2021 Super League Round Seven Review

Round seven of Super League saw some personal history with Saturday's opening game at the AJ Bell Stadium (Salford v Wigan) becoming the first physical attendance of the season with the ironic twist being that it was also the last attendance back in March 2020.

Warriors Scale Summit After Devils Defeat

Wigan Warriors moved top of the standings after claiming a 17-16 win over Salford Red Devils at the AJ Bell Stadium in front of their own fans for the first time in 2021. Salford opened the scoring with a self-converted try from Harvey Livett inside ten minutes for 6-0. Wigan levelled with a Brad Singleton try and Harry Smith conversion before falling 12-6 behind to a try from ex-Warriors forward Jack Wells which Livett converted. The Warriors cut the gap with Liam Farrell's try before Livett added a penalty goal for 14-10 into the interval. 

Livett extended the lead to 16-10 with another penalty goal on the hour mark but Wigan fought back with a second Singleton try and Smith conversion for 16-16 before sealing the win in style late on with ex-Salford half Jackson Hastings sweeping over a drop goal for 17-16.

Wire Widdop's Treble Topples Tigers

Warrington Wolves returned to winning ways with a 38-14 over incoming coach Daryl Powell's Castleford Tigers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The Tigers made a perfect start as Jake Trueman crossed inside three minutes with Danny Richardson converting got a 6-0 lead that was cut a few minutes later by Josh Charnley's try for 6-4. Wire completed the comeback on 14 minutes as Toby King touched down with Stefan Ratchford converting for a 10-6 lead. Cas levelled with a Jordan Turner score before Gareth Widdop's try and a Ratchford penalty goal sent the Wolves into the interval leading 16-10. 

Widdop crossed for two more tries to complete his hat-trick after the hour mark with Ratchford improving both efforts for a huge 28-10 advantage, the win looked safe for the hosts as King claimed his second try on 70 minutes for 32-10 before Daryl Clark (Ratchford conv) went over for 38-10. Castleford had the final say on the score-line as Turner claimed his second score in the final minute for 38-14. 

Dragons Delight As Saints Stunned

St Helens' perfect start to the season came to an end in a 20-16 defeat to Catalans Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. The Dragons opened up an 8-0 lead with a penalty goal and self-converted try from James Maloney. Saints cut the gap with a Lachlan Coote penalty for 8-2 into the interval. 

Catalans took just two minutes of the second half to regain their two score lead with Dean Whare crossing and Maloney converting for 14-2. Mark Percival cut the gap to 14-6 before the Dragons regained their 12 point lead again with a Ben Jullien try and Maloney conversion for 20-6. The result went down to the wire though as Percival claimed his second try, Coote converted and Regan Grace crossed late on for 20-16 but that was to be the final score as Saints unbeaten run ended. 

Huddersfield Humble Luckless Leigh

Leigh Centurions' wait for a first win of the season continued as they were hammered 44-6 by Huddersfield Giants. Leigh actually opened the scoring with Lewis Tierney crossing for 4-0 early on before a Ricky Leutele try and Aidan Sezer conversion put Hudds 6-4 ahead. Leigh levelled with a Ben Renyolds penalty goal at 6-6 before Sezer added two penalty goals for a 10-6 lead at the interval. 

Kenny Edwards crossed for the Giants on 49 minutes with Sezer converting for 16-6 before Hudds then took full control with tries from Jake Wardle, Adam O'Brien and Jermaine McGillvary with Sezer converting all but the first for a huge 32-6 lead. A frantic final few minutes saw Hudds wrap up the win as Leutele claimed his second score ahead of a Michael Lawrence try with Sezer converting both to end the afternoon with eight successes at 44-6. 

Trinity Triumph Over Rovers

Wakefield Trinity claimed their first win of the season with a 28-12 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. Trinity raced into a 16-0 first half lead with a Liam Kay brace, two conversions and penalty goals from Mason Lino. 

They were gifted the first score of the second half as Tinirau Arona collected a misplaced pace from Robins back Shaun Kenny Dowall and raced clear to score, Lino converting for 22-0. KR finally got off the mark with an Adam Quinlan touching down with Rowan Milnes converting for 20-6 before the Robins scored consecutive tries with Ben Crooks crossing and Jordan Abdull converting for 22-12. Trinity rounded off the win with a Jacob Miller try which Lino converted for a 28-12 final score. 

Hull Hold Off Rallying Rhinos 

The round ended on Sunday evening as Hull FC edged an 18-12 win over Leeds Rhinos at Emerald Headingley Stadium. The Rhinos struck first with Liam Sutcliffe try converted by Rhyse Martin for a 6-0 lead. Hull levelled with an Adam Swift score which Marc Sneyd converted before Martin kicked Leeds back ahead at 8-6 with a penalty goal. FC went ahead after Swift's second score which Sneyd converted before improving an effort from Josh Griffin for an 18-8 half time lead. 

The second half proved to be a close one as just one score arrived with Tom Briscoe cutting the gap for Leeds late on for an 18-12 final score

2021 Women's Challenge Cup Semi Finals Review

The Women's Challenge Cup resumed at the semi final stage with both ties staged at York's LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

City Knights Crush Tigers

The first semi final saw York City Knights Ladies ease into the final with a 32-4 win over Castleford Tigers Women. The tie had extra spice after the recent move of five Tigresses to the Knights ahead of the previous round and in the first quarter, the new additions paid off for the Knights. Tries from Savannah Andrade, Katie Langan (Rhiannion Marshall conv) and ex-Cas back Kelsey Gentles sandwiched a penalty goal from Tigers back Tara-Jane Stanley as York led 14-2.The lead became 20-2 into the interval as Andrade clamed her second try with Marshall converting.

York continued their hold on the tie in the second half with Andrade completing her hat-trick with Marshall converting for 26-2 before adding a try of her own as the game entered the last five minutes with Ellie Hendry taking on the kicking duties with instant success for 32-2. The final score was a strange one as Castleford chose to go for two with a late penalty, Stanley successful with the boot for a 32-4 final score as York advanced to their first ever Challenge Cup final. 

St Helens Halt Holders Leeds

York's opponents in next month's final will be St Helens Women after they ended Leeds Rhinos Women's reign as holders with a 20-12 victory. Leeds opened the scoring with a penalty goal from Courtney Winfield-Hill for a 2-0 lead before Carrie Roberts crossed for the Saints to put them 4-2 up after 27 minutes. Saints extended their lead before the interval with Amy Hardcastle crossing for an 8-2 advantage into the break. 

Hardcastle doubled her tally on 53 minutes and Faye Gaskin's first success with the boot saw the Saints lead 14-2 but Leeds kept up hope and cut the deficit just before the hour mark with Fran Goldthorp's try which Winfield-Hill converted for 14-8. St Helens wrapped up the win with ten minutes to go as Roberts crossed for her second score of the afternoon with Gaskin kicking for 20-8. Leeds had the last say on the score-line late on though as Orla McCallion touched down for 20-8 in the final minute.

2021 Super League Round Six Review

Round six of Super League saw a landmark as fans were allowed to attend for the first time since March 2020 although at this stage only home fans beginning with Monday's clashes. 

Trinity Denied By Rallying Rhinos

The round opened with a close clash on Friday night as Leeds Rhinos edged a Golden Point win of 15-13 over Wakefield Trinity. Trinity struck first with Liam Kay crossing for 4-0 before Mason Lino added a try for 8-0 on 24 minutes. Leeds replied with a self-converted try from Rhyse Martin for 8-6 before a penalty goal from Lino saw Trinity hold a 10-6 lead into the interval. 

Leeds went ahead for the first time with Konrad Hurrell's try which Martin converted for 12-10 but with Lino adding another penalty goal as time ticked into the final five minutes it was 12-12. Both sides had success with drop goals, Luke Gale firstly then Lino for 13-13 to force Golden Point. The win went to Leeds with three minutes of the extra period played as Trinity conceded a penalty which Martin converted to complete the 15-13 victory. 

Rovers Rally Topples Tigers

Monday night saw the remaining five clashes starting with Hull Kingston Rovers' 26-22 victory over Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. A rapid start from the Tigers saw James Clare and Michael Shenton delight the home fans with trues which Danny Richardson converted for 12-0 before he added a penalty goal for 14-0, KR hit back with tries from Ben Crooks and Matt Parcell with Jordan Abdull converting twice to cut the gap to 14-12 but Cas would lead into the interval after Derrell Olpherts try was converted by Richardson for 20-12.

Ryan Hall cut the gap for KR to 20-16 before a second score from Crooks drew the Robins level at 20-20 but Castleford regained the lead again with a Richardson penalty only to lose out late on as Abdull crossed and converted to complete a superb 26-22 win. 

Dragons Delight As Hull Humbled

Hull FC's homecoming to fans saw a 27-10 loss to the delighted Catalans Dragons at the KCOM Stadium. An early penalty goal from James Maloney saw the Dragons lead 2-0 before Mahe Fonua touched down for 4-2. Catalans levelled with an Arthur Mourgue penalty at 4-4 before going 10-4 behind as Josh Renyolds crossed for FC with Marc Sneyd converting. just after the interval. 

Catalans levelled with a Sam Kasiano try and Maloney conversion at 10-10 before taking control with a Mike McMeeken score which Maloney converted for 16-10. They sealed the win with three late scores as Maloney swept over a drop goal for 17-10 before converting the first of a try brace from Tom Davies who crossed to complete the 27-10 win. 

Warriors Comeback Crushes Centurions Hopes

Wigan Warriors continued their perfect SL start with a 30-16 comeback win over Leigh Centurions at Leigh Sports Village. Leigh gave their fans early joy by leading 10-0 inside the first quarter as ex-Warriors back Anthony Gelling and Nathan Mason crossed with Ben Renyolds adding a conversion. Wigan fought back with a self-converted score from Harry Smith, tries from Dom Manfredi and Bevan French as well as another Smith conversion for 16-10. Leigh ensured parity into the interval as Jamie Ellis went over with Renyolds converting for 16-16.

Liam Farrell restored the Warriors' lead with a try on 42 minutes which Smith converted for 22-16 and from there Wigan took control with a brace either side of the hour mark from Jake Bibby to wrap up a 30-16 victory. 

Super Saints Rout Red Devils

St Helens retained top spot with a comfortable 28-0 win over Salford Red Devils at the Totally Wicked Stadium. A close fought first half saw just one score as Alex Walmsley crossed for a 25th minute try which Lachlan Coote converted for a 6-0 lead into the interval.

Ex-Red Devils half Theo Fages crossed three minutes after the interval with Coote converting for 12-0 before Kevin Naiqama touched down for 16-0 on the hour mark. The win was wrapped up a Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook try which Coote improved before he converted a late score from Regan Grace round off the 28-0 rout.

Giants Glory With Wire Win 

The round ended with Monday's televised action as Huddersfield Giants secured a 26-20 win over Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Hudds raced into a 12-0 lead thanks to a Lee Gaskell try brace which Aidan Sezer successfully converted before he improved an effort from Jermaine McGillvary and added a penalty goal for a 20-0 lead into the interval. 

Warrington staged a comeback after the interval as Greg Inglis crossed ahead of a Daryl Clark try which saw Gareth Widdop convert twice before adding a penalty goal to cut the gap down to 20-14. Josh Thewlis' try narrowed the gap further to 20-18 before Kenny Edwards went over for Hudds with Sezer converting for 26-18. Warrington looked for two scores late on by choosing to kick a conversion with Widdop doing so for 26-20 but to no avail as Hudds held on for the win.

2021 Women's Super League Round Three Review

After the break for the Challenge Cup, Super League action resumed with Wigan Warriors and Castleford taking their turn with the week off. The four matches were spread across Belle Vue and Victoria Park.

Rhinos Romp Past Weakened Wakefield

The round opened with the broadcast selection as Leeds Rhinos Women eased to a 74-6 win over Wakefield Trinity Ladies. The Rhinos raced into a 16-0 lead with tries from Aimee Staveley, Caitlin Beevers and Ellie Frain with Tasha Gaines converting twice. Fran Goldthorp raced over before Beevers claimed her second score, Gaines converting for a 26-0 lead. The advantage was cut just before the interval as Abby Price touched down for Trinity with Lisa Taylor converting for 26-6. 

The Rhinos' spree resumed in style after the restart as Goldthorp completed her hat-trick either side of a hat-trick try from Beevers before Lucy Murray and Chloe Kerrigan also crossed with Gaines adding three conversions for a huge 50-6 lead. A player of the match performance from Goldthorp saw her reach five scores with Hanna Butcher and Zoe Hornby also claiming tries either side of Kerrigan's second try with Gaines ending the afternoon with seven successes in the 74-6 victory.

Wire Suffer Saints Loss

The opener at Victoria Park saw Warrington Wolves Women continue their wait for a first win as they lost out 54-6 to St Helens Women.  A rapid brace from Rachel Woosey saw Gaskin convert for 12-0 inside 20 minutes and Rebecca Rotherham and Jodie Cunningham both crossed with Gaskin improving both efforts for 24-0 into the interval. Amy Hardcastle continued the scoring run with Danielle Bush and Naomi Williams also touching down before the hour mark and with Gaskin converting twice before she crossed for a try of her own for a 44-0 advantage. Cunningham and Williams claimed their second efforts of the afternoon with Gaskin adding a single conversion for 54-0 but the Wolves did have the last say by avoiding the nil with a late try from Kiera McCosh which Michelle Davis converted for a 54-6 final score. 

Giants Glory Against Battling Bulls 

Huddersfield Giants Women secured their first WSL victory with a 28-20 win over Bradford Bulls Women at Victoria Park. The Giants opened the scoring six minutes in as Amelia Brown went over and Reagan Walker converted for a 6-0 lead that was quickly levelled by Stacey Greenwood's try which Sarah Dunn converted for 6-6. Dunn put the Bulls ahead with a try of her own before Isabel Northrop levelled with Walker kicking Hudds 12-10 ahead. Bradford regained the lead into the interval with Grace Ramsden going over for 14-12.

A self-converted try from Dunn extended the Bulls' lead to 20-12before three tries in 14 minutes from the Giants saw Annabel Loney, Erin Stott and a second score from Brown making it 24-20. The historic win was sealed late on as Walker crossed for a try for 28-20.

City Knights Continue Revival Against Rovers

The second game at Belle Vue saw York City Knights Ladies claim their first WSL win of the season with a 42-14 win over Featherstone Rovers Ladies. The Knights struck first with Sinead Peach crossing and Rhiannion Marshall converting for 6-0 before Grace Field and Katie Langan went over and with a single Marshall conversion, York led 16-0. Olivia Wood scored her first try of the season before a second score from Langan and full length try from Savannah Andrade saw Emily Farrow added a conversion for a 30-0 lead into the interval. 

Featherstone got off the mark on 46 minutes with Beth Blacklock crossing ahead of an Olivia Grace score to cut the deficit to 30-8. York resumed control with a brace from Marshall with Farrow converting twice more for 42-8. The Rovers had the final score of the afternoon as Blacklock crossed for her second score and converted for a 42-14 final score. 

2021 Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Final Review

After a great opening two rounds, Super League took a break for the Challenge Cup to resume at the quarter final stage with ties taking place at the Mobile Rocket Stadium and Victoria Park. 

Knights Stun Warriors

The opening tie at the Mobile Rocket Stadium saw Wigan Warriors Women stunned in a 30-24 loss to a York City Knights Ladies side which boasted seven new signings. Two of the new signings combined early on to put York 6-0 ahead as Grace Field crossed for a try that Rhiannion Marshall converted. Wigan hit back through Anna-Mary Davies for 6-4 before taking an 8-6 lead with Rachel Thompson's score. Bethany Lambert crossed to restore the lead for York with Marshall kicking for 12-8 but again Wigan hit back as Rebecca Greenfield sashayed over and Georgia Wilson converted for 14-12. Wigan looked to be heading into the interval ahead after Emily Stirzaker crossed for 18-14 but a last-gasp score from Mel Halstead and Marshall conversion made it 18-18 into the break. 

The second half proved to be a closer battle with Field putting York ahead on the hour with Marshall's conversion making it 24-18. Wigan levelled again with a second Thompson score and Wilson conversion but only converting two of five attempts proved costly late on as Marshall made it five from five for York as she improved the ha-trick try from Field to seal a stunning 30-24 victory. 

Cas Claim Wire Win

Castleford Tigers Women advanced to the last four with a 26-6 win over Warrington Wolves Women at Victoria Park. Cas struck first with a Tilly Churm try for 4-0 before Shona Hoyle crossed and Leah Jones converted for 10-0. Georgia Roche crossed to increase the lead as the Tigresses led 14-0 at the interval.

Roche crossed for a second time on 47 minutes with Jones kicking for 20-0. Warrington got off the mark with a Danielle Bound try which Michelle Davis converted for 20-6 before Georgie Hetherington's try rounded off the scoring with Jones converting for a third time for 26-6. 

Saints Rally Past Rovers

St Helens Women cruised into the last four with a comfortable 44-10 over Featherstone Rovers Ladies. Saints raced into a 20-0 lead in the opening quarter with scores from Faye Gaskin and an Amy Hardcastle hat-trick with Gaskin adding two conversions. Rovers got off the mark on the half-hour mark with Lauren Roberts crossing for 20-4, a gap that lasted into the interval. 

Danielle Bush crossed three minutes after the restart for 24-4 before Emily Rudge and Jodie Cunningham touched down ahead of a second score from Gaskin who added a single conversion for 38-4. Saints' final score came from Tara Jones with Beth Stott converting but Fev had the final say late on with Andrea Dobson scoring a try which Beth Blacklock converted for a 44-10 final score. 

Rampant Rhinos Batter Bulls 

Leeds Rhinos Women eased into the semi finals with a 70-0 hammering of Bradford Bulls Women. A rapid start from the Rhinos saw Elle Frain, Chloe Kerrigan, Fran Goldthorp and Danika Priim all cross in the opening 20 minutes with Courtney Winfield-Hill adding two conversions for a 20-0 lead. Goldthorp claimed her second score before Sophie Robinson touched down and with a single Winfield-Hill conversion, Leeds led 30-0 at the break. 

Tasha Gaines, Caitlin Beevers and Tara Moxon all crossed before the hour mark and with Winfield-Hill converting for a 44-0 advantage. The 50 point mark arrived on 58 minutes with Goldthorp's hat-trick try which Winfield-Hill converted and after a Hanna Butcher score (Winfield-Hill conv) made it 56-0, Leeds wrapped up the rout with second scores from Frain and Beevers and a fourth from Goldthorp to complete the 70-0 victory. 

The semi final draw is as follows.

Castleford v York

St Helens v Leeds

2021 Men's Challlenge Cup Quarter Final Review

A break in the league schedule last weekend as the Challenge Cup resumed at the quarter final stage with ties staged across Friday and Saturday.

Wire Win As Dragons Defeated

Friday's opener saw Warrington Wolves advance to the last four with a 16-6 win over Catalans Dragons. Wire raced out of the blocks with Daryl Clark crossing inside three minutes and Gareth Widdop converting for 6-0. Widdop added a penalty goal on 18 minutes before converting a second try from Clark for a 14-0 lead into the interval.

Widdop extended the lead further with a penalty two minutes after the restart for 16-0 before Catalans had the final say on the score with a try from Mike McMeeken and conversion from James Maloney to complete a 16-6 score-line. 

Hudds Halted As Saints Succeed

St Helens held off Huddersfield Giants with a 23-12 win to reach the last four. The Giants opened the scoring inside six minutes as Michael Lawrence crossed and Aidan Sezer converted for 6-0. Saints cut the gap with a Regan Grace try before going 10-6 ahead with a Mark Percival try and Lachlan Coote conversion. Hudds went into the interval ahead as Darnell McIntosh went over and Sezer kicked for 12-10 into the break. 

St Helens levelled at 12-12 within five minutes of the restart with a Coote penalty before they went ahead with a second Grace score and Coote conversion for 18-12. Theo Fages swept over a drop goal for 19-12 which proved vital as it meant Hudds could only narrow the gap with McIntosh claimed his second try which Sezer converted for 19-12. The win was wrapped up late on for Saints though as Grace completed his hat-trick for a 23-12 victory. 

Hull Hurrah Against Warriors

Saturday's action opened with Hull FC exacting revenge for their loss to Wigan Warriors in last week's SL clash as they sealed a 20-10 win. Wigan opened the scoring with a Jake Bibby try for 4-0 before they were pegged back by a Chris Satae try and Marc Sneyd conversion for 6-4.

Sneyd added two penalties either side of the interval for a 10-4 lead before improving a second score from Satae for 16-4 just after the hour mark. Wigan had some hope late on as Dom Manfredi crossed and Harry Smith converted for 16-10 and with the chance to cut the gap further in the final seconds, they lost the ball which allowed Adam Swift to race clear and cross to complete the 20-10 win. 

Tigers Tiptoe Past Red Devils

After needing golden point extra time to reach the last eight, Castleford Tigers repeated the feat with a 19-18 golden point win over Salford Red Devils. Salford struck first with a self-converted score from Harvey Livett for 6-0 before Dan Smith crossed and Danny Richardson converted to level at 6-6. Livett scored and converted for a second time to make it 12-6 but Cas battled back again just before the interval with Peter Mata'utia going over and Richardson kicking for 12-12. 

Cas went ahead for the first time on the hour mark with Michael Shenton crossing and Gareth O'Brien converting for an 18-12 lead and they looked to be safely in the next round as the tie entered the final minutes before being pegged back in the final minute as Lee Mossop crossed for a try which Livett converted to level at 18-18 and force golden point extra time. The tie was settled inside two minutes of the extended period as O'Brien repeated a feat he achieved while in Salford colours as he swept over a drop goal to seal the win at 19-18. 

The draw for the semi-finals was made at the weekend and is as follows...

Hull FC v St Helens 

Castleford v Warrington.

2021 Super League Round Five Review

After some clubs had their first official home game of the season last week, others finally had that chance in Super League Round Five. 

Warriors Win Halts Hull

The round opened at the DW Stadium on Thursday night as Wigan Warriors extended their unbeaten run with a 16-14 win that ended the run of Hull FC.  Wigan struck first with Jackson Hastings crossing and Zak Hardaker converting for a 6-0 lead that was levelled by an Adam Swift try and Marc Sneyd conversion for 6 all. Sneyd put FC 8-6 ahead with a penalty goal but Wigan restored the lead with a Liam Farrell try to go into the interval at 10-8.

Hull fought back with Mahe Fonua crossing for 12-10 within five minutes of the restart and a Sneyd penalty goal made it 14-10. Wigan drew level just before the hour mark as Jake Bibby crossed and the Warriors completed the comeback with Hardaker's penalty goal sealing the 16-14 win. 

Leigh Losing Run Extended By Saints

St Helens remain in top spot after denying a winning home start for Leigh Centurions in a 22-12 victory. Saints opened the scoring with a try from Sione Mata'utia which Lachlan Coote converted for 6-0. The first half proved to be a close one as just one more score arrived before the interval with Matt Russell crossing and Ben Renyolds converting for 6 all. 

Saints regained the lead with a self-converted score from Coote before he improved an effort from Jack Welsby for 18-6 but Leigh hit back instantly as Anthony Gelling intercepted near his own line and raced clear to score, Renyolds converting to cut the gap to 18-12. Leigh pushed to level but to no avail as just one more score in the game came and it went to Saints with Kevin Naiqama crossing to wrap up the 22-12 win. 

Dragons Delight In Trinity Trip

Catalans Dragons returned to winning ways with a 38-18 win away to Wakefield Trinity. The Dragons struck first through Tom Davies for 4-0 before Oli Ashall-Bott levelled for the hosts with Mason Lino converting for a 6-4 advantage. Catalans regained the lead with Mike McMeeken crossing ahead of a second try for Davies, Maloney converting for 16-6 but Wakefield hit back with Max Jowitt touching down and Lino kicking for 18-12.

The half ended with Dean Whare going over for 20-12 but Wakefield continued to battle after the interval and with Reece Lyne crossing and Lino converting the try, they cut the gap to 20-18. Catalans resumed control of the scoring with Whare claiming his second score ahead of Davies completing his hat-trick late on with Maloney converting both but there was one last say in the final seconds as Samisoni Langi touched down with Maloney converting to complete the 38-18 win. 

Salford Stutter As Tigers Triumph

Salford Red Devils' mixed start to the season continued as they lost out 28-18 to Castleford Tigers at the AJ Bell Stadium. The Tigers opened the scoring inside six minutes with Greg Eden crossing and Danny Richardson converting for a 6-0 lead that was quickly cancelled out by the hosts as Kevin Brown and Andy Ackers both went in with Harvey Livett converting twice for 12-6. Cas battled back to level through Liam Watts' try which Richardson converted before putting them 14-12 ahead with a penalty goal just before the interval. 

Cas took control after the break with Cheyse Blair crossing within two minutes of the restart and Richardson converting before adding a penalty goal for 22-12 on the hour. He stepped up again a minute later to improve a try from Jake Trueman to surely confirm the win but Salford narrowed the gap to 28-18 in the final eight minutes after Tui Lolohea touched down and Brown converted. 

Wolves Rally Past Robins

Saturday's action saw Warrington Wolves secure a 50-26 win over Hull Kingston Rovers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The Robins opened the scoring with Shaun Kenny-Dowall's fourth minute try which Jordan Abdull converted for 6-0 but they were quickly pegged back by a Toby King score which Stefan Ratchford converted to level at 6 all. The sides exchanged scores again with Ben Currie (Ratchford conv) and Ryan Hall (Abdull conv) making it 12 all.

A penalty goal and try from Abdull gave the Robins an 18-12 lead into the interval but Wire battled back with a second Currie score followed by Greg Inglis' first try for the club for 22-18. KR levelled with a second score from Hall before Wire took control with efforts from Daryl Clark, Jake Mamo and Josh Charnley (Ratchford convs) to open up a huge 40-22 lead. Kane Linnett cut the gap to 40-26 before a second Charnley try followed Danny Walker's effort as the hosts wrapped up the 50-26 victory. 

Giants Glory While Rhinos Rue

The final game of the round saw Huddersfield Giants edge past Leeds Rhinos with a 14-13 win at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Leeds struck first with a Bodene Thompson try for 4-0 before Aidan Sezer scored two self-converted tries either side of the interval to make it 12-4. 

Ash Handley crossed for the Rhinos with Rhyse Martin converting before adding a penalty goal to level at 12 all on the hour mark. The game became a drop-goal-a-thon from there with Liam Sutcliffe kicking for 13-12 to Leeds and Sezer levelling at 13 all. The crucial kick came right at the end as Lee Gaskell swept over a drop goal to complete an epic 14-13 win for the Giants.

2021 Women's Super League Round Two Review

Amid the sporting social media boycott, round two of the Women's Super League took place on Sunday with the four game split between Victoria Park, Warrington and Belle Vue, Wakefield and due to no club updates, I followed the Fev/Leeds clash live on Twitch.

Rampant Rhinos Rout Rovers 

As mentioned above, Featherstone Rovers Ladies faced reigning champions Leeds Rhinos Women at Belle Vue with the Rhinos romping to a 72-0 win. A rapid start from the Rhinos saw Orla McCallion, Tara Moxon and Ellie Oldroyd all cross inside ten minutes with Courtney Winfield-Hill converting twice from three attempts for 16-0. The contest looked over by the interval as scores from Fran Goldthorp,Hanna Butcher, Caitlin Beevers and a brace from Adaoha Akwiwu were coupled by a trio of conversions by Winfield-Hill for 42-0 into the interval. 

The Rhinos spree resumed four minutes after the restart with Chloe Kerrigan crossing for 46-0 and the Rovers defence showed improvement from the first half by keeping the Rhinos out until just before the hour mark when Oldroyd claimed her second score (Winfield-Hill conv) for 52-0. Leeds wrapped up the win with four tries in the final 15 minutes, Butcher and Goldthorp claiming second scores ahead of Sophie Robinson and Zoe Hornby crossing with Winfield-Hill ending the afternoon with eight successes with the boot in the 72-0 win. 

Wondrous Warriors Beat Bulls 

The opening game of the afternoon at Victoria Park saw Wigan Warriors Women secure consecutive wins with a 38-0 victory over Bradford Bulls Women. The Warriors raced out of the blocks with Vanessa Temple crossing inside five minutes for 4-0 before Vicky Molyneux and Anna Mary Davies crossed in the space of four minutes with Georgia Wilson converting the latter for 14-0. Wilson crossed for a try of her own before the interval following efforts from ex-Bull Amy Boardman and Emily Stirzaker (Wilson conv) for a 28-0 lead into half-time. 

The second half proved to be a closer battle than the first with the scoreboard untroubled until 62 minutes when Rebecca Greenfield crossed for the Warriors and the final say on the score came seven minutes from the end as Davies claimed her second try which Rachel Thompson converted to wrap up the 38-0 win. 

Terrific Tigers Topple Trinity

The second game at Belle Vue saw a Yorkshire derby as Castleford Tigers Women eased to a 44-0 win over Wakefield Trinity Ladies. A close first half saw just four scores as Hollie-Mae Dodd, Leah Jones, Eva Izumi and Lucy Eastwood all crossed for tries which gave the Tigers a 16-0 lead at the break. 

The Tigers spree resumed with a Georgia Roche try before Dodd claimed her second and Shona Hoyle touched down with a single conversion from Roche making it 30-0. Dodd completed her hat-trick before a late brace from Georgie Hethertington saw Jones convert to complete the 44-0 victory. 

Super Saints Humble Huddersfield

St Helens Women top the standings after being highest scorers for the second week in a row, this time with a huge 90-0 win over Huddersfield Giants Women at Victoria Park. The Saints stormed into a 28-0 lead inside the first quarter with Rachel Woosey and Emily Rudge crossing twice followed by efforts from Amy Hardcastle and Tara Jones, Faye Gaskin adding two conversions. After leading 52-0 at the interval in the opening round, Saints went into the break at 46-0 this time as Naomi Williams and Paige Travis' efforts were sandwiched by Hardcastle's second and Rudge's hat-trick tries.

Danielle Bush pushed the lead to 50-0 with five minutes gone in the second half, a second from Williams and hat-trick try from Woosey saw Gaskin convert the latter for 60-0. It became a case of how close Saints would go towards matching last week's huge win and they went one score better as Jodie Cunningham crossed before the stacks continued. Hardcastle claiming her hat-trick, Bush her second score and then the feat of Hardcastle and Rudge both registering their fourth efforts of the afternoon with Gaskin kicking a total of nine successes with the boot to round off the 90-0 rout.