LINDSAY Anfield was “over the moon” as York Valkyrie ground out a 12-10 victory at Leeds Rhinos to seal their place in the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final.

Tries from forwards Kelsey Gentles and Savannah Andrade had given the Valkyrie a 12-0 lead, but though Leeds fought back, Keara Bennett could not add a decisive conversion from the touchline as the visitors held on for victory.

York will now look to defend their title against St Helens – bidding for the treble having already won both the League Leaders’ Shield and Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup – at the Totally Wicked Stadium on October 6 (4:30pm).

The prospect of a Grand Final has seemed a distant dream for much of the 2024 season, with the Valkyrie rocked both by the pregnancy of captain, and reigning Woman of Steel, Sinead Peach, and long-term injuries to key personnel including Tara Jane Stanley, Tamzin Renouf and Rhiannion Marshall.

But a dual registration partnership with Sheffield Eagles and the fruits of their Under 19 pathway have paid dividends, with rising talents Lisa Parker and Izzy Brennan among those to play their part against the Rhinos.

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Anfield’s delight was clear to see, greeting the press with a cheer of “GET IN!” as she made her way across following the final hooter.

“Praise the Lord we finally did it!” she exclaimed, having seen her side both extend their unbeaten run at Headingley and deny Leeds a Grand Final spot for the first time.

“To just be in the position of being in the play-offs with the season that we’ve had; bringing the Under 19s through, bringing in the players from Sheffield, just to get to the play-offs was an aim at one point.

“Now we’re here, and to get into the Grand Final, we’ve got a real chance.”

York started well in the dismal conditions, with Leeds having video referee Liam Rush to thank for not going behind inside five minutes after Aaryn Belafonte had ruled a try on field.

After Amy Hardcastle had missed in her attempt to kick away Sade Rihari’s grubber, both Parker and Lacey Owen came steaming in, but neither could touch down the loose ball.

The Valkyrie though remained firmly on top and were rewarded for their efforts midway through the opening half when Georgie Hetherington raced through some patchy defence, Gentles crashing over from close range from the next tackle.

Kelsey Gentles opened the scoring midway through the first half.Kelsey Gentles opened the scoring midway through the first half. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) Fellow interchange Marshall added the extras in what proved to be the only other points scored before the break.

Not that it wasn't for a want of trying, with Hetherington the next to see an effort ruled out by the officials, having knocked-on across the line as she looked to dart over from acting half.

It took just over a minute for York to double their lead after the interval, in part thanks to outside back Liv Whitehead, who had a nightmare evening against the side whom she had left to join Leeds over the off-season.

The winger could not hold onto Marshall’s kick, the ball bouncing up off Renouf’s knee and into her hands to feed the supporting Andrade, who raced through a gap to score behind the posts and hand Marshall the simplest of conversions.

Things though then began to switch in Leeds’ favour, and it was almost inevitable that a penalty, and then a six-again, close to their line would come back to haunt the Valkyrie.

Caitlin Casey found young full-back Ebony Stead, who stormed her way around the outside of York’s defence and into the left corner, Bennett then adding the extras to halve the deficit.

Renouf’s sin bin for a late hit six minutes from time piled more pressure on the visitors, who saw their defence breached for a second time, albeit with an err of controversy.

Half-back Tamzin Renouf finished the match in the sin bin after an off the ball challenge.Half-back Tamzin Renouf finished the match in the sin bin after an off the ball challenge. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) As Evie Cousins looked to run onto Casey’s grubber she was pulled back by Eboni Partington, who had her blushes spared by Woman of Steel nominee Lucy Murray touching down the loose ball into the right corner with two minutes left to play.

Thankfully for York, a penalty try – which would have resulted in a conversion in front of the posts likely to level proceedings – was not awarded, with Bennett instead unable to convert her crucial touchline attempt.

“I thought we were dominant,” Anfield admitted. “I really did.

“But I don’t know whether it was just complacency, or we just got a bit tired, but we then went away from our processes [in the second half].

“Some of what we were doing was pretty unique, I don’t think I’ve seen them do some of that before! Forcing the pass, forcing an offload.

“We’ll watch it back and say, ‘in these situations and in finals, you can’t be doing that.’

“But some of our defence in the end was just outstanding to keep us in it. There’s some tired bodies, but we’re just over the moon.”