2019 Super League Round 16 'Magic Weekend' Review

A superb Round 16 at Anfield across two days as Super League visited for the annual Magic Weekend showcase. The round opened early on Saturday with a 25-18 win for Catalans Dragons over Wakefield Trinity. A tight first 20 minutes saw the sides remain level before Catalans took control with a Fouad Yaha try and self-converted score from Tony Gigot who later kicked a penalty goal for a 12-0 advantage into the interval.

Wakefield hit back superbly with two tries within four minutes of the restart as Kyle Wood and Danny Kirmond crossed with Ryan Hampshire converting twice before kicking Trinity ahead three minutes later with a penalty goal for 14-12. Catalans regained the lead on 55 minutes with a Ben Garcia try which Gigot improved for 18-14 but Trinity levelled at 18-18 with 69 minutes on the clock as Ben Jones Bishop crossed. Catalans edged back in front with a Gigot drop goal with three minutes remaining before a second score from Garcia in the final minute saw Gigot convert to wrap up a 25-18 victory. 

The second game of the afternoon saw Huddersfield Giants cruise to a whopping 55-2 hammering of Hull FC. The Giants raced into a 16-0 lead with tries from the Wardle brothers Joe and Jake and Adam O'Brien with Oliver Russell converting twice. Darnell McIntosh crossed to extend the lead to 20-0 before a Russell drop goal looked to have completed a perfect first half at 21-0. FC avoided a nilling in the half as Marc Sneyd kicked a last-gasp penalty goal for 21-2 into the interval. 

The Giants resumed control with a second O'Brien score and Russell conversion for 27-2 before they ran riot with four tries in 18 minutes. McIntosh claimed his second try ahead of Alex Mellor, Jermaine McGillvary and Aaron Murphy all touching down, Russell converting all but the latter for a huge 49-2 lead. Hull's miserable afternoon was completed by a half-century as McGillvary crossed for his second try late on with Russell kicking his seventh success for 55-2.

The opening day ended with a battle between last season's Grand Finalists with Warrington Wolves claiming a 26-14 win over Wigan Warriors. Wigan edged ahead with a Zak Hardaker penalty for 2-0 on 17 minutes. Warrington replied with a self-converted try by Declan Patton who added a penalty goal for 8-2 into the interval.

Wigan cut the gap through Joe Burgess six minutes after the before Hardaker levelled at 8 all with a 52nd minute penalty goal. Warrington regained the lead as Blake Austin went over and Patton converted for 14-8 before they took control with Toby King crossing (Patton conv) for 20-8. Patton added two penalty goals to increase the lead to 24-8 before Willie Isa crossed for the Warriors and Hardaker converted for 24-14. The final say went to the Wolves as Patton made it seven goals from as many attempts with a penalty to wrap up a 26-14 win. 

Day two opened with Hull Kingston Rovers edging a narrow 22-20 win over Salford Red Devils. The Robins opened the scoring on 19 minutes through Kane Linnett with Ryan Shaw converting for 6-0 before adding a penalty goal six minutes later for 8-0. Craig Hall crossed out wide on 28 minutes with Shaw again successful with the boot to oen up a 14-0 lead. Salford responded with a Joey Lussick try two minutes before half-time, Krisnan Inu converting for 14-6 into the interval. 

A second Hall try within five minutes of the restart saw Shaw convert for 20-6 and it inspired a Salford fightback with on-loan Pauli Pauli crossing ahead of a brace on the win from Ken Sio, Inu converting once to level at 20 all. The Robins regained the lead with five minutes to go as Shaw kicked a penalty which roved to be enough to secure a 22-20 win.

The second game of the afternoon was a similarly close one as Leeds Rhinos squeezed a 24-22 win over London Broncos. The Rhinos raced out of the blocks with Liam Sutcliffe and Ash Handley crossing with Sutcliffe converting his own for a 10-0 lead. London replied with a Ryan Morgan try which Kieran Dixon converted for 10-6 into the interval. 

Leeds regained a two score lead within two minutes of the restart, Jack Walker touching down  before Jordan Abdull crossed for the Broncos to make it 14-10. Two scores in four minutes allowed Leeds to move into a 24-10 lead with Harry Newman and Richie Myler going over and Sutcliffe converting the latter. London were not to be cut adrift though as Abdull scored his second try ahead of an Alex Walker effort, Dixon converting both to set up a tense finish with Leeds just about holding on for the 24-22 win. 

The round ended with a comfortable win for St Helens as they maintained top spot with a 36-16 victory over Castleford Tigers. The Saints dominated the opening quarter with Tommy Makinson, Regan Grace and Jonny Lomax all crossing for tries of which Lachlan Coote converted one for a 14-0 lead. Theo Fages (Coote conv) extended the lead further before Castleford got off the mark on the half hour, Grant Millington crossing with Peter Mata'utia converting for 20-6 into the interval.

Saints regained control with Jack Ashworth's try six minutes after the restart with Coote converting before scoring a superb self-converted try for 32-6 on the hour. Kevin Naiqama crossed to push the gap to 36-6 before two late scores from Chris Clarkson and Greg Eden saw Cory Aston convert for 36-16.

2019 Super League Round 15 Review

Round 15 opened on Thursday night with Castleford Tigers extending Leeds Rhinos' miserable start to the season in a 30-8 victory.  Leeds struck the first points with a Liam Sutcliffe penalty goal for 2-0 but fell behind four minutes later to Jesse Sene-Lefao's try and Peter Mata'utia's conversion for 6-2. A tight first half saw just one more score with Mata'utia improving a try from Greg Eden as the Tigers led 12-2 into half-time.

A second try from Sene-Lefao (Mata'utia conv) pushed the score to 18-2 before Leeds claimed their first try of the evening with Matt Parcell crossing and Sutcliffe kicking for 18-8. Castleford resumed control with efforts from James Clare and Jake Trueman with Mata'utia improving both for a 30-8 final score.

Friday's action began with Huddersfield Giants claiming a 30-22 win over Hull Kingston Rovers. The Giants struck early with Jermaine McGillvary crossing inside four minutes before Junior Vaivai's try levelled at 4 all on nine minutes. Innes Senior's effort made it 8-4 to the Giants would go into the interval behind as Joel Tomkins and Craig Hall crossed for the Robins with Ryan Shaw converting twice for 16-8 into half-time.

Hudds regained the lead on the hour as McGillvary scored his second try ahead a try each from the Wardle Brothers, Joe and Jake with Lee Gaskell converting just once for 22-16. The win was sealed for the Giants with an Oliver Russell penalty goal before he improved a Kruise Leeming effort for 30-16. KR had the final say in the last minute as Danny Addy crossed with Shaw kicking for 30-22.

The televised action saw huge leads overturned as St Helens moved clear at the top with a last-gasp 32-30 win over Salford Red Devils. Saints raced into a 16-0 lead inside 12 minutes with a self-converted brace from Lachlan Coote followed by Tommy Makinson's effort. Salford hit back with tries from Gil Dudson, Niall Evalds and Derrel Olpherts which saw Krisnan Inu convert the lot for an 18-16 lead into the interval.

The visitors continued their scoring spree with a second try for Evalds and score from Robert Lui and with Inu improving both the Red Devils opened up a huge 30-16 advantage. Saints staged a superb comeback of their own as Coote completed his hat-trick ahead of improving a second Makinson try to cut the gap to 30-26. However, they would also have the last say as James Bentley touched down in the final seconds of the 80 to level with Coote kicking to seal a 32-30 victory and break Salford's hearts.

Saturday afternoon began with a thriller at Ealing Trailfinders as London Broncos survived a fightback from Wakefield Trinity to win 42-34. Jordan Abdull and Rhys Williams crossed inside 12 minutes for the Broncos with Kieran Dixon converting once for a 10-0 lead. The hosts opened up a 26-0 just before the interval as Abdull scored three tries in 14 minutes for a quadruple, Dixon converting twice, Trinity got off the mark just before the break as Kyle Wood crossed with Ryan Hampshire converting for 26-6.

London took just two minutes of the second half to resume control with Dixon crossing for a try before a self-converted second score just before the hour, he then improved a second Williams try for a whopping 40-6 lead. Wakefield needed a miracle and they came achingly close to a perfect comeback, David Fifita and Mason Caton-Brown crossed for braces which saw Hampshire convert three times before adding a self-converted effort for 42-34 but to no avail as time ran out.

Warrington Wolves missed the chance to cut the gap at the top as they suffered a 19-12 home defeat to Hull FC.  The Wolves truck first with Toby King touching down inside 10 minutes, Stefan Ratchford converting for a 6-0 lead that was wiped out by two tries in three minutes from Mickey Paea and Scott Taylor with Marc Sneyd converting twice to give FC a 12-6 lead.

FC would lead 18-6 into the interval as Albert Kelly touched down and Sneyd converted. Warrington cut the gap to 18-12 with Blake Austin's 54th minute try being converted by Ratchford but its was to be FC's day with Sneyd's 68th minute drop goal confirming a 19-12 win.

The round ended with an historic game at the Camp Nou Barcelona as a record crowd saw Catalans Dragons ease to a 33-16 win over Wigan Warriors. Catalans struck the first points of the afternoon as Tony Gigot kicked a penalty goal for 2-0 inside seven minutes. The Dragons extended their lead on 21 minutes as ex-Warriors forward Michael McIlorum crosses with Gigot converting for 8-0. Wigan hit back just before the interval with Liam Marshall racing over and Zak Hardaker converting for 8-6 into half-time.

The Dragons regained an eight point lead just seven minutes after the restart, David Mead touching down and Gigot kicking for 14-6 before Gigot added a penalty goal minutes later to make it 16-6. Catalans control continued with a Samisoni Langi try before Sam Kasiano battled over, Gigot kicking the latter for 26-6.

Catalans looked to have wrapped up the win with a Gigot drop-goal on the hour but did so with Mead’s second try on 70 minutes which Gigot improved for 33-6. The Warriors avoided a second half blank late on as Oliver Gildart went over before a last-gasp self-converted try from Hardaker saw a 33-16 final score.

2019 Coral Challenge Cup Sixth Round Review

The Coral Challenge Cup sixth round began with an all-Championship tie on Friday night as Halifax eased to a 34-6 win at Dewsbury Rams. A rapid start from Fax saw Chester Butler and James Woodburn-Hall cross with Steve Tyrer converting twice for 12-0. James Saltonstall extended the lead further with a try on 22 minutes with Tyrer kicking for 18-0.

The Rams hit back through Lucas Walshaw with Liam Finn converting for 18-6 into the interval. A second Butler score came six minutes after the restart before Shaun Robinson touched down and Tyrer kicked for 28- 6. The gloss on the win came late on for the visitors as Saltonstall claimed his second try ahead of Ben White kicking a last gasp penalty goal for 34-6 to book a place in the last eight.

Hull FC eased into the last eight with a 28-12 in over Castleford Tigers. The Tigers struck first with a Peter Mata'utia penalty goal inside six minutes for 2-0 before being pegged back superbly as Jake Connor, Bureta Faraimo and Albert Kelly crossed for FC with ex-Tiger Marc Sneyd converting the lot as well as a penalty goal for 20-2. Cas hit back with a James Clare try which Mata'utia converted for 20-8 into the interval.

Sneyd made it 22-8 to FC with a 50th minute penalty before both sides score late on with Mark Minichello (Sneyd conv) going over ahead of a Cory Aston effort for the Tigers for 28-12.

Friday's third tie saw a cross-division battle as Wakefield Trinity claimed a 26-6 win over Championship side Widnes Vikings. The Vikings opened the scoring with Lloyd Roby's 19th minute try with Jack Owens converting for 6-0. Wakefield levelled through Max Jowitt with Ryan Hampshire converting for 6 all into the interval.

Wakefield took just three minutes of the second half to go ahead as David Fifita crossed with Hampshire kicking for 12-6. The Vikings remained in the hunt until Trinity ran riot in the final ten minutes with three scores in five minutes from Ben Jones-Bishop, Lee Kershaw and Justin Horo, Hampshire converting just the latter for 26-6.

Saturday's action began with cup holders Catalans Dragons storming to a 62-6 win over League One side Doncaster RLFC. The Dragons struck first with Brayden Wiliame's eighth minute try which Sam Tomkins converted for 6-0 before the Dons levelled at 6 all with a  Connor Bower try which Matty Beharrell converted. Catalans restored the lead with a Matt Whitley effort which Tony Gigot converted for 12-6 due to Tomkins having left the field with injury and he improved an effort from Jason Baitieri for an 18-6 lead into the interval.

The break hindered the Dons as they were swept away in the second half, Whitley crossed for his second ahead of a David Mead brace which saw Gigot convert the lot for 36-6. Wiliame claimed his second try just a minute ahead of a Fouad Yaha try (Gigot conv) for a huge 46-6 advantage. Gigot touched down for a try of his own before Wiliame went over twice in four minutes for his hat-trick and quadruple and a 58-6 lead. The rout was complete with 73 minutes on the clock as Yaha scored his second try to round off a 62-6 victory.

Hull Kingston Rovers secured a spot in the last eight as they came from behind to win 32-18 at Salford Red Devils. KR opened the scoring on six minutes through Kane Linnett with Ryan Shaw converting for a 6-0 lead that was cancelled out by three Salford scores. Krisnan Inu, Niall Evalds and Kris Welham all touching down and Inu converting the latter for a 14-6 lead into the interval.

Inu added a penalty goal for 16-6 on 46 minutes before Josh Drinkwater's try for the visitors saw Shaw kick to make it 16-12. Inu sent through another penalty goal for 18-12 but it was to be the hosts final score as KR staged a huge turnaround. Junior Vaivai touched own ahead of tries from Danny Addy and ex-Salford forward Weller Hauraki with Shaw converting the lot and adding a penalty goal to wrap up a 32-18 success.

The biggest shock of the round saw Championship side Bradford Bulls stun Super League derby rivals Leeds Rhinos with a 24-22 win at Odsal. Leeds struck early with Tui Lolohea crossing and Liam Sutcliffe converting for a 6-0 lead that was quickly cut to 6-4 by Dalton Grant's try. Callum McLelland restored the Rhinos lead with Sutcliffe kicking for 12-6 on 13 minutes but the Bulls rallied back in style with Jake Webster, Sam Hallas and Mikey Wood all crossing with Rowan Milnes converting twice for 20-12. Milnes added a penalty goal for 22-12 before Sutcliffe did the same to make it 22-14 into the interval.

Leeds cut the gap further with Harry Newman's try for 22-18 and it inspired Milnes to go for goal with a 64th minute penalty, kicking for 24-18. Leeds set up a frantic finish with a Tom Briscoe try on 74 minutes but Sutcliffe's missed conversion allowed Bradford to hold on for a famous 24-22 win.

In attendance at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday as Warrington Wolves edged a 26-24 win over Wigan Warriors. The Wolves opened the scoring through Bryson Goodwin with Stefan Ratchford converting for a 6-0 lead inside eight minutes. Wigan levelled as Sam Powell touched down and Zak Hardaker kicked for 6 all but the equality lasted just three minutes as ex-Warrior Jack Hughes crossed with Ratchford kicking for 12-6. The sides exchanged tries once more as Tommy Leuluai and Daryl Clark registered efforts with Hardaker and Ratchford kicking as the Wolves led 18-12 into the interval.

Hardaker cut the gap with a penalty goal within two minutes of the restart for 18-14 before the try exchange resumed, Ryan Atkins (Ratchford conv) and Dan Sarginson crossing to push the score to 24-20. Hardaker went over for a try and converted to level at 24-24 but the Warriors were to suffer defeat as Ratchford's 68th minute penalty gave the Wolves a 26-24 lead that they held on to.

The round ended on Sunday evening with St Helens sealing the final place in the last eight with a 22-16 win at Huddersfield Giants. Saints struck the first try on 12 minutes with Regan Grace crossing for a 4-0 lead that was cancelled out four minutes later with Joe Wardle diving over to score and ex-Saint Lee Gaskell converting for a 6-4 lead. Lachlan Coote drew Saints level with a penalty goal but Hudds replied with Aaron Murphy's try for 10-6. Theo Fages crossed for the visitors who would lead into the interval after Coote's conversion for 12-10.

Coote crossed for a try of his own on 52 minutes to make it 16-10 before Hudds levelled with Wardle's second try and Gaskell's conversion, 16 all. The tie was settled just after the hour as Kevin Naiqama crossed and Coote kicked for a 22-16 lead that Saints held on to as they reached the last eight. 

2019 Womens Super League Round Four Review

Round four of the Women's Super League opened with a battle between last season's Grand Finalists saw Leeds Rhinos Women claim a 12-4 win over Wigan Warriors Women at Robin Park Arena.  A tight first half saw just a single score with the Rhinos leading 4-0 at the interval after a Fran Goldthorpe try.

The Rhinos extended their lead to 12-0 as Courtney Hill kicked a penalty goal before crossing for a try which she converted before Wigan left it late to avoid a nilling with Georgia Wilson touching down two minutes from the end for 12-4.

Casteford Tigers Women continued their perfect start with a 30-14 win over fellow perfect starters St Helens Women at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. The Tigresses opened the scoring inside six minutes with a Tara Stanley try for 4-0 before she kicked a penalty goal for 6-0. Saints responded with a Zoe Harris score for 6-4 before taking the lead on 30 minutes with Leah Burke crossing and Faye Gaskin converting for 10-6. Stanley claimed her second try minutes later to level at 10-10 before Georgia Roche touched down to ensure the hosts led 14-10 at the interval.

The lead became 20-10 before the hour as Rhiannon Marshall crossed with Stanley converting. Saints hopes were dealt a blow with the dismissal of Channy Crowl on 72 minutes and Cas took instant advantage with Emma Lumley crossing for 24-10. Saints defied their numerical disadvantage to cut the gap to 24-14 with an effort from Tara Jones. The final say went to the hosts as Roche claimed her second try and Stanley kicked her third success for 30-14.

Wakefield Trinity Ladies tough start to life in the WSL continued with a 40-8 loss at home to Featherstone Rovers Ladies. The visitors opened up a 14-0 lead with tries from Grace Hepton, Helen Teasdale and Brogan Churm with Katie Hepworth converting just the latter. Wakefield hit back through Amy Brinkley for 14-4 into the interval and they went over again early in the second half as Chloe Billington touched down for 14-8.

Fev took control from there with Chloe Renyolds and Andrea Dobson crossing either side of a second Churm score with Hepworth converting once and Hepton twice. for 30-8. The win was wrapped up by Paige Stevens effort an a second score from Renyolds with Hepton converting both for 40-8.

York City Knights Ladies wait for an opening win continued as they fell to a 40-4 loss to Bradford Bulls Women. The Bulls ran in eight tries with a quartet for Stacey Greenwood and brace for Debbie Smith with Amy Hardcastle and Grace Ramsden also touching down.

Amy Boardman kicked three conversions with Greenwood also converting once. York's mark on the scoreline came with Bev Langan's try.

2019 Super League Round 14 Review

In attendance on Thursday night as round 14 began at the DW Stadium with Wigan Warriors claiming an 18-8 win over London Broncos. The Broncos edged in front early on with a Kieran Dixon penalty goal for 2-0 before a Jake Shorrocks try and Zak Hardaker conversion saw the Warriors lead 6-2.

London regained their two point lead on 20 minutes as Jay Pitts crossed and Dixon converted for 8-6. The lead lasted into the interval but ended on 49 minutes as Chris Hankinson capitalised on a mistake to touch down for a try which Hardaker improved for a 12-8 advantage. The hosts wrapped up the victory just before the hour mark as Morgan Escaré went over with Hardaker kicking his third success for 18-8.

Friday night saw a quartet of games starting with the televised action from the Mend-A-Hose Jungle as Warrington Wolves secured a 26-14 win over Castleford Tigers. The Tigers struck the opening score as Cory Aston crossed inside eight minutes with Peter Mata'utia converting for a 6-0 lead that lasted five minutes before Mike Cooper's try and Stefan Ratchford's conversion levelled at 6 all.

Warrington took the lead with a Ratchford penalty goal on 27 minutes before Toby King's try extended the lead to 12-6 and a Ratchford penalty seconds before the interval sent the Wolves into half-time with a 14-6 lead. A rapid restart from the visitors saw a second try for King and Ben Currie crossing inside six minutes with Ratchford improving both for a huge 26-6 advantage. The Tigers hit back through Tuoyo Egodo and Greg Minikin for 26-14 but to no avail as Warrington held on for the win.

For the second time this season, Wakefield Trinity secured a narrow one-point win over Huddersfield Giants as they edged a 26-25 victory. An early brace from Mason Caton-Brown and conversions from Ryan Hampshire saw Trinity lead 12-0 before Matt Frawley's try and Oliver Russell's conversion cut the gap to 12-6.

David Fifita (Hampshire conv) crossed to regain a six point lead at 12-6 on 24 minutes with the lead lasting into the interval. However, a stunning fightback from Hudds saw them turn the game around with three scores in eight minutes, Jermaine McGillvary raced over for a brace before Adam O'Brien touched down and with Russell converting the lot, they led 24-18. Wakefield levelled with Ben Jones-Bishop crossing and Hampshire kicking for 24 all before late drama saw a Russell drop goal put Hudds 25-24 up only for a Hampshire penalty goal seal a 26-25 win for Trinity.

Catalans Dragons stormed to a 37-6 win over Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium which began with a Sam Tomkins penalty goal giving the Dragons a 2-0 lead inside ten minutes. FC responded with a Mickey Paea try and Jake Connor conversion for 6-2 before Fouad Yaha crossed and Tomkins converted for 8-6 on 22 minutes. Further scores from Tony Gigot and Brayden Wiliame saw Tomkins add a conversion for an 18-6 half-time lead.

The Dragons continued their control with tries from Arthur Romano and Matt Whitley within eight minutes of the restart with conversions from Tomkins making it 30-6. The gloss on the win came late on as Gigot kicked a drop goal before the final minute saw Samisoni Langi cross while Tomkins kicked a sixth conversion for 37-6.

Leeds Rhinos's mixed season continued with a 28-16 loss to Salford Red Devils at the AJ Bell Stadium. The hosts raced out of the blocks with a seventh minute try from Lee Mossop which Krisnan Inu converted for 6-0. Adam Walker extended the lead with a 22nd minute effort with Inu kicking for 12-0. The lead was cut just before the interval by Mikolaj Oledzki's try which saw Liam Sutcliffe convert for 12-6 into half-time.

Joey Lussick crossed within four minutes of the restart for Salford to make it 16-6 with Walker claiming his second try (Inu conv) for a 22-6 advantage. Salford looked to have the win wrapped up on 65 minutes with Inu improving Robert Lui's try for 28-6. Leeds fought back with two tries in three minutes as Harry Newman and Ash Handley crossed with Sutcliffe converting just the latter for 28-16.

The round came to an end on Sunday afternoon as St Helens came from behind to win 42-26 at Hull Kingston Rovers.A rapid start from Rovers saw them lead 12-0 inside 13 minutes with Danny Addy and Ryan Shaw crossing for tries which Shaw converted. Saints replied through Kevin Naiqama with Lachlan Coote converting for 12-6 before a Shaw penalty goal made it 14-6. Saints cut the gap on the half hour as Tommy Makinson went over and Coote kicked for 14-12 but they would then go on to lead into the interval as Naiqama claimed his second try with Coote converting for an 18-14 half-time lead.

KR regained the lead within four minutes of the restart as Jimmy Keinhorst crossed and Shaw converted for 20-18 but Saints hit back quickly through Jonny Lomax to lead 22-20. They extended the lead four minutes later with a second Makinson try (Coote conv) for 28-20. KR responded with Will Oakes touching down and Shaw kicking for 28-26 but it was to be their last say on the scoreline. Saints took control in the final quarter with Naiqama and Makinson completing hat-tricks ahead of a late score from Regan Grace, Coote converting just the latter for a 42-26 victory. 

2019 Womens Super League Round Three Review

Wigan Warriors Women eased to their first with a 62-0 humbling of York City Knights Ladies. The Warriors struck inside seven minutes through Georgia Wilson before Rachel Thompson crossed for an 8-0 advantage. Wilson claimed her second try with Kate McMullan converting for 14-0 before Thompson matched Wilson with a second score before completing her hat-trick with McMullan kicking for a 26-0 half-time lead.

Wigan continued their dominance with an Amanda Sibbald try ahead of efforts from Gemma Walsh and Sarah Harrison with McMullan converting the lot for a 44-0 lead. York's afternoon only got worse as  Megan Grace-Holding and Vicky Molyneux crossed either side of Thompson's fourth score with McMullan converting all three for a total of nine successes in the 62-0 rout.

St Helens Women remain unbeaten as they cruised to a 54-16 win over Featherstone Rovers Women at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Saints raced out of the blocks with tries from Jodie Cunningham and Tara Jones inside nine minutes before Naomi Williams crossed and Cunningham claimed her second, Faye Gaskin converted twice for 20-0. Fev hit back through Zoe Teece and Grace Hepton with Katherine Hepworth converting once either side of Cunningham's hat-trick try as Saints led 24-10 at the interval.

The hosts took control after the restart with braces from Emily Rudge and Leah Burke coupled with a Zoe Harris try, Gaskin converting twice for 48-10. The Rovers cut the gap with a self converted effort from Hepworth before Williams rounded off the rout with her second try and a Gaskin conversion for 54-16.

Two perfect records went on the line in a Yorkshire derby which saw Castleford Tigers Women ease to a 27-0 win over Leeds Rhinos Ladies. Kelsey Gentles crossed for the the Tigresses for 4-0 after 16 minutes before ex-Rhino Rhiannon Marshall crossed and Tara Stanley converted for a 10-0 lead that soon became 11-0 with a Stanley drop goal.

After the interval, Sinead Peach and Georgia Roche crossed with Stanley converting both for a 23-0 advantage on the hour mark. The rout was complete nine minutes from the end as Gentles claimed her second try for 27-0.

Wakefield Trinity Ladies tough start continued with a 60-6 loss at Bradford Bulls Women. The hosts raced into a 14-0 lead inside 11 minutes as Sarah Dunn, Savannah Andrade and Amy Hardcastle crossed with Leah Jones converting just the latter. Further scores from Stacey Greenwood and Jones sandwiched Hardcastle's second as the Bulls led 26-0 at the interval.

Hardcastle completed her hat-trick before Georgia Cutt replied for Trinity with Emma Ryan kicking for 30-6. Bradford resumed control with Millie Taylor crossing and Jones converting before she improved a second try from Dunn for 42-6. Dunn completed her hat-trick and touched down for a fourth score ahead of a second try from Greenwood with Jones converting twice to round off the 58-6 rout.  

2019 Super League Round 13 Review

Round 13 began in attendance at the DW Stadium on Saturday as Wigan Warriors edged a 6-4 win over Castleford Tigers in torrential rain. The Tigers opened the scoring with a Peter Mata'utia penalty goal on 25 minutes before he doubled the lead to 4-0 with a second penalty just before the interval. Wigan's reply came on 54 minutes as Sam Powell touched down with ex-Tigers back Zak Hardaker converting for 6-4 with the Warriors holding on to secure the narrow victory.

Salford Red Devils bounced back from Easter Monday with a 30-10 win at London Broncos. The visitors raced into a 12-0 lead with tries from Joey Lussick and Niall Evalds with Krisnan converting twice.

Two further scores before the half-hour mark saw Daniel Murray and Jackson Hastings cross with Inu kicking for a 24-0 advantage into the interval. London replied through Rhys Williams for 24-4 before Lee Mossop (Inu conv) scored for 30-4. The hosts had the last say on the scoreline with Matty Fleming touching down on 69 minutes and Kieran Dixon kicking for 30-10.





Sunday saw a quartet of games and I'll start with the league leaders as St Helens remain clear after a comfortable 50-14 win over Catalans Dragons. The Dragons opened the scoring through Brayden Wiliame inside four minutes with Sam Tomkins converting for 6-0 before Saints cut the gap through Adam Swift for 6-4. Tries from former Dragons forward Zeb Taia and Aaron Smith saw Danny Richardson kick the hosts into a 16-6 lead that became 16-10 at the interval after a second Wiliame try.

Theo Fages and Dom Peyroux crossed after the restart with Richardson converting once for 26-10 before Matty Costello went over and Richardson kicked for 32-10. Lewis Tierney cut the gap to 32-14 before a Jack Welsby score and two further tries from Costello to complete his hat-trick saw Richardson convert the lot for the half-century and wrap up the 50-14 rout.

Hull FC moved up to third spot with a 30-14 over Wakefield Trinity at the KCOM Stadium, FC struck first through Albert Kelly with Marc Sneyd converting for a 6-0 lead that lasted just six minutes as Max Jowitt crossed for Trinity with Ryan Hampshire converting to level at 6 all.

FC regained the lead with a Sneyd penalty before Connor Wynne crossed and Sneyd kicked for a 14-6 lead. Justin Horo cut the gap to 14-10 at the interval before FC took control with a Joe Westerman brace which saw Sneyd convert twice having added a penalty goal for 28-10. Wakefield stemmed the spree with Jowitt's second before Sneyd wrapped up the win with a late penalty for 30-14.

Warrington Wolves cruised to a 50-19 win over Huddersfield Giants at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Ben Currie struck inside four minutes with Stefan Ratchford kicking for 6-0 before improving a 22nd minute try from Chris Hill for 12-0. Hudds hit back with three scores in six minutes, Lewis Senior, Darnell McIntosh and Alex Mellor all touching down with Oliver Russell converting the lot before adding a drop goal for a superb 19-12 lead at the interval.

The comeback proved to be costly as it spurred Warrington into a comeback of their own with braces from Bryson Goodwin and Blake Austin sandwiching a try from Daryl Clark with Ratchford converting the lot for a huge 46-19 advantage. The rout was completed late on as Ben Murdoch-Masila touched down with Ratchford converting before adding a penalty goal to end the afternoon with nine successes at 50-19.

After a miserable Easter, Hull Kingston Rovers' woes continued with a 28-24 loss to Leeds Rhinos. The Rhinos led 10-0 after the first quarter thanks to an Ash Handley brace and two goals from Liam Sutcliffe. Tom Briscoe and Jack Walker crossed just before the interval with a single Sutcliffe conversion giving the Rhinos a 22-0 lead before a Matt Parcell try and Sutcliffe conversion looked to have wrapped up the win at 28-0 on 48 minutes.

KR had other ideas as they mounted a huge comeback, Ben Crooks crossing twice and Ryan Shaw converting for 28-12 before late scores from Kane Linnett (Shaw conv) and Weller Hauraki saw ex-Rhinos back Danny McGuire set up a frantic finish as he converted for 28-24, Leeds held on though to claim the two points.