Victoria Whitfield's late try helped St Helens complete their fight back from 10 points down to secure a 20-20 Women's Super League opening-round draw with Leeds Rhinos.

Lucinda McColm converted Whitfield's second try of the day to earn last season's beaten Women's Super League Grand Finalists a share of the points at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Tries from Keara Bennett and Isabel Northrop gave Leeds a commanding start against a Saints team that had booked their place in a fifth straight Challenge Cup final with victory against York Valkyrie a week earlier.

Whitfield pulled a try back to make it 10-4 at the break, only for Melanie Howard to extend Rhinos' lead immediately after the break.

Shona Hoyle responded for Saints with a try against her former side before Ebony Stead grabbed the visitors' fourth score of the day.

McColm, however, went on to make a huge impact with a crucial try of her own before landing the decisive conversion.