2021 Super League Round 18 Review

Round 18 saw the COVID postponements continue with Warrington Wolves v Hull FC suffering in an other wise full schedule. 

Warriors Win Against Salford

The round opened at the DW Stadium as Wigan Warriors secured a 16-6 win over Salford Red Devils. The hosts struck first with Sam Halsall crossing for 4-0 before ex-Warriors winger Joe Burgess went over to level at 4-4. Both sides were reduced to 12 before the interval with Greg Johnson & Morgan Smithies in the sin-bin. Salford went into the interval ahead after a Harvey Livett penalty goal for 6-4.

Wigan levelled with a Harry Smith penalty goal for 6-6 before he added two more either side of the hour mark for 10-6. The win was sealed on 70 minutes as Sam Powell crossed and Smith converted for a 16-6 final score. 

Tigers Triumph Over Rhinos 

Castleford Tigers returned to action with a 32-18 win over Leeds Rhinos at Emerald Headingley Stadium. The Tigers raced into a 14-0 lead with tries from Greg Eden and Peter Mata'utia with Danny Richardson converting twice and adding a penalty goal in-between. Leeds cut the gap to 14-6 into the interval with Robert Lui crossing and Rhyse Martin converting. 

Ash Handley (Martin conv) crossed to cut the gap further but the Rhinos comeback was halted there as Jordan Turner's try and a second from Eden saw Richardson convert twice for a huge 26-12 lead. Leeds reduced the deficit to 26-18 with Brad Dwyer touching down and Martin converting for 26-18 but Cas had the final say as ex-Rhinos forward Jimmy Keinhorst crossed and Richardson kicked his sixth success for a 32-18 final score. 

Saints Stun Dragons 

Catalans Dragons' superb winning run came to an end as they lost out 34-12 to St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Saints raced into an 18-0 lead with scores from Tommy Makinson, Lewis Dodd and Regan Grace with Lachlan Coote converting the lot. Catalans cut the gap through Mathieu Laguerre with James Maloney converting for 18-6. The lead moved to 20-6 into the interval as Coote kicked a penalty goal.

Saints extended the lead further before the hour mark as Joe Batchelor crossed and Coote converted for 26-6. The Dragons reached double figures with a Mickael Goudemand try which Maloney converted for 26-12 but it proved to be in vain as Coote kicked a penalty before crossing and converting for a 34-12 final score. 

Wolves/Hull FC Suffer COVID Postponement

The traditional postponement for this round saw Hull FC's trip to face Warrington Wolves cancelled due to COVID issues for the visitors.

Resilient Robins Deny Centurions 

Leigh Centurions' hopes of a first win of the season continue after an achingly close 34-28 loss to Hull Kingston Rovers at Leigh Sports Village. Leigh struck first with Junior Sau crossing for 4-0 before Kane Linnett replied for 4-4. Greg Minkin crossed to put the Robins 8-4 ahead before Shaun Kenny-Dowall touched down with Ben Crooks converting for a 14-4 lead. Mikey Lewis extended the lead to 18-4 with a try before a self-converted score from Craig Mullen cut the gap to 18-10 into the interval.

The two sides exchanged scores before the hour mark as Albert Vete (Crooks conv) and Adam Sidlow (Mullen conv made the score 24-16. Sau claimed his second try with Mullen converting for 24-22 and Leigh went ahead with after Mullen converted a second try from Sidlow for 28-24. However, the Robins battled back with a second try for Kenny-Dowall before Ryan Hall sealed the win with a try which Crooks converted for a 34-28 final score. 

Giants Glory As Trinity Toppled

The round ended at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday as Huddersfield Giants edged a 22-18 win over Wakefield Trinity. An early blow for the Giants saw Oliver Russell sinbinned inside two minutes with Trinity taking full advantage to open up an 18-0 lead with scores from Reece Lyne, Joe Westerman and a self-converted try from Ryan Hampshire who converted the lot. Hudds cut the gap through Lewis Senior for 18-4 before Sam Wood's try and Will Pryce's conversion made it 18-10 into the interval.

A brace from Jermaine McGillvary either side of the hour mark levelled the score at 18-18 before Hudds completed the comeback as Jake Wardle crossed to seal a 22-18 win.