York Valkyrie lay down marker with 32-6 win at Leeds Rhinos

The Rhinos had inflicted a first league defeat on the Valkyrie in almost two years after claiming the points in the reverse fixture but were made to look ordinary by Lindsay Anfield’s side, who dominated after nudging themselves ahead early on.

Anfield had told The Press that mentality would be key to the final result, but that she believed that her squad were in the best position that they had been all season ahead of another tough test against Wigan Warriors next week.

And it proved to be one-way traffic as the visitors ran riot at Headingley.

A high tackle on Lacey Owen saw York take the lead after just three minutes, with forwards Megan Pakulis and Liv Wood then adding their names to the scoresheet before the half reached its midpoint.

Tara Jane Stanley’s second successful penalty fired the Valkyrie 16 points in front, but though Leeds responded through Evie Cousins, that proved to be merely a momentary blip for the visitors.

Owen saw a try ruled out before the returning Rhiannion Marshall – playing her first game in over three months after a knee injury – found the whitewash on the stroke of half time to hand Anfield’s side a commanding 22-6 lead at the break.

Quick-fire tries from second-rowers Owen and Savannah Andrade put the result out of sight during the second half, but there was cause for concern for York late on, with Stanley leaving the field with a suspected ankle injury with 15 minutes left to play.

Nonetheless, victory moves the Valkyrie level on points with both Leeds and Wigan ahead of a crucial trip to the latter next weekend.

Anfield made four changes from the side that defeated Huddersfield Giants two weeks prior, with Eva Izumi replacing Carrie Roberts in the centres and Owen returning to the second row in place of Georgia Taylor, who dropped to 18th woman.

A new partnership of Sade Rihari and Tamzin Renouf replaced rising French talent Mahault Pommier and Lucy Eastwood in the halves, whilst Marshall and youngster Izzy Brennan returned to the bench.

Leeds named a relatively strong line-up themselves, including Grace Field and Liv Whitehead, both double winners with York last season.

The Rhinos were given first use of the ball, but the Valkyrie raced out of the blocks and found themselves with an early lead.

After Lucy Murray had caught Owen high on the 30-metre line, Stanley slotted over the opening two points from the tee with just three minutes on the clock.

Back-to-back penalties gifted the hosts an opportunity to respond, but York were able to keep them out as they looked to score into the corner.

Instead, the Valkyrie extended their advantage on nine minutes, with Pakulis crashing onto a short ball and across the whitewash just to the left of the posts.

Stanley made no mistake with her conversion to hand her side an 8-0 lead.

York doubled their tally midway through the half, with Wood taking defenders with her across from close range after a scrum on the 10-metre line.

Stanley tagged on the extras before scoring another penalty two minutes later as Leeds’ ill-discipline continued.

Liv Wood crashed over from close range to score York's second try. (Image: Alan Milner/Milner Creative/York RLFC)

But the hosts brought themselves back into the match just before the half-hour, with Cousins breaking through the Valkyrie defence and racing from halfway to score beneath the posts.

Keara Bennett converted, but that would be the last time that the hosts troubled the scoreboard on a disappointing afternoon.

Owen looked to have provided an immediate response after combining with Rihari, but it was ruled that the latter’s pass had gone forwards.

However, the Valkyrie were not to be denied again before the break, with Marshall capitalising on a series of impressive carries to barge over from close range against her former side.

Stanley’s conversion saw York take in a healthy 22-6 lead at half time.

The visitors’ momentum carried into the second half, with back-to-back tries killing off any hope of a fightback from the Rhinos.

Marshall turned assister for Owen in the 45th minute, the second-rower collecting her cut-out pass on the last tackle before strolling across to score.

Stanley kept up her perfect record from the tee but missed her only attempt of the match two minutes later after a Rhinos defensive horror show.

The full-back’s grubber caused havoc for Leeds, and with Cousins fumbling in-goal, Andrade reacted quickest to touch down the loose ball.

Tara Jane Stanley scored six conversions before suffering an ankle injury late on. (Image: Alan Milner/Milner Creative/York RLFC)

There was though cause for concern for Anfield’s side with 15 minutes remaining as Stanley left the field with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

Neither side troubled the scoreline again thereafter as the Valkyrie ran out deserved winners.

LEEDS RHINOS: Cousins, Stead, Robinson, Hardcastle, Whitehead, Butcher, Casey, Sykes, Bennett, Field, Murray, Short, Dainton.

INTERCHANGES: Bruce, Northrop, Donnelly, Glynn

TRIES: Cousins (28)

GOALS: Bennett 1/1

YORK VALKYRIE: Stanley, Kershaw, Izumi, Parker, Partington, Rihari, Renouf, Wood, Hetherington, Bell, Owen, Andrade, Pakulis.

INTERCHANGES: Marshall, Gentles, Eastwood, Brennan

TRIES: Pakulis (9), Wood (19), Marshall (38), Owen (45), Andrade (47)

GOALS: Stanley 6/7

POINTS SEQUENCE: 0-2, 0-6, 0-8, 0-12, 0-14, 0-16, 4-16, 6-16, 6-20, 6-22, 6-26, 6-28, 6-32

HALF TIME: 6-22

YORK’S STAR WOMAN: Megan Pakulis. Another tireless performance from the loose forward, who also added her name to the scoresheet early on.