Leeds Rhinos 18-10 St Helens
Lee Smith grabbed a brace
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Saturday, 10, Oct 2009 07:58
By Tom Powell.
Leeds Rhinos made Super League history with their third consecutive Grand Final victory after an 18-10 win over St Helens.
A brace of tries from Lee Smith was enough to see off a resilient Saints side whose points all came from youngster Kyle Eastmond.
Tries from Matt Diskin and Smith cancelled out Eastmond's converted try and penalty to keep the teams locked at 8-8 after the first period.
In the second half the sides traded penalties before Smith's second try gave Leeds their third Grand Final victory in succession.
The Saints were straight onto the front foot with Sean Long hoisting a high-kick into the Manchester night sky but Leeds full-back Brent Webb snaffled the catch.
Jon Wilkin breathed a sigh of relief after his sliced kick handed Leeds good field position, only for Danny McGuire to knock-on with the try line at his mercy.
With fourteen minutes gone St Helens grabbed the first try of the evening through make shift centre Eastmond.
Wilkins kick through deflecting off Kevin Sinfield and into the grateful arms of Eastmond who scuttled in for the opening score. Eastmond's conversion made it 6-0.
In the space of two minutes Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Scott Donald came within inches of restoring parity only to be thwarted by heroic Saints defending.
A minute later and the Rhinos found themselves further behind. Eastmond notching a penalty after Leeds were deemed to be offside from a high-kick.
Out of absolutely nothing Matt Diskin breached the Saints defence to drag his side back into the contest.
The hooker worming his way over from close range to half the deficit. Sinfield's conversion attempt came back of the post.
It was all Leeds now and they were soon back on level terms with half-time approaching.
A mix up in the Saints defence following McGuire's grubber giving winger Smith enough time to touch down in the corner.
Sinfield was again wayward with his conversion making the half-time score 8-8.
Into the second period and the Rhinos were soon in front, albeit by just the one point following a Sinfield drop-goal.
Saints were almost back in front but Ade Gardner was adjudged by the video referee to have been in touch when he went over in the corner.
Rhinos were threatening to take this game away from Saints and if it wasn't for Francis Meli it could have been all over.
The winger on hand to gather a Sinfield grubber with Scott Donald breathing down his neck.
Instead it was Saints who regained the advantage. Eastmond taking his and his side's tally to ten with a penalty, 10-9 with 21 minutes to go.
The game see-sawed back in the Rhinos favour with 15 minutes to go, Sinfield's penalty making it 11-10.
Eastmond's personal crusade to win this match continued and the 20-year old came within inches of giving his side the lead again, putting a foot in touch as he went over in the corner.
With seven minutes to go Smith scored the try that re-wrote Super League history.
The winger latching onto a McGuire kick to run in his second try and all but give the Rhinos their third Grand Final win in a row. Sinfield added the extras to make it 17-10.
That put the nail in the Saints coffin with Rob Burrow's drop goal hammering it in further as the Rhinos triumphed for the third season in a row.