Saints go marching on in Super League after beating Rhinos
St Helens' Sean Long kicked three goals
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Friday, 20, Jun 2008 10:45
St Helens have sliced Leeds' advantage at the top of Super League after a 26-12 win over the Rhinos at Headingley.
The Saints, who led 12-10 at the break, scored tries through Maurie Fa'asavalu, Bryn Hargreaves, Leon Pryce and a brace from Francis Meli while Sean Long kicked three goals.
Leeds scored tries through skipper Kevin Sinfield and Scott Donald but their hopes of victory were destroyed after the dismissal of Nick Scruton in the second half.
The win moves the Saints just two points behind the world champions after 18 games.
After a tense opening, Great Britain international Fa'asavalu gave the visitors the lead on 24 minutes when he collected James Graham's pass to crash over, with Long slotting over the extras.
That try sparked the reigning champions into action and they soon levelled when Sinfield touched down Danny McGuire's looping kick, before adding the extras.
But the Saints went in ahead at the break when Long's kick struck the upright and feel into the grateful arms of prop Hargreaves who touched down.
St Helens made the brighter start in the second half with Meli finishing off a sweeping move to score.
Then came the turning point when Scruton was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Keiron Cunningham.
St Helens made the extra man count by slicing through the Rhinos defence with ease for Meli to grab his second after Paul Wellens' surging run.
Donald gave Leeds a glimmer of hope when Donald scored for the 14th consecutive game to reduce their deficit to six points.
But the 2006 champions sealed victory when Pryce grabbed Long's kick to cross the line to hand the Rhinos their fourth loss of the season.