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Victoria Smith: 2003 Challenge Cup semi-final, Leeds v. St. Helens

My favourite Leeds Rhinos memory is the semi-final of the Challenge Cup against Saint Helens in 2003. I was 16, and had been a Headingley South Stander since the age of 13.

I've always found Saint Helens to be our most infuriating opponents, playing a similar style of rugby to Leeds and somehow always capable of pulling things back with a spark in the dying embers of a game. However, that April an explosive Danny McGuire sprinting try, with an epic conversion by Kevin Sinfield from the touchline took things into extra time. And then more McGuire/Sinfield last minute scoring sealed the match for Leeds. Totally exhilarating! I was there with my dad, siblings, and a group of family friends, watching from behind the posts Leeds were playing towards in that excellent second half. I'm pretty sure I was wearing my burgundy Rhinos away shirt. My mum even spotted us on TV where she was watching at home. Needless to say we watched the re-run several times!

It's nice to recollect this with Sinfield's imminent move to rugby union. I had the photo from the sports pages of him placing that extra time kick on my wall for years after.

Victoria Smith

Memory added on July 12, 2014

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