Kirkpatrick graduates with honours

Student John Kirkpatrick passed his rugby league examination with flying colours on Friday night to earn top marks from St Helens coach Ian Millward.

The 23-year-old winger scored his first Super League hat-trick to help Saints to a 38-18 win over Leeds and strengthen their grip at the top of the table.

Kirkpatrick, signed from Preston Grasshoppers rugby union club three years ago, was in the team only because of injuries to Paul Wellens and Anthony Stewart but he seized his chance in sensational fashion, scoring the game's opening try and running in two more in the last five minutes.

Currently a part-timer after completing a university degree, the tall threequarter is now set to reap his reward in the shape of a Super League contract. "Last year he wasn't even getting a run in our Alliance team but he hung in," said Millward. "He's just completed his university studies and got good marks. Now we will probably offer him a full-time contract. What he's getting at the moment won't pay his petrol money."

While Millward was happy to sing the praises of his novice winger, he was also grateful for the experience of his Great Britain regulars Paul Sculthorpe and Keiron Cunningham in seeing off a brave, if limited, Rhinos outfit. The injury-hit Rhinos produced a spirited rally after trailing 16-2 but Sculthorpe steadied the Saints as they completed a fourth win of the season over their Yorkshire rivals. The classy loose forward put full-back Darren Albert over for his 23rd try of the season and kicked three second-half penalties to halt the Leeds comeback.

Kirkpatrick had opened the scoring with a try after only five minutes as sizzling Saints, who had run up 220 points in their previous four matches, quickly signalled their intentions. Leeds, without six regulars through injury and suspension, were simply swept off their feet.Martin Gleeson and Tommy Martyn rand in tries and Sculthorpe kicked both conversions, before Leeds' Keith Senior touched down for the seventh successive match. It was the first try conceded by Saints in 278 minutes of Super League football at Knowsley Road.

St Helens stretched their lead straight from the re-start when Sculthorpe kicked a penalty from halfway. Leeds looked outgunned but they played with plenty of spirit in attack and their perseverance was rewarded on 50 minutes when Wayne McDonald, a former St Helens forward, pounced on a ricochet to score a second try.

The visiting fans sensed a sensational finish when right winger Mark Calderwood pounced for another try after a kick-ahead but Sculthorpe added a third penalty to settle his side's nerves before Kirkpatrick added the finishing touches.