Pryce claimed a crucial first-half try for Saints

St Helens: (8) 10
Tries: Pryce
Goals: Smith 3

Leeds: (6) 8
Tries: Smith
Goals: Sinfield 2

St Helens secured their place in the Super League Grand Final after a pulsating victory over Leeds.

Saints were made to work hard by the Rhinos, who enjoyed the bulk of possession in the second half but could not find a way through Saints' defence.

Leon Pryce scored Saints' only try of the game, with young scrum-half Matty Smith kicking three goals.

Leeds will have another chance to reach Old Trafford next week when they host either Hull or Wigan.

News conference: St Helens coach Daniel Anderson

The Leeds defence found themselves under pressure from the start and they had to hold off a number of Saints attacks.

But they got on the scoreboard first when winger Lee Smith, who had just failed to pull off an interception earlier on, made no mistake second time around when he grabbed Jon Wilkin's pass and sprinted 80m to the other end of the pitch.

Kevin Sinfield added the extras but then narrowly missed a penalty after a foul by Saints prop Nick Fozzard.

Pryce got Saints back into the game on 15 minutes when he cut inside and wrong-footed the Leeds defence to go over for a try.

Matty Smith, in at scrum-half for the injured Sean Long, kicked the conversion and then edged his side in front with another kick after Brent Webb was unfairly penalised.

Leeds began the second half strongly and Kevin Sinfield levelled the game early in the second half with a penalty.

606: DEBATE What a great game, both sides worthy of a place in the Grand Final. This was rugby league at its very best i-a-t-p

The Rhinos enjoyed more possession as they challenged the Saints try-line and Paul Wellens had to come to Saints' rescue, grounding the ball in his own in-goal area just before Jordan Tansey came chasing a try.

Rob Burrow hit the upright with a drop-goal effort and Leeds found themselves behind after 64 minutes when Jamie Peacock was punished for a high tackle on Fozzard 26 metres out and Matty Smith made no mistake.

McGuire was then penalised for a forward pass just in front of the posts with the line at his mercy and another chance went begging.

Moments later Sinfield's long looping pass was cut out by Ade Gardner but Saints were unable to make more of it.

Webb then went close when he scooped up McGuire's kick but he was stopped just inches short of the line by Matt Gidley and Saints held on for the win and a fifth Grand Final appearance.

"It was a very tough game but that's what separates our sport from any other.

"You have to mentally strong to hang in there when both sides are going at each other like that.

"It's a tremendous thrill for us to be at Old Trafford.

"There were some huge hits and Leeds had us on the rack in the second half and we just hung in there."

"It was a great effort by Gidley. There are not many times when he (Webb) gets caught.

"They tackled well and were hard to break down defensively, as we were.

"I was pleased with the effort but we need to be smarter in our next game. We needed to take a couple more chances but hopefully we will have another chance to have a go at them."

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Smith, Fozzard, Cunningham, Cayless, Gilmour, Flannery, Wilkin.
Replacements: Roby, Bennett, Graham, Clough.

Leeds: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield.
Replacements: Lauitiiti, Ablett, Tansey, Kirke.