Reserve winger John Kirkpatrick scored his first Super League hat-trick as in-form Saints held off a brave fightback from the injury-hit Rhinos.

Their victory puts the pressure back onto second place Bradford, who entertain London on Sunday, and Wigan, who travel to Hull on Saturday.

Leeds produced a spirited rally after trailing 16-2 but man of the match Paul 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.

And 23-year-old Kirkpatrick, who is in the side because of injury to Paul Wellens, finished off the visitors with two tries in the last five minutes to complete his treble.

Kirkpatrick had opened the scoring with a try after only five minutes as Saints, who had run up 220 points in their previous four matches, quickly signalled their intentions.

It was all too easy for Saints as Great Britain duo Keiron Cunningham and Sculthorpe ripped apart a fragile defence.

Kirkpatrick took advantage of an overlap to set the ball rolling and Paul Newlove and John Stankevitch both had tries disallowed as Leeds, without six regulars through injury and suspension, were swept away.

Leeds staged a mini fightback when centre Keith Senior touched down for the seventh successive match to bring up his half-century for the club.

It was the first try conceded by Saints in 278 minutes of Super League football at Knowsley Road.

However, St Helens stretched their lead straight from the re-start when Sinfield's kick-off failed to go 10 metres and Sculthorpe kicked the penalty from halfway.

Leeds' perseverance was rewarded on 50 minutes when Wayne McDonald, a former St Helens forward, pounced on a ricochet to score a second try, to which Ben Walker added his third goal.

The visiting fans sensed a sensational finish when right winger Mark Calderwood pounced for another try but Walker his first shot at goal and Sculthorpe added a third penalty to settle his side's nerves.

As Leeds began to panic, Saints took full advantage with Kirkpatrick racing over in quick succession and Sculthorpe took his goal tally to seven from nine attempts.

St Helens: Albert, Hoppe, Gleeson, Newlove, Kirkpatrick, Martyn, Long, Shiels, Cunningham, Nickle, Stankevitch, Joynt, Sculthorpe.
Replacements: Higham, Bennett, Edmondson, Ward.

Leeds: Cummins, Calderwood, C. Walker, Senior, Mathers, B. Walker, Sheridan, Ward, Pratt, McDonald, Hay, Poching, Sinfield.
Replacements: Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, McGuire, Dowes.

Referee: Robert Connolly (Wigan)