2019 Super League Round 25 Review

Round 25 opened with the top two facing off on Thursday night as St Helens wrapped up a 30-12 win over Warrington Wolves.The Wolves flew out if the blocks with Jake Mamo crossing for the opening score inside two minutes for 4-0. Saints responded with tries from Kevin Naiqama and Jonny Lomax with Danny Richardson converting twice for 12-8 either side of a Josh Thewlis score for the hosts, the Wolves went into the interval just 12-10 behind after a Stefan Ratchford penalty goal.

Saints took just four minutes of the second half to reply with Joseph Paulo crossing, Richardson kicking for 18-10 before a second Ratchford penalty goal cut the gap to 18-12. Saints took control with scores from Matty Costello and Tommy Makinson, Richardson converting both to reach five successes in a 30-12 win.

In attendance on Friday night at the DW Stadium as Wigan Warriors claimed a 36-18 win over Hull Kingston Rovers. Wigan struck first with George Wiiliams crossing inside five minutes with Zak Hardaker converting for 6-0 before the Robins responded with a self-converted try from Ryan Shaw to level at 6 all. The hosts regained the lead with a Liam Marshall score which Hardaker improved for 12-6 before Ben Crooks replied for Rovers with Shaw converting for 12 all into the interval.

The sides exchanged scores after the restart with Liam Farrell (Hardaker conv) and Josh Drinkwater (Shaw conv) for 18-18 before three tries in 15 minutes ensured victory for Wigan as Burgess and Tony Clubb touched down ahead of a second Farrell score seeing Hardaker end the night with a perfect six with the boot for 36-18.

Leeds Rhinos boosted their survival hopes with a comfortable 48-8 victory over Catalans Dragons. A rapid start from the Rhinos saw Ash Handley crossing inside ten minutes with Rhyse Martin converting and adding a penalty goal before scoring a self-converted try for 14-0. Another penalty goal for Martin made it 16-0 with the Dragons scoring the final points of the half with a Mickael Goudemand try which saw Tony Gigot convert before adding a penalty goal on the hooter for 16-8 into the interval.

A second try for Handley was rapidly followed by Richie Myler crossing with Martin converting twice before adding a penalty goal for 30-8. Any hopes of a Dragons comeback were ended by Rob Lui and Tom Briscoe crossing for tries either side of a second from Myler, a stunning night with the boot for Martin saw him convert the lot to end on ten successes in a 48-8 win.

London Broncos' survival hopes suffered a blow with a 20-6 loss to Castleford Tigers on Saturday evening. The Broncos opened the scoring with a Brock Lamb try which Kieran Dixon converted for a 6-0 lead that was soon cut to 6-4 by a try for the hosts from Tuoyo Egodo which proved to the final score of the half.

Oliver Holmes put the Tigers ahead with a try just three minutes after the restart for 8-6 before a first senior try for Jacques O'Neill and second score for Egodo saw Jamie Ellis convert twice to complete the 20-6 success.

Sunday afternoon saw Salford Red Devils boost their play-off hopes with a 32-12 win at home to Huddersfield Giants. Salford opened the scoring with penalty goal from Krisnan Inu inside three minutes for 2-0 before he improved a try from Logan Tomkins for an 8-0 lead. Huddersfield cut the gap to 8-6 into the interval with a Darnell McIntosh try and Oliver Russell conversion but went in 10-6 behind after an Inu penalty goal.

Hudds took a 12-10 lead ten minutes after the restart with a self-converted try from Russell but their joy lasted just 14 minutes as Mark Flanagan (Inu conv) crossed with Inu adding another penalty goal before improving an effort from Lolohea and scoring a try of his own as he ended the afternoon with eight successes with the boot in the 32-12 victory.

The round came to an end with Hull FC claiming a 26-16 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. Trinity struck first with Ryan Hampshire racing over and Danny Brough converting for 6-0 before Bureta Faraimo replied for FC with Marc Sneyd converting for 6 all. FC went ahead with three rapid scores in the space of six minutes, Carlos Tuimavave and Ratu Naulago crossing either side of a self-converted try from Sneyd for 20-6 at the interval.

A second try for Naulago saw Sneyd kick for 26-6 but Trinity still had a fight in them with Joe Arundel and Jacob Miller crossing for tries which saw Brough convert for a 26-16 final score.