IT is hard to gauge who benefited most from the dreadful first manoeuvrings of the Super League phoney war at a rain lashed Knowsley Road last Friday.

That error-ridden Saints should have won at the end, but really did not deserve to, should augur well for when the two sides get down to business in two weeks time.

But Leeds will draw confidence from the win - especially as Ian Millward had said before the game that psychologically it was important to put down a marker for the play-off eliminator to come.

This was a meaningless game - not the thrilling climax to the league programme that the Super League fixture planners had plotted - with both clubs knowing they were likely to meet again in a fortnight's time irrespective of the result.

Saints did, however, gave the impression of not wanting to show their hand too much and too many star players turned in their worst performances of the season.

Their dry weather football did not sit comfortably with the appalling conditions. On a night calling for basic rugby, Saints made too few hard yards up the middle, not helped by the first minute loss of top ground maker David Fairleigh. And it was only when he moved to hooker in the last quarter that Keiron Cunningham made any impression and got the home side going in the right direction.

On a sour note, Leeds will be missing their influential Australian hooker Robbie Mears for the next game after having his jaw broken mid way through the first half.

He will be joined on the sidelines by assailant Sonny Nickle after his meeting with the disciplinary panel last Tuesday. The incident left Rhinos' coach Darryl Powell fuming, particularly in the light of the Saints boss' comments about Barrie McDermott's foul play in previous encounters.

Saints drew the short straw playing against a strong wind and driving rain, which eased off for the change over. But despite that they got off to a dream start with the alert Dave McConnell responding first to Tommy Martyn's angled grubber to the line.

The rest of the half was all Leeds as Saints constantly shot themselves in the foot with sloppy handling, regularly failing to complete their sets of six. When you see Paul Sculthorpe and Paul Wellens, outstanding all season, having nightmare games you realise it is going to be one of those days.

Leeds gave Millward plenty to think about in preparing for next time around, with the nippy Rob Burrow showing pace, grit and vision snapping around the heels of the big Rhinos pack and Kevin Sinfield executing a great kicking game and playing to the conditions.

Burrow grabbed the visitors' first try, which was followed swiftly by a sweeping move down the left flank where Mark Calderwood streaked down the touchline to score.

Pint-sized half back Burrow concluded the half's scoring when he pounced on Steve Hall's failure to gather the soap-like ball from Sinfield's grubber to score.

After Sinfield had stretched the lead with a drop goal, the game finally came to life for the last quarter when Cunningham, Martyn, Peter Shiels, Tim Jonkers handled before John Stankevitch sent Sean Hoppe on route one to the try line.

Although Francis Cummins hit back with an unconverted try, Cunningham went over in characteristic fashion to set up a thrilling finale.

Saints could have stole it at the end when they took play to the Leeds line - and if they had gone up the middle you would have put money on Cunningham coming up with something.

But a glorious chance went begging when Vila Matautia's over ambitious long ball went to ground when it was crying out for a short pass. He was substituted almost immediately.

Martyn was desperately unlucky not to re-gather a charge-down three minutes from time which could have brought Saints their most undeserved two points of the season.

It would be foolish to take readings of this game - or tomorrow night's - it will be a more fired up, organised and motivated Saints side taking the field a week on Saturday.