Super League Round 11 Part 2 Review

After the first half of round 11 took place during the World Club Series weekend, the second half took place this weekend as the other four sides took part in the Challenge Cup fifth round.

The opening game saw Widnes Vikings secure a much needed 16-14 win over St Helens at the Select Security Stadium. Widnes struck first with an effort from Joe Mellor which Tom Gilmore converted before a 16th minute effort from Theo Fages which Mark Percival converted saw the sides level at 6-6. 

The hosts regained the lead with a try from Patrick Ah Van (Gilmore conv) before a Matty Smith effort (Percival conv) sent the sides into the break level at 12-12. Saints took a narrow 12-14 lead with Percival's 43rd minute penalty goal but were to suffer defeat as Widnes rallied late on to secure the win as Ah Van claimed his second try nine minutes from the end.

Saturday saw a close game at the HJ Stadium as Warrington Wolves edged a 22-20 win over Wakefield Trinity. Trinity raced into a 0-12 lead with early tries from Ashley Gibson and Mason Caton-Brown converted by Liam Finn. Ryan Atkins crossed for the Wolves with Declan Patton converting for 6-12 but the visitors would go into the interval 6-14 up after Finn penalty just before half time. 

Tom Johnstone (Finn conv) crossed six minutes after the restart for a comfortable 6-20 advantage. However, Warrington battled back with tries from Chris Hill and Kevin Brown (Patton convs) to cut the gap to 18-20 before sealing the win with Tom Lineham's late effort.

Sunday saw champions Wigan Warriors complete an Easter treble with a 44-22 win against Catalans Dragons. A superb three minute brace from Tom Davies and try from Joe Burgess saw Morgan Escaré convert twice for 16-0.

The Dragons hit back with scores from Fouad Yaha, Tony Gigot and Louis Anderson with Luke Walsh converting twice for 16-16 at the interval.

Liam Forsyth crossed three minutes after the restart for the hosts before Anderson claimed his second try with Walsh's conversion giving the Dragons a 20-22 lead. Wigan stormed into the led with three scores in eight minutes as Forsyth and Burgess scored for a second time ahead of a Liam Marshall try with Sam Powell converting twice for 36-22. The Warriors wrapped up the win late on as Liam Farrell (Powell conv) crossed.

The final tie of the round saw Hull FC securing a narrow 26-24 win over league leaders Castleford Tigers. The hosts raced into an 18-0 lead inside 15 minutes with an opener from Scott Taylor followed by a brace from Mahe Fonua with Marc Sneyd converting all three efforts.

Castleford replied through Greg Minikin and Ben Roberts for 18-8 with Sneyd adding a penalty goal for 20-8 before a last-gasp try from Michael Shenton and conversion from Paul McShane sent the Tigers into the interval just 20-14 behind.

Sneyd added another penalty on 51 minutes for 22-14 with a second try from Roberts cutting the gap to 22-18. Hull looked safe just after the hour mark as Carlos Tuimavave crossed for 26-18 but Cas rallied late on with an effort from Mike McMeeken (McShane conv) for 26-24 but they were unable to avoid defeat.

Super League Rounds 9-10 Results

A packed double header over Easter saw rounds 9-10 in Super League before the remainder of round 11 takes place this weekend. As such the short turnaround has meant the review takes a break until a round 11/ Challenge Cup fifth round review.

Super League Round Eight Review

Ahead of the packed Easter double, round eight proved to be an exciting one with three sides scoring 30 points or more and a good weekend for travelling fans with three away victories.

Thursday night saw Wigan Warriors hosting league leaders Castleford Tigers at the DW Stadium and the Tigers extended their stay atop the standings with a 27-10 victory.

Castleford went ahead after 24 minutes as Jake Webster and Luke Gale crossed in the space of two minutes with Gale converting both before adding a penalty goal on 31 minutes for 0-14. Wigan hit back before the interval as Morgan Escaré scored five minutes before half-time for 4-14. The Tigers wasted no time in adding to their lead as Jesse Sene-Lefao touched down three minutes after the restart, Gale converting for 4-20.

Wigan cut the gap as Escaré claimed his second try and converted the effort for 10-20 but there was no further comeback as Greg Eden's long range intercept try sealed the win with Gale converting before kicking a drop goal to add a gloss to the victory.

Friday's televised action came from the Halliwell Jones Stadium as Warrington Wolves looked to secure their first win of the season against the visiting Leeds Rhinos.

A superb start from Leeds saw Tom Briscoe open the scoring inside two minutes for 0-4 before a brace from Ryan Atkins and successful conversions from Declan Patton gave the Wolves a 12-4 advantage into half-time.

Tom Lineham (Patton conv) crossed to extend the lead within three minutes of the restart for 18-4 but Leeds were to stage a comeback with efforts from Matt Parcell and Joel Moon either side of the hour mark with Kallum Watkins converting the latter for 18-14.

Warrington were not to be denied their first win though as Kurt Gidley touched down on 68 minutes with Patton converting before the young half swept over a drop goal late on for a 25-14 win.

The biggest shock of the round came at the KCOM Stadium as Hull FC were humbled 54-18 by Salford Red Devils.

The hosts opened the scoring just five minutes in as Steve Michaels touched down with Marc Sneyd converting before kicking a penalty goal for 8-0. Salford batttled back with a try from Robert Lui which Michael Dobson converted for 8-6 but Salford completed the comeback superbly with four tries in 15 minutes as Greg Johnson struck a brace either side of a double for Craig Kopczak and a try from Junior Sa'u with conversions from Dobson (2) and Gareth O'Brien for a huge 8-30 lead.

However. Salford were not done in the first half as Justin Carney touched down just before the interval for 8-34. Hull hit back with a try from Jamie Shaul and second score from Michaels with Jake Connor converting the former for 18-34. Salford resumed their scoring prowess with a self-converted score from Dobson before George Griffin and Ben Murdoch-Masila's efforts breached the 50 point mark with O'Brien converting both to confirm a 54-18 triumph.

Leigh Centurions' good start to the season suffered a blow as they were defeated 37-24 by Catalans Dragons at Leigh Sports Village.

An early penalty goal from Ben Renyolds put the hosts ahead before Catalans stormed into 2-28 lead inside 22 minutes with a quintet of tries which began with Iain Thornley and Brayden Wiliame crossing inside the opening ten minutes, Luke Walsh converted the latter before improving scores from Krisnan Inu, Louis Anderson and Richie Myler. Leigh stemmed the spree with a Curtis Naughton (Renyolds conv) five minutes before the interval.

Dayne Weston (Renyolds conv) ensured it was back-to-back scores for the hosts within four minutes of the restart but their was no further ocmeback until late on as after Tony Gigot (Walsh conv) crossed, Gregg McNally and Sam Hopkins touched down with Renyolds converting both either side of a drop goal from Walsh at 26-37.

The closest game of the round saw St Helens and Huddersfield Giants share the points in a 14-14 draw at Totally Wicked Stadium.

The Saints raced into a 14-0 lead in the first half with a brace from Theo Fages and effort from Adam Swift with Marc Percival converting once.

Huddersfield took until the hour mark to cut the gap as Darnell McIntosh crossed before scoring a second try on 70 minutes which Danny Brough converted for 14-10.

The comeback was complete three minutes from the end as Sam Wood crossed for 14-14.

Widnes Vikings poor start to the season continued as they suffered a 30-4 defeat to Wakefield Trinity at Beaumont Legal Stadium.

The hosts struck the opening try inside two minutes through Bill Tupou before Tom Johnstone crossed for 8-0 in the 15th minute. Widnes hit back with an effort from Corey Thompson for 8-4 but would go into the interval 12-4 behind after Dean Hadley's 32nd minute try.

Scott Grix extended Trinity's lead nine minutes after the restart with Liam Finn converting for 18-4. Widnes were helpless to deny the hosts from claiming victory as Hadley claimed his second score ahead of a try from Craig Huby with Finn converting both to complete the 30-4 triumph.

Super League Round Seven Review

After recent weeks saw just results posted, finally the round review has returned with round seven.

The round opened on Thursday night as Salford Red Devils hosted St Helens at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The hosts went ahead with a penalty from Michael Dobson before Craig Kopczak (Dobson conv) saw the Red Devils lead 8-0 at the interval.

Dobson scored a self-converted try befre Saints rallied back with scores from Alex Walmsley (Percival conv) and Ryan Morgan for 14-10.

A penalty and second try from Dobson looked to have sealed the game but Saints set up a tense finish with a Jonny Lomax try but a missed conversion left them with a 22-14 loss.

Wigan Warriors travelled to face Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie on Friday Night looking for a first win in six visits. 

The Rhinos opened the scoring with an early penalty goal from Ashton Golding with Wigan replying with a try from George Williams which Morgan Escaré converted for 2-6.

Leeds battled back with quick efforts from Ryan Hall and Joel Moon with Golding converting both for a 14-6 lead. Williams crossed for his second score with Escaré's conversion making it 14-12 into the interval.

A Golding penalty and try from Kallum Watkins in his 200th appearance made it 20-12 before a clever try from Liam Marshall (Escaré conv cut the gap to 20-18. Leeds had the final say as Carl Ablett crossed and Golding kicked for a 26-18 win.

Castleford Tigers extended their stay atop the standings after they stormed to a win over Huddersfield Giants at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

Hudds struck first with Ryan Hinchliffe before the Tigers fought back with efforts from Ben Roberts, Jake Webster and Mike McMeeken with Luke Gale converting twice for 16-4 into the interval.

Cas raced out of the blocks in the second half with Gale and Adam Milner crossing inside five minutes ahead of a self-converted try from Ryan Brierley. Gale completed a hat-trick either side of a Joel Monaghan try with the winger crossing for a second time after the hour for 46-10.

Lee Gaskell cut the gap for the Giants before Monaghan completed his hat-trick three minutes from the end with Gale converting for a personal haul of 24 points in the 52-16 rout.

Saturday afternoon saw Warrington Wolves look to claim their first point of the season as they hosted Hull FC.

Albert Kelly crossed to put FC ahead with Marc Sneyd converting before Matty Russell crossed for 4-6. Tries from Jake Connor and Jamie Shaul crossed to extend the lead with Sneyd converting both as well as a penalty goal for 4-20. Russell crossed for his second try for 8-20 at the interval.

Sneyd made it 8-22 with a penalty goal before the Wolves staged a stunning comeback as Daryl Clark crossed for a try ahead of Russell completing his hat-trick, Kurt Gidley converted both before levelling the game with a penalty nine minutes from the end to secure a 22-22 draw.

Leigh Centurions recent run of success came to a halt as they hosted Widnes Vikings at LSV.

Chris Bridge and Danny Craven crossed early for the Vikings with Tom Gilmore converting the latter as well as a penalty goal for 0-12. Danny Tickle and Ben Crooks crossed with Ben Renyolds levelling with the conversions at 12-12. Craven claimed his second try to put the Vikings into the interval ahead at 12-18. 

Sam Brooks extended the lead within five minutes of the interval with Gilmore adding a drop goal before a second Crooks try and Sam Hopkins effort saw Renyolds converted to make it 24-25. 

The Centurions were to suffer defeat though as Craven wrapped up his hat-trick before a late try from Charly Runciman confirmed a 24-37 win.

The round ended with Catalans Dragons hosting Wakefield Trinity on Saturday evening. 

Trinity raced into a 0-16 lead as Ben Jones-Bishop crossed twice ahead of a try from Tom Johnstone with Sam Williams converting twice. Ben Garcia crossed for the Dragons with Luke Walsh converting for 6-16 into the interval.

Joe Arundel crossed for Trinity before the Dragons cut the gap with Krisnan Inu (Walsh conv) scoring for 12-20. Matt Ashurst extended the lead ahead of a third try from Jones-Bishop with Williams converting both for a 12-32 lead.

Fouad Yaha (Walsh conv) gave the hosts hope at 18-13 before a superb second score from Johnstone saw Williams convert for a huge 18-38 victory.