Saints seal late victory as Leeds and Giants also win

St Helens' Jodie Cunningham and Leah Burke hug in celebration at beating York ValkyrieImage source, SWPIX
Image caption,

St Helens Women celebrate beating York Valkyrie

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Dani McGifford scored a match-winning try five minutes from time as St Helens won 18-14 at York Valkyrie in the Women's Super League, while Leeds thrashed Featherstone and Huddersfield beat Leigh.

York led 14-12 through Ellie Williamson's penalty with the clock ticking down, before Saints struck to set them up nicely for Saturday's Challenge Cup final against Wigan at Wembley.

Megan Pakulis answered Amy Hardcastle's opening try and Eboni Partington cancelled out Faye Gaskin's score before Williamson kicked York into the lead.

But then McGifford went over in the corner to maintain Saints' 100% record this season.

Meanwhile, centre Connie Boyd scored four tries as Leeds Rhinos pulverised Featherstone Rovers 60-6 at Headingley to make it eight wins from eight meetings with their West Yorkshire rivals.

Winger Ebony Stead scored two tries, while Ruby Enright, Shannon Brown, Ruby Bruce, Liv Whitehead and Frankie Blakey also went over. The reliable Mel Howard kicked eight conversions.

Liv Grace scored Featherstone's converted try and Rovers, who won promotion last year, have lost their first two league matches of the season.

Huddersfield Giants ran in six tries as they won 26-0 at Leigh Leopards for their first league win of the campaign.

Mollie Iceton and Amelia Brown, who recorded her 100th Giants try, went over to give them an 8-0 half-time lead before they turned on the style, scoring through Sam Hulme, Faye Barraclough, Becky Grady and Gracie Hobbs.