2019 Super League Round 17 Review

The round began with a tense golden point victory for Castleford Tigers on Friday night as they edged a 27-26 win over Huddersfield Giants. The Tigers took the lead with a 13th minute penalty goal from Peter Mata'utia for a 2-0 lead that became 4-0 as he added another ten minutes later. Hudds hit back within two minutes to lead 6-4 with Lee Gaskell crossing and Oliver Russell converting. A second Gaskell/Russell combination saw Hudds extend the lead to 12-4 before Cas cut the gap to 12-10 into the interval as Greg Minikin went over with Mata'utia converting.

Mata'utia drew Cas level with a 55th minute penalty goal before Hudds regained the lead with a hat-trick try for Gaskell, Russell converting for 18-12. A rapid comeback by the Tigers saw Liam Watts cross with Mata'utia converting before adding a penalty goal to put the Tigers 20-18 ahead. Hudds levelled with a Russell penalty goal on 71 minutes before they looked to have sealed the win with Joe Wardle's 75th minute try which Russell improved for 26-20. Cas had other ideas as Grant Millington scored a last gasp try which Matat'utia converted to force Golden Point at 26 all. The Tigers sealed the win inside a minute of the extra period with Mata'utia sweeping over a drop goal for 27-26.

The televised action saw Leeds Rhinos claiming a 10-0 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. Leeds edged ahead with two penalty goals from Liam Sutcliffe in the 15th and 28th minutes to lead 4-0 at the interval in torrid conditions.

Tui Lolohea extended the lead with a 54th minute try before Sutcliffe rounded off the scoring with a penalty for 10-0 after 68 minutes.

Hull FC defied a late comeback from Salford Red Devils to secure a narrow 35-32 win at the KCOM Stadium. A rapid start from the hosts saw Albert Kelly, Jake Connor and Mark Minichello cross inside 15 minutes with Marc Sneyd converting the lot for 18-0. Pauli Pauli replied for Salford with Krisnan Inu converting for 18-6 before a second Kelly try saw Sneyd kicking for a 24-6 advantage, Jake Bibby (Inu conv) cut the lead which became 28-12 into the interval with a Jamie Shaul crossing on 35 minutes.

Robert Lui crossed for Salford within three minutes of the restart to cut the gap to 24-16 before FC looked to take control with a Sneyd drop goal on 63 minutes before he improved a Ratu Naulago try for 35-16 two minutes later. Salford mounted a huge comeback in the final ten minutes as Pauli (Inu conv) and Bibby claimed their second scores of the evening before a late Niall Evalds try saw Inu convert to set up a frantic finish as FC held on to win 35-32.

Saturday afternoon saw Warrington Wolves cut the gap at the top with a comfortable 34-4 win over Catalans Dragons. The Dragons struck the first points of the afternoon as Fouad Yaha crossed on the wing for 4-0 inside 17 minutes. The Wolves gained the lead with a Daryl Clark try on 31 minutes which Declan Patton converted for 6-4. Blake Austin's score (Patton conv) extended the lead to 12-4 into the interval.

Patton pushed the lead to 14-12 with a penalty goal inside four minutes of the restart before tries from Bryson Goodwin, Sitaleki Akauola and Josh Charnley saw Patton convert the lot before taking his total to seven successes with the boot late on to wrap up a 34-4 victory.

The round ended with two games which were settled by a single point starting with a huge shock as bottom side London Broncos stunned league leaders St Helens 23-22 in Golden Point extra time. Saints made the perfect start with James Roby and Luke Thompson crossing for tries which Danny Richardson converted for a 12-0 lead inside ten minutes. Ryan Morgan crossed against his parent club with Kieran Dixon converting for 12-6 and London levelled just before half-time as James Cunningham touched down with Dixon kicking for 12 all into the interval.

Mark Percival restored Saints' advantage as he crossed to make it 16-12 on 50 minutes but the lead was to last just five minutes as Morgan claimed his second try to level the game again at 16 all. The Broncos went in front for the first time on 67 minutes with Jay Pitts crossing, Dixon converted for a 22-16 lead that remained as the game entered the final minutes. St Helens saved their blushes in the final minute with Regan Grace touching down before Richardson swept the vital conversion in for 22 all which forced Golden Point. London claimed a famous 23-22 win within two minutes of the restart courtesy of a drop goal from Morgan Smith.

In attendance at KCOM Craven Park as Wigan Warriors left it late to seal a 19-18 win over Hull Kingston Rovers. The visitors struck first with George Williams racing in and Zak Hardaker converting for 6-0 after 12 minutes. KR levelled just seven minutes later with Jimmy Keinhorst touching down and Ryan Shaw kicking for 6 all. Wigan regained the lead just before half-time,Dan Sarginson dashing over ahead of a score for Joe Burgess for 14-6 into the interval.

The Robins cut the gap within three minutes of the restart through Will Dagger (Shaw conv) before going 18-14 ahead with Ryan Lannon's try which Shaw improved on 54 minutes. Wigan drew level with Liam Marshall's try on 65 minutes before sealing a 19-18 win in the final minute with an epic drop goal from Sam Powell.