2019 Super League Round 18 Review

Round 18 began on Thursday night with Hull FC coming from behind to ease to a 31-18 win over Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. The Tigers opened the scoring with a Greg Minikin try for 4-0 before Ratu Naulago levelled for FC four minutes later. Peter Mata'utia kicked two
penalty goals for an 8-4 lead before Junior Moors crossed and Mata'utia converted for a 14-4 lead at the interval.

FC mounted a superb comeback with Naulago claiming his second try ahead of Albert Kelly going over, Sneyd converting twice before adding a penalty goal to make it 18-14. The hosts levelled with Greg Eden’s try on the hour but it proved to be a short lived equality as Kelly struck twice to complete his hat-trick with Sneyd converting twice for 30-18. The win was wrapped up for FC with four minutes remaining as Sneyd swept over a drop goal for 31–18.

In attendance at Emerald Headingley on Friday night as Wigan Warriors secured a 23–14 victory over Leeds Rhinos. The Rhinos opened the scoring with a Liam Sutcliffe penalty goal on 17 minutes for 2-0 before the Warriors hit back through Oliver Gildart with Chris Hankinson converting before adding two penalty goals minutes later for 10-2. Leeds cut the gap just before half-time as Adam Cuthbertson crossed and Sutcliffe converted for 10–8 but the final say of the half went to Wigan as Sam Powell swept over a drop goal for 11–8 into the interval.

The hosts regained the lead as Trent Merrin went over on 50 minutes with Sutcliffe kicking for 14-11. However, Wigan were soon back ahead as Oliver Partington dived over before a last minute drive from Tony Clubb saw both converted by Hankinson to seal a 23-14 victory.

St Helens maintained their lead at the top with a comfortable 38-2 victory over Huddersfield Giants. The Giants opened the scoring inside three minutes as Oliver Russell swept over a penalty goal for 2-0. Saints replied with a self converted effort from Lachlan Coote before Jonny Lomax and Tommy Makinson also crossed with Coote adding a single conversion for 16-2. Theo Fages crossed  before Makinson claimed his second try (Coote conv) as the lead stretched to 26-2 into the interval.

The two points were wrapped up before the hour as Makinson completed his hat-trick before a second score from Lomax saw Coote converting both to wrap up a 38-2 win.

Saturday’s televised action saw London Broncos claim a surprise 30-12 success away to Catalans Dragons. London opened the scoring on 12 minutes as Jordan Abdull crossed and Kieran Dixon converted for 6–0. The Dragons replied with a try from Fouad Yaha before Rhys Williams (Dixon conv) made it 12-4 but another Yaha effort cut the gap on the half hour mark to 12-8. Tries from Elliot Kear and Dixon either side of the hour, saw Dixon convert both for 24-8 before a second try from Williams ( Dixon conv) confirmed the win for the Broncos. Catalans had the final say though as Yaha crossed for his hat-trick score four minutes from the end for 30–12.

Hull Kingston Rovers gained revenge over Warrington Wolves for their Challenge Cup exit with a narrow 16-14 win at KCOM Craven Park. A Ryan Shaw penalty goal gave Rovers a 2-0 lead early on before Bryson Goodwin crossed for the Wolves with Declan Patton converting and later adding a penalty goal for an 8-2 lead. KR cut the gap to 8-4 at the interval with a last-gasp penalty goal from Shaw.

The hosts levelled with a Mose Masoe try on 54 minutes with Shaw kicking for a 10-8 lead that was rapidly cancelled out by Josh Charnley’s try (Patton conv) as Wire led 14-10. Rovers came achingly close to completing a comeback in the last meeting and this time they were successful as five minutes from the end, Adam Quinlan crossed with Shaw kicking to secure a 16-14 win.

The round ended on Sunday as Salford Red Devils claimed a 44–20 win over Wakefield Trinity. Salford struck early as Jake Bibby crossed for 4-0 but Wakefield replied with a Jacob Miller try which Danny Brough converted for 6-4. Salford regained the lead with Niall Evalds crossing ahead of Bibby’s second try, Krisnan Inu converted the former before improving an effort from Joey Lussick as the hosts led 20-6 into the interval.

Ben Jones-Bishop cut the gap four minutes after the restart with Brough converting for 20-12 but Salford replied through Robert Lui ( Inu conv) to make it 26-12. The sides exchanged scores either side of the hour, Miller claiming his second try ahead of Kris Welham crossing for the hosts with an Inu conversion moving the score to 32-16. Jones-Bishop claimed his second score of the afternoon before two scores from Evalds to seal his hat-trick late on saw Inu end on six successful conversions as Salford won 44-20.