St Helens 42-12: Leeds: Hurrell and Walmsley doubles inspire Saints

Konrad Hurrell bagged a brace to help champions St Helens beat his former club Leeds 42-12 in the first game back following the international weekend.

Aidan Sezer made his highly-anticipated return following a lengthy injury lay-off to partner Blake Austin in the halves.

St Helens centre Konrad Hurrell scored the game’s first try. The Tonga powerhouse went over eight minutes in against his former club.

Kristian Woolf’s side extended their lead midway through the first half when a sublime offload from Morgan Knowles found Alex Walmsley who crashed over.

Leeds hit back with a mammoth effort from Harry Newman, who surely enhanced his England World Cup chances with another glittering display.

The Rhinos had chance to draw level in the 34th minute through Sam Walters, but he dropped the ball when going over.

And Saints soon capitalised on Leeds’ error. They went up the other end and a move which featured the ball going through eight pairs of hands ended up in Regan Grace touching down. The hosts were 16-6 to the good at the break.

HT: St Helens 16-6 Leeds Rhinos

Hurrell went over for his second shortly after the second half restart to give Saints a 14-point cushion.

But the Rhinos came charging back once more. Rohan Smith’s side pulled one back through former New Zealand international Bodene Thompson.

Agnatius Paasi continued his excellent form for the Super League champions by bulldozing his way over on the hour. Tommy Makinson’s conversion put Saints 26-12 in front.

The Rhinos were dealt a blow when Thompson was sin-binned for a trip.

Saints made the most of having the extra man on the field. They threw the ball out wide to forward Joe Batchelor, who scored the week after making his England debut. Dan Norman scored another for Saints just moments later.

Things went from bad to worse for Leeds in the last five minutes. Zane Tetevano was sent off for a high shot on Konrad Hurrell before James Bentley was sin-binned for deliberately delaying play.

Walmsley got his second at the death to wrap up a comfortable 42-12 win for St Helens.

St Helens: Bennison; Makinson, Hurrell, Davies, Grace; Welsby, Lomax; Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles. Subs: Lussick, Paasi, Wingfield, Norman.

Tries: Hurrell (2), Walmsley (2), Grace, Paasi, Batchelor, Norman Goals: Makinson 5

Leeds: Hardaker; Fusitu’a, Newman, Martin, Handley; Austin, Sezer; Oledzki, Leeming, Prior, Bentley, Thompson, Donaldson. Subs: Tetevano, Walters, Myler, O’Connor.

Tries: Sezer, Thompson Goals: Martin 2

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