Saints Alliance 30, Leeds Rhinos 42

LEADERS Saints' title hopes took a tumble as second-placed Rhinos closed the gap to a single point at Knowsley Road on Thursday night.

Saints led 16-14 at the break against a powerful opposition fielding first-teamers Richie Blackmore, Kevin Sinfield and Carl Pratt, but three tries in six minutes then enabled Leeds take command.

The home side were also hit by injuries to hard-running prop Mickey Edwards and top try-scorer Warren Barrow while, on a positive note, John Stankevitch earned yet another man-of-the-match award for Saints, just shading out John Hamilton.

Saints' tries were scored by Edwards, Stankevitch, Camman, Hamilton, and Martin Proudfoot, while Mark McCully kicked five goals.

Saints Alliance: Camman; McCully, Hall, Cross, Warren Barrow; Johnson, Scott Barrow; Taylor, Hamilton, Edwards, Stankevitch, Yonkers, Bennett. Substitutes Kirkpatrick, Proudfoot, Cunliffe, Loughlin.

Saints were due to travel to Leigh last night (Wednesday) in the first round of the Challenge Cup.

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