Rugby League: Leeds on final flight path as Halifax fold

Leeds 13 Halifax 6

LEEDS ARE within one match of the Super League Grand Final, thanks to Marcus St Hilaire, their specialist second-half substitute.

St Hilaire, used as a tactical variation all season, richly justified that policy by creating the position for one try, scoring another and helping to prevent two touchdowns that could have seen Halifax recover.

Not a bad 33 minutes work by any standard and the sort of individual contribution that made up for the absence of Richie Blackmore and Tony Kemp and the loss of Brad Godden. A depleted Leeds side now have the small matter of a trip to Wigan to negotiate, while Halifax must take the more circuitous route by beating both St Helens and the loser of that match.

The first half was an old-fashioned war of attrition. Both sides had their opportunities, Iestyn Harris and Gavin Clinch both hitting the post with penalties and Harris also missing another one that he would have expected to put over.

Tempers were frayed amid some fierce tackling, with Terry Newton and Richard Marshall going to the sin-bin. Just before their return, Halifax took the lead. Clinch put up a kick that Harris misjudged and two kind bounces took it into the hands of Fereti Tuilagi, who went over.

Halifax's best work of the half was required in the remaining nine minutes. Subjected to intense pressure, they kept their line intact, although only by the narrowest of margins when Francis Cummins slid into the corner, only to have the try disallowed. A determined defence did equally well to hold up Cummins. There was not, however, a great deal they could do to prevent Leeds drawing level 13 minutes after the break.

St Hilaire began the attack, making 40 yards upfield. It gave Leeds the momentum they needed and when Harris ran at the heart of a stretched defence his inside pass sent Anthony Farrell towering in.

The really damage for Halifax came when their captain, Karl Harrison, lost the ball in Daryl Powell's tackle. From the scrum St Hilaire took Powell's pass standing still but left Des Clark and Martin Moana flat- footed on his way to the line. Harris converted and then Powell slotted a drop-goal.

If Powell's tackling and all-round know-how helped Leeds immeasurably, it was St Hilaire who could not put a foot wrong. He made the tackle that saw Jamie Bloem lose the ball as he went over and then managed to prevent Kelvin Skerrett from getting the ball down.

"He's not only a try scorer," said the Leeds coach, Graham Murray, of his match-winner. "He can also defend and he really wanted to save those tries."

Leeds: Harris, Sterling, Cummins, Godden, Rivett, Daryl Powell, Sheridan, Masella, Newton, Fleary, Morley, Farrell, Glanville. Substitutes used: St Hilaire, Golden, Hay, Mathiou.

Halifax: Gibson, Tuilagi, Bouveng, Daio Powell, Bloem, Chester, Clinch, Harrison, Rowley, Skerrett, Marshall, Clark, Mercer. Substitutes used: Pearson, Gillespie, Moana, Hall.

Referee: R Smith (Castleford).