to be stopped. Klein wasn't sure but the video ref Bentham awarded a try.

I feel the game turned early in the second half when Saints earned a scrum in the Leeds end. I think it was Ryan Bailey, Ali and McGuire who just urged the Rhinos fans to get behind them. It was almost if for just a split second, all the players thought, hang on a moment, we can really do this. The crowd lifted and that was that. In that resulting set of six to Saints from the scrum, they made a mistake and we had the ball back again. And correct me if I am wrong but wasn't that the set that the Lauitiiti try came from.

It was once again a professional performance from Leeds, and we did deserve to win last night. Lets just hope Bluey can do the same with the champions as what Smith did.

See you at the World Club Championship, which will probably be at Elland Road, and more importantly, we’ll see you at the start of the 2008 season at the Headingley Carnegie!

Good luck Tony!

 

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS