The Qualifiers Round Five Review

Rhinos Rout Battling Bulldogs

Leeds Rhinos retained their Super League Status with a comfortable 32-0 win against Batley Bulldogs at Headingley. 

The Bulldogs did well to the Rhinos out in the first quarter or so until Tom Briscoe opened the scoring on 17 minutes with Jordan Lilley converting for 6-0. However, a brace from Kallum Watkins coupled with a single conversion from Lilley gave the Rhinos a 16-0 lead into the interval leaving the Bulldogs hopes still alive. 

As the hour approached, Ryan Hall crossed for the hosts before claiming his second just eight minutes later to surely wrap up the win as Leeds led 26-0. The gloss on a superb performance from the Rhinos came nine minutes from the end as Rob Burrow crossed with Lilley converting but despite the loss it was a decent performance from the part-time Bulldogs. 

Centurions Promoted As Giants Stutter

Leigh Centurions secured promotion to Super League for 2017 with a superb 48-40 win over Huddersfield Giants at Leigh Sports Village.

The Centurions raced into a surprise 18-0 lead inside 13 minutes after a try in the opening minute from Greg Worthington was followed by a brace from Matty Dawson with Martyn Ridyard converting the lot. Huddersfield fought back with tries from Michael Lawrence and Aaron Murphy with Danny Brough converting for 18-10 but from there, Leigh took full control with Ridyard crossing twice either side of Dawson's hat-trick try and a Cory Paterson effort for a huge 42-10 lead at the interval. 

The hosts' spree continued within nine minutes of the restart through Mitch Brown before the Giants staged a stunning comeback with Jake Connor scoring ahead of braces from Leroy Cudjoe and Jamie Ellis with Brough converting all five efforts to cut the gap to just eight points with three minutes remaining. However, Leigh held on in the final stages to claim a famous win and secure a return to the top flight for the first time in 11 years. 

Broncos Battered By Rallying Robins

Hull Kingston Rovers moved closer to retaining their Super League status with a comfortable 58-18 win at London Broncos.

The Robins raced into a stunning 0-24 lead inside the first quarter as former Broncos forward Thomas Minns crossed twice n the opening six minutes before a Ben Cockayne try and effort from another former Bronco in Kieran Dixon with Josh Mantellato converting the quartet. 

London hit back through Alex Walker and James Cunningham with Jamie Soward converting both efforts to cut the gap to 12-24 ahead of the interval. The Robins started the second half in a similar vain to the first with James Greenwood crossing inside the first minute before a try for Matty Marsh for 12-34. 

London remained in the hunt after Will Barthau's try made it 18-34 but the visitors took control from the hour mark with James Donaldson crossing ahead of a second from Marsh and a debut score from Will Jubb for 18-52. The rout was completed six minutes from the end as Minns completed his hat-trick with Mantellato converting for a ninth time.

Rampant Red Devils Rout Rovers

Salford Red Devils boosted their hopes of remaining in Super League with a 70-16 demolition of Featherstone Rovers.

The Rovers stunned the AJ Bell Stadium as they took the lead inside the first minute through Jordan Baldwinson with Kyle Briggs converting for 0-6 but from there Salford took control as Weller Hauraki, Josh Jones and Daniel Vidot crossed alongside a brace from Junior Sa'u inside first quarter for a huge 26-6 lead.

Jack Ormondroyd quelled the hosts' spree with Briggs converting for 26-12 but it was a minor blip in Salford's charge as Niall Evalds, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Logan Tomkins crossed with Gareth O'Brien converting the lot for a 44-12 advantage at the interval. Featherstone started the second half the better of the two sides with Josh Walters crossing for 44-16 before Olsi Krasniqi resumed the scoring for Salford. 

Second tries of the afternoon from Hauraki and Murdoch-Masila sandwiched a Michael Dobson effort as the Red Devils passed 60 points at 66-16. The final say on the scoreline came eight minutes from the end as Josh Jones scored his second try of the game to bring up the 70 point mark.