Flashback - 2005: When Mark Calderwood's double saw Leeds Rhinos hold off St Helens

AT TIMES during the 2005 season Leeds Rhinos were almost unstoppable.
Mark Calderwood touches down.Mark Calderwood touches down.
Mark Calderwood touches down.

The wheels came off late in the campaign and – agonisingly – Rhinos ended the year as runners-up in all three major competitions, the league, Challenge Cup and Grand Final.

But, after beginning with a 39-32 victory over Canterbury Bulldogs at Elland Road in the World Club Challenge, Leeds played some of their best and most dominant rugby of the summer era.

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In June, Rhinos scored 70 points in successive games – against Wakefield and Wigan – and they broke the half century barrier nine times in all competitions.

One of Rhinos’ most impressive victories that year came in their first home league game when St Helens – the eventual league leaders – were overpowered 30-18 in front of a capacity 21,225 crowd.

It was not Leeds’ best performance, but they defended strongly under fierce pressure at times and made better use of their chances.

Saints did well to battle back after going 12-0 behind inside the opening 10 minutes, to tries by Mark Calderwood – who had one of his finest games for Leeds – and Chev Walker.

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Darren Albert, sold a dummy by Calderwood for the opening score, got the visitors off the mark and Keiron Cunningham, went over in the next set.

A superb try from Richard Mathers – created by Danny McGuire – and Kevin Sinfield’s third conversion made it 18-12, but Willie Talau’s try and a third goal from Paul Sculthorpe levelled matters again.

Rhinos managed to take control in the second half after Willie Poching’s try – from a McGuire kick – edged them ahead for the third time.

With 12 minutes left the reigning champions sealed a gutsy win when Mark Calderwood displayed soccer skills to touch down after a defensive error and Sinfield maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot.

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Coach Tony Smith said afterwards: “It was a tough game and both teams deserve a lot of credit. I thought the spirit we showed was fantastic.”

MATCH FACTS: February 18, 2005 – Leeds Rhinos 30 (Tries: Calderwood 2, Walker, Mathers, Poching. Goals: Sinfield 5) St Helens 18 (Tries: Albert, Cunningham, Talau. Goals: Sculthorpe 3)

Leeds Rhinos: Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Bai, Sinfield, McGuire, Bailey, Dunemann, Ward, Jones-Buchanan, McKenna, Ellis. Subs: Burrow, McDonald, Poching, Lauitiiti.

St Helens: Albert, Gardner, Lyon, Talau, Hardman, Sculthorpe, Long, Fozzard, Higham, Anderson, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin. Subs: Cunningham, Edmondson, Bennett, Roby.

Referee: Ashley Klein.

Attendance: 21,225.