YEP rugby league writer Peter Smith reflects on another disappointing night for Leeds Rhinos against St Helens, this time in the Challenge Cup.
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00:00 Disappointing night at AMT Headingley where Leeds have been beaten 20 points to 6 by St
00:06 Helens, second successive defeat by Saints twice in eight days. They've followed a similar
00:14 pattern the two games. Leeds in both cases scored one try, Saints scored three. Leeds
00:23 nilled in the second half both times and I don't think anyone could argue about the result
00:28 this time in the cup tie. Saints were the better team. Leeds did lead for a spell in
00:33 the first half, scored an excellent interception try through Harry Newman but they didn't throw
00:38 enough at Saints. Saints scored a couple of early penalties and were pretty much in control
00:44 even when they were behind they didn't look too troubled. As the previous week they scored
00:49 on the stroke of half time to give them a little bit of momentum going into the second
00:54 half and though Leeds offered a little bit more after the break, Saints were never really
00:59 troubled it never looked like Leeds were going to pull the game out of the fire. Second successive
01:04 time against Saints it's been three tries to one. Saints are one of the best defensive
01:08 teams in the competition if not the best and Leeds have competed with them two weeks running
01:14 but there's still a gap between Rhinos and Saints. Saints are still a better team than
01:19 Leeds. Leeds are all eggs now in the Super League basket. They need to get back to winning
01:25 ways against Castleford on Thursday. That's going to be a tough game. It's always a difficult
01:30 place for Leeds to go and Cass however they're performing in the league always raise the
01:34 game when they play Leeds. They did it a couple of times last season and embarrassed Leeds
01:40 at home in Super League and the Magic weekend. Leeds will be hoping for a better effort really
01:48 this time and they'll need to play for 80 minutes which they haven't done so far this
01:54 season. Churning fits and starts, look they can be a quality side but it's just a case
01:58 of putting it all together and playing better for longer.
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