2021 Super League Round Nine Review

Super League Round Nine was an historic round for negative reasons as the first Covid related postponement of the season appeared as did a second with both St Helens v Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants v Wigan Warriors called of due to infections in the Giants and Rhinos squads.

Fonua/Swift Braces as FC Topple Tigers

The round opened with Hull FC claiming a 30-12 win over Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. A perfect start from the Tigers saw a debut try for Jason Qareqare inside two minutes for 4-0 before Adam Swift crossed and Marc Sneyd converted to give FC a 6-4 lead. Danny Richardson kicked a penalty goal for 6-6 on 37 minutes but FC would lead into the interval as Mahe Fonua crossed and Sneyd converted for 12-6.

The lead became two scores within three minutes of the restart as Swift (Sneyd conv) touched down before Fonua claimed his second score before the hour with Sneyd kicking FC into a huge 24-6 lead. A self-converted try from Jake Connor confirmed the win for FC but Cas had the final say with Oliver Holmes crossing and Richardson converting for a 30-12 final score. 

Rampant Robins Rout Red Devils

Hull Kingston Rovers continued their good form with a comfortable 40-4 win over Salford Red Devils at Hull College Craven Park. The Red Devils struck first as Ken Sio crossed for a 4-0 lead that lasted until the Robins scores twice in six minutes, George Lawler and Ben Crooks crossing with Jordan Abdull adding a conversion for 10-4. Brad Takairangi opened his account for the Robins just before half-time with Abdull kicking for a 16-4 lead into the interval. 

Abdull added a penalty goal within two minutes of the restart for 18-4 ahead of improving efforts from both Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Matt Parcell after the hour mark for a huge 30-4 advantage. The win was wrapped up with two further scores, Ryan Hall crossing ahead of a Kane Linnett try which Rowan Milnes converted for a 40-4 final score. 

Wolves Win Against Tricky Trinity

Warrington Wolves returned to winning ways with a 38-18 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The Wolves raced into a 14-0 lead with a self-converted try from Gareth Widdop and Ben Currie effort which Widdop improved before adding a penalty goal. Wakefield hit back with a David Fifita try which Mason Lino converted for 14-6 into the interval. 

Warrington resumed control with a Jake Mamo try within four minutes of the restart which Widdop converted before he improved a Josh Charnley effort for 26-6. Trinity cut the gap with a Joe Arundel try which Lino converted but the points were sealed by the Wolves with two more Charnley scores for his hat-trick with Widdop reaching seven successes with the boot for a 38-12 lead but Wakefield did have the last say as Lee Kershaw crossed and Lino converted for a 38-18 final score. 

Dragons Delight Despite Close Centurions Comeback

The round ended on Saturday afternoon with Catalans Dragons moving top after denying a close comeback from Leigh Centurions in a 36-30 victory at Leigh Sports Village. The Centurions opened the scoring inside two minutes with a Ben Renyolds try which Ryan Brierley converted for 6-0 before Josh Drinkwater crossed for the Dragons with James Maloney levelling with the boot. Leigh regained the lead through Brendan Elliot's score which Brierley converted for 12-6 before he improved a Matty Gee effort to lead 18-6. Catalans battled back with a self-converted try from Maloney as they went into the interval 18-12 behind. 

The Dragons drew level on 47 minutes with Samisoni Langi's try and Maloney's conversion for 18-18 before they raced into a 36-18 lead after Tom Davies, Ben Jullien and Arthur Mourgue all crossed before the hour mark with Maloney converting twice and adding a penalty goal. Leigh fought back with a Ben Hellewell try which Brierley converted before crossing and converting himself to cut the gap to 36-30 which is how the score remained as Leigh's winless run continued.