2019 Super League Round Nine Review

Round nine began with Hull Kingston Rovers ending an eight year wait as they claimed a 45-26 home win over Leeds Rhinos on Thursday night.

Rovers raced into an 18-0 lead inside 20 minutes as Tommy Lee, ex-Rhinos back Danny McGuire and Will Oakes all crossed with Craig Hall converting twice and adding a penalty goal. Leeds hit back through Konrad Hurrell with Liam Sutcliffe converting for 18-6 before Rovers resumed their control with another ex-Rhino scoring, Mitch Garbutt touching down ahead of a Junior Vaivai try, Hall improving both for 30-6.

Hurrell claimed his second try of the evening four minutes before half-time with McGuire's drop goal on the hooter sending Rovers into the interval leading 31-10. Leeds staged a comeback in the second half with Brad Singleton crossing on 50 minutes before a Hurrell hat-trick try on the hour and with Sutcliffe kicking both the gap was 31-22.

Hall kicked a penalty goal for 33-22 before a Josh Drinkwater try on 70 minutes made it 37-22. Leeds had hopes of a frantic finish as Hurrell claimed his fourth try for 37-26 but a third Hall penalty goal and last-gasp Ben Crooks try saw Hall successful for an eighth time to wrap up a huge 45-26 win.

In attendance on Friday night at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle as Castleford Tigers came from behind to claim a 38-28 win over Wigan Warriors. A superb start by the Warriors saw Joe Greenwood, Oliver Gildart and George Williams all crossing for tries with ex-Tigers back Zak Hardaker converting only the latter for 14-0. Joe Burgess increased the lead further with a try which Hardaker improved for 24-0 before Oliver Holmes touched down to make it 24-4.

Gildart claimed his second try for the Warriors before Callum Turner went over for the hosts to make it 24-8 into the interval. The Tigers staged a superb comeback after the interval as Mitch Clark, Matt Cook and Adam Milner all touched down with Peter Mata'utia converting the lot for a 26-24 advantage. Wigan regained the lead with a second Burgess try at 28-26 before a late score from Tuoyo Egodo saw Mata'utia convert before wrapping up the win with a last-gasp self-converted try for 38-28.

A tight game at the Mobile Rocket Stadium saw Wakefield Trinity edge a 17-16 win over Huddersfield Giants. Trinity struck first through Recce Lyne for 4-0 before Jermaine McGillvary levelled for 4-4. Oliver Russell's penalty goal put the Giants 6-4 ahead before Darnell McIntosh's try on 32 minutes sent the visitors into the interval leading 10-4.

David Fifita's try after the hour saw Danny Brough convert for 10 all before Hudds went ahead again with ten minutes to go, McIntosh claiming his second score and Russell kicking for 16-10. Wakefield levelled with Fifita's second try which Brough converted for 16 all before the ex-Hudds back haunted his former club further with a match-winning drop goal two minutes later for 17-16.

Warrington Wolves continued their great start with a 48-12 home win over London Broncos. The Wolves struck first with Tom Lineham crossing for 4-0 before Josh Charnley, Blake Austin and Jason Clark added tries which saw Stefan Ratchford convert twice for a 20-0 half-time advantage.

London cut the gap with a Nathan Mason try which Kieran Dixon converted for 20-6 before three tries in four minutes from Ratchford, Atkins and Austin saw Ratchford convert all but his own for 36-6 before another London try from Matty Gee saw Dixon kick for 36-12. The Wolves wrapped up the win with two tries from Lineham as he completed his hat-trick late on with Ratchford converting for a sixth time for 48-12

Saturday evening saw St Helens perfect start ended in an 18-10 defeat at Catalans Dragons. The Saints raced out of the blocks with Dom Peyroux crossing and Lachlan Coote converting for 6-0 inside four minutes. Catalans levelled within three minutes as Fouad Yaha touched down with Sam Tomkins converting for 6 all. Tommy Makinson restored Saints' lead with a 25th minute try for 10-6 before Tomkins sent the Dragons into the interval level at 10 all after a 33rd minute try.

The Dragons took the lead three minutes after the restart with a Tomkins penalty goal for 12-10 before Tony Gigot's 74th minute try and Tomkins' conversion made it 18-10 and handed Saints their first defeat of the season.

The round ended on Sunday with Salford Red Devils suffering a 23-16 defeat to Hull FC. The visitors struck first through former Salford back Josh Griffin with fellow ex- Red Devil Marc Sneyd converting before adding a penalty goal six minutes later for 8-0. Salford responded with a Josh Jones try which Ed Chamberlain converted for 8-6 before Sneyd added a second penalty goal before the interval for a 10-6 half-time advantage.

Griffin completed his hat-trick with two tries in four minutes with Sneyd adding a conversion for 20-6 before Niall Evalds try before the hour made it 20-10. Sneyd added another penalty goal for 22-10 before Salford cut the gap again through Jackson Hastings, Chamberlain kicking for 22-16. FC wrapped up the win three minutes later with a Sneyd drop goal for 23-16.

2019 Womens Super League Round One Review

The opening round of the 2019 Womens Super League began at Odsal as Bradford Bulls Ladies claimed a 38-16 over Featherstone Rovers Ladies. The Bulls raced into a 10-0 lead with tries from Amy Hardcastle and Stacey Greenwood and a conversion from Leah Jones inside the first 17 minutes.

Greenwood scored her second try on the half hour with Jones kicking for 16-0 before a self-converted Katie Hepworth try cut the gap to 16-6 before he improved another effort before the interval for 16-12. Bradford began the second half with a second Hardcastle try (Jones conv) for 22-12 before Greenwood completed her hat-trick ahead of a third for Hardcastle with the Bulls in control. Fev cut the gap with a try before Savannah Andrade crossed and Jones took her total to five successes with the boot to complete the 38-16 victory.

In attendance at Robin Park Arena as reigning champions Wigan Warriors were edged 6-4 by fierce rivals St Helens. Wigan made a perfect start as Alison Burrows collected a cross-field kick from Gemma Walsh to touch down for 4-0 with Michelle Davis unable to convert from out wide. Saints levelled with a try from Leah Burke for 4-4 with the wide angle seeing Faye Gaskin unable to convert.

The game remained tight into the second half with Saints missing a chance to go ahead as Beth Stott missed a long range penalty goal after Davis had been sin binned. The final minutes saw a double blow for the Warriors as Sarah Harrison was sin binned after a scuffle with Gaskin kicking the resulting penalty goal to seal the 6-4 win.

2018 double winners Leeds Rhinos Women opened with a 58-4 win over debuting Wakefield Trinity Ladies at Weetwood Sports Park. The Rhinos started rapidly with Elle Frain touching down in the opening minute before Caitlin Beevers scored twice with Tasha Gaines converting only the latter for 16-0. Sophie Robinson, Aimee Staveley and Danielle Anderson all crossed with Gaines converting the lot for a 34-0 advantage that was cut to 34-4 by Saskia Lewis' try before half-time.

The second half saw the Rhinos resume their control with Frankie Townsend and Sophie Nuttall crossing before a second try for Anderson made it 46-4. A self-converted try from Gaines brought up the half century at 52-4 before she converted a late try from Amy Johnson for 58-4.

The final game of the round saw Castleford Tigers Women ease to an 80-0 hammering of York City Knights Ladies at YSF Playing Fields. The Tigers raced into a 16-0 lead with tries from Lacey Owen, Georgie Hetherington and Esme Renyolds with Tara Stanley converting twice. Owen scored her second before a self-converted effort from Stanley and second try from Renyolds made it 32-0 at the interval.

Renyolds and Hetherington completed their hat-tricks before Lucy Eastwood and Kelsey Gentles also went in before the hour mark, Stanley converting twice for 56-0. Grace Field's try and a Stanley conversion brought up the 60 point mark before inaugural Women of Steel winner Georgia Roche crossed (Stanley conv ) for 68-0. Second scores for Stanley and Field rounded off the win with Stanley converting for a tenth time for 80-0. 

2019 Warriors Academy Attendances - March

March saw a perfect treble of victories watching the Wigan Warriors Academy with the only negative being the 16s tie against City of Hull Academy cancelled due to the bad weather.

The first game saw 40 mins viewing at Ealing Trailfinders as the young Warriors claimed a 46-26 win over London Broncos, an extra coach stop meant missing the first half but and a strong London charge saw Wigan under pressure in the second half. Scores from Harry Rushton, Morgan Smithies, Joe Shorrocks and Aiden Roden sealed the win which was a positive on an afternoon where the seniors later lost out.

The first visit to Robin Park Arena six days later saw the Warriors ease to a 54-14 win over Huddersfield Giants but it was the Giants who struck first as Lucas Hallas crossed and Josh Pinder converted for 6-0 inside the opening minute. Wigan hit back with efforts from Jake Sculthorpe and Harry Rushton, Callum Green improving both for 12-6. Louis Senior's try cut the gap to 12-10 before a self-converted try from Green gave the Warriors a 24-10 half-time advantage.

The Giants struck first in the second half as Dominic Young went over for 24-14 but any hint of a comeback was ended by four Wigan tries in the space of 13 minutes. Oscar Stone, Umyla Hanley, Amir Bourouh and Ryan Forshaw all crossing with Green converting the lot for a huge 48-14 lead. The rout was completed seven minutes from the end as Hanley went over for his second try with Green ending the afternoon with a 100% record from nine attempts at 54-14.

A stunning end to the month saw Newcastle Thunder struck by a lightning hot Warriors side as they cruised to a 72-0 victory. Wigan led 14-0 after the first quarter with scores from Ben Holcroft, Umyla Hanley and Reece Hamlett with Sam Halsall adding a single conversion. A brace from Brad O'Neill saw Halsall convert both (26-0) before my highlight of the game just before the interval, Hanley's superb no-look offload sent Holcroft clear for his second with Halsall kicking for 32-0.

Wigan took just seconds to extend their advantage after the restart as James McDonnell touched down, Halsall converted before scoring a try of his own and converting for 44-0 with just 51 minutes played. Aiden Roden went in ahead of the hour with a Corey Hall brace following, Halsall taking his total to eight successes at 60-0. Newcastle's miserable afternoon was completed by two late scores as Hanley and McDonnell crossed for their second efforts of the game and Halsall hit double figures with his ninth and tenth conversions for a whopping 72-0 win.

2019 Super League Round Eight Review

Round eight began with Leeds Rhinos ending their losing streak in spectacular style on Thursday night with a 21-20 Golden Point win over Castleford Tigers. The first televised GP victory in Super League began with the Rhinos racing into a 4-0 lead inside three minutes as Konrad Hurrell crossed. Liam Watts drew the Tigers level with a 22nd minute try before Ash Handley's effort and a late Liam Sutcliffe penalty goal saw the hosts lead 10-4 into the interval.

The Rhinos took control with Sutcliffe and Trent Merrin both crossing before the hour with Cameron Smith converting the latter for 20-4. Cas fought back superbly with three scores in 11 minutes, Greg Minkin, ex-Rhinos forward Chris Clarkson and Alex Foster all touching down with Callum Turner converting all but the latter for 20 all. Both sides attempted match-winning drop goals with Jake Trueman and Sutcliffe wide of the target before an epic 40 yard one-pointer in the first minute of extra time from Brad Dwyer sealed the win for the Rhinos.

St Helens survived a scare as they maintained their 100% record with a 36-24 win over Hull Kingston Rovers. A self-converted try from Lachlan Coote put the hosts 6-0 ahead before Jack Welsby and Luke Thompson crossed with Coote's conversion making it 6-0 after the first quarter. KR responded with a brace from Kane Linnett either side of Will Oakes' try and with Ryan Shaw converting the lot, they led 18-16 into the interval.

A Coote penalty goal within five minutes of the restart levelled at 18 all before Shaun Lunt's try and a Shaw conversion restored KR's lead at 24-18. The sides were level again on the hour as Kyle Amor crossed and Coote kicked for 24-24. Saints went ahead for the first time in the second half just two minutes later as Aaron Smith (Coote conv) touched down for 30-24. The win was sealed so minutes from the end as Regan Grace went over with Coote successful for the sixth time with the boot for 36-24.

Friday's televised action saw Warrington Wolves ease to a 63-12 hammering of Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium. The Wolves raced out of the blocks with braces from Blake Austin and Josh Charnley coupled with a Daryl Clark try and four conversions from Stefan Ratchford for a 28-0 lead inside 23 minutes. Austin completed his hat-trick on the half hour with Ratchford kicking for 34-0 before FC ended the Wolves spree just before half-time as Albert Kelly touched down with Marc Sneyd converting for 34-6.

Warrington took just two minutes of the second half to resume control as Ben Murdoch Masila crossed and Ratchford kicking for 40-6. A fourth score from Austin (Ratchford conv) and try from Ex-FC winger Tom Lineham made it 48-6 before the hour but with Charnley claiming his hat-trick try and Ratchford converting, the lead became 54-6. FC reached double figures three minutes later as Jordan Lane went over with Sneyd converting for 54-12. The last meeting between the sides saw Wire reach 80 and in the final ten minutes then breached 60 with Lineham scoring his second try with a ninth Ratchford conversion and late Austin drop goal completing the rout.

In attendance at the DW on Sunday as Wigan Warriors eased to a 42-0 win over Catalans Dragons. A tight first half saw Joe Burgess open the scoring and Zak Hardaker convert for 6-0 on 22 minutes before Hardaker kicked a penalty goal on the hooter for 8-0 into the interval. A second for Burgess within nine minutes of the restart and Hardaker penalty goal made it 14-0 before Wigan ran in three tries in eight minutes as Oliver Gildart and Hardaker crossed either side of Burgess' hat-trick score with Hardaker adding two conversions for 36-0. The rout was completed late on by Jarrod Sammut's spectacular score with Hardaker kicking a seventh conversion of the afternoon for 42-0.

Wakefield Trinity continued their good start to the season with a 33-22 win over Salford Red Devils. The hosts struck first as David Fifita touched down inside four minutes with Danny Brough converting for 6-0 which soon became 6-6 as Niall Evalds crossed and Ed Chamberlain converted for Salford. Two scores in six minutes put Trinity back ahead, Ryan Hampshire and Reece Lyne crossing with Brough improving both for 18-6. Kris Welham went in to cut the gap to 18-10 before Pauli Pauli's try (Brough conv) made it 24-10 into the interval.

Jacob Miller (Brough conv) crossed to increase the lead to 30-10 before two scores in as many minutes for Salford saw Derrell Olpherts and Jackson Hastings touch down with Chamberlain improving both for 30-22. Trinity wrapped up the win with a penalty and drop goal from Brough for 33-22.

The round ended with Huddersfield Giants continuing their recent revival with a 38-26 win at London Broncos. The Giants flew out of the blocks with Joe Wardle and Jordan Turner crossing either side of an Alex Walker score for the hosts with Lee Gaskell and Kieran Dixon improving the tries for 12-6. Akuila Uate extended the lead to 16-6 on 13 minutes before a frantic final ten minutes of the half saw Jermaine McGillvary and Sebastien Ikahihifo going in with Gaskell kicking twice for 28-6. The hosts cut the gap just before the interval through Jay Pitts with Dixon kicking for 28-12.

London cut the gap further within four minutes of the restart through Rhys Williams (Dixon conv) for 28-18 but Hudds responded with Uate's second (Gaskell conv) for 34-18. The hosts remained in the hunt with Dixon crossing on the hour to make it 34-22 but Alex Mellor's try five minutes later looked to seal the points for the Giants. London did have the final say though with Dixon crossing for his second try late on for 38-26

2019 Super League Round Seven Review

Round seven began with Warrington Wolves just about holding on to secure a 34-32 in at Wakefield Trinity on Thursday night. A rapid start from the Wolves saw Toby King, Josh Charnley and Chris Hill cross with Stefan Ratchford converting the lot for an 18-0 lead inside 12 minutes. Trinity replied through Ryan Hampshire with Danny Brough kicking for 18-6 before a Blake Austin try and Ratchford conversion on the half hour made it 24-6. Ratchford was successful with the boot again either side of the interval with penalty goals making it 28-6.

Wakefield ended the Wolves spree with David Fifita's try (Brough conv) for 28-12 before a second Charnley score (Ratchford conv) put the Wire 34-12 up. Trinity staged a huge fightback with a two minute Kyle Wood brace followed by two late scores from Max Jowitt and Joe Arundel, two conversions from four attempts for Brough would prove costly as the final miss denied them the  chance to force Golden Point and ensured a narrow Warrington victory.

Friday's televised action saw St Helens maintain their 100% record with a comfortable 42-12 win at Castleford Tigers. An early self-converted try and penalty goal from Lachlan Coote got Saints up and running before Regan Grace and Dom Peyroux went over for scores which saw Coote convert the latter for 18-0, a lead that lasted into the interval. Zeb Taia resumed the scoring three minutes after the restart with Coote converting for 24-0 ahead of two scores in five minutes from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Mark Percival for 32-0.

The Tigers finally got on the board on the hour through Michael Shenton's try which Jordan Rankin converted for 32-6. Saints resumed their control with a second Peyroux score and Jonny Lomax try (Coote conv) for 42-6 but the final say went to the hosts as Jake Trueman crossed in the final minute with Rankin kicking for 42-12.

Huddersfield Giants moved off the bottom of the table with a 42-8 rout of Hull Kingston Rovers. The sides exchanged penalty goals early on with Ryan Shaw and Lee Gaskell kicking for 2-2. Kruise Leeming put the Giants ahead on 14 minutes with Gaskell's conv making it 8-2 ahead of tries from Oliver Roberts and Darnell McIntosh with Gaskell kicking for a 20-2 advantage.

A second Leeming effort just after the interval was followed by Jermaine McGillvary's four minute brace and with Gaskell converting twice, the Giants led 36-2. Rovers ended the Giants spree with a Weller Hauraki try which Shaw converted for 36-8 but the final say went to the Giants as Suaia Matagi touched won five minutes from the end with Gaskell his seventh successful conversion of the evening.

After slipping to the bottom after Huddersfield's win, Leeds Rhinos remain there after a narrow 26-22 loss at Catalans Dragons on Saturday.

The Rhinos raced into a 12-0 lead with an Ash Handley brace which saw Liam Sutcliffe converting twice before Fouad Yaha cut the gap for the Dragons with Sam Tomkins converting for 12-6. Konrad Hurrell crossed for the Rhinos before a second Yaha try and Lucas Albert score saw Tomkins convert the latter to draw the Dragons level at 16 all.

Handley and Yaha completed hat-tricks before the hour with the Dragons going 22-20 after Tomkins' conversion but a penalty goal eight minutes later from Sutcliffe saw the Rhinos level at 22 all. The Dragons sealed the win with just eight minutes left as Yaha completed a quadruple of tries at 26-22.

In attendance on Sunday at the AJ Bell Stadium as Wigan Warriors ended their losing run with a 30-22 win over Salford Red Devils.

The hosts led 6-0 after Josh Jones' fourth minute try and Ed Chamberlain's penalty goal inside ten minutes. Wigan fought back superbly with George Williams, Tommy Leuluai and Joe Greenwood all crossing in the space of eight minutes coupled with Zak Hardaker converting the trio for 18-6. Salford rallied deep in the half, Derrell Olpherts and Niall Evalds easing through the Warriors line with Chamberlain converting the latter for 18-16 into the interval.

Salford regained the lead within two minutes of the restart, Adam Walker crossing for a debut try to make it 22-18. The Warriors turned the game around either side of the hour as Williams twice raced clear to complete his hat-trick and with Hardaker kicking for a 10-point haul, Wigan sealed their first away win in 2019.

The round closed with Hull FC edging a 28-24 win at London Broncos. FC struck inside four minutes through Josh Griffin for 4-0 before Elliot Kear crossed for London with Kieran Dixon kicking for a 6-4 lead. A second Griffin score saw Marc Sneyd convert to put FC 12-6 ahead but again London hit back with Eloi Pelissier crossing and Dixon converting before adding a penalty goal late in the half for 14-10.

A rapid response from FC saw Carlos Tuimavave and Jordan Thompson cross within eight minutes of the restart with Sneyd converting just the first effort for a 20-14 lead. Albert Kelly and Bureta Faraimo extended the lead either side of the hour mark to 28-14 before London staged a fightback similar to their recent win at Leeds. Jordan Abdull and Rhys Williams touched down with Dixon converting just once as the Broncos closed the final gap to four at 28-24.

2019 Super League Round Six Review

Round six began with St Helens maintaining their perfect start with a 40-12 win at Huddersfield Giants on Thursday night.

Saints opened the scoring through Luke Thompson inside four minutes with Lachlan Coote converting for 6-0 before Hudds levelled on 15 minutes with Jermaine McGillvary's try which Lee Gaskell converted. Saints went ahead again as Morgan Knowles (Coote conv) went over but an instant reply from the hosts saw Ex-Saint Jordan Turner touch down, Gaskell kicking for 12 all. The sides looked to be heading into the interval level but Saints had other ideas with a late score from Mark Percival (Coote conv) for 18-12 into half-time.

Percival struck again before Regan Grace and Dom Peyroux both crossed after the hour mark with Coote adding two conversions and a penalty goal for 34-12. The rout was complete on 75 minutes as Jonny Lomax scored with Coote kicking a sixth conversion of the evening for 40-12.

In attendance on Friday night as Wigan Warriors' miserable start continued with a 25-12 loss at Warrington Wolves. Jake Mamo crossed inside seven minutes for 4-0 before a self-converted try and penalty goal from Stefan Ratchford gave the Wolves a 12-0 lead at the interval. Ex-Warrior Josh Charnley extended the lead within six minutes of the restart with Ratchford converting for 18-0.  Wigan hit back with two scores in three minutes from Tom Davies and Willie Isa with Zak Hardaker converting both for 18-12. Dec Patton restored a two score lead four minutes later with a drop goal for 19-12 before a second try from an ex-Warrior late on saw Jack Hughes cross and Ratchford kick for 25-12.

Leeds Rhinos poor start to the season continued as they fell to an 18-16 defeat to London Broncos. London opened the scoring through Jay Pitts with Kieran Dixon converting before adding a penalty goal for 8-0. The lead lasted into the interval before Leeds his back with two tries in 15 minutes after the restart from Richie Myler and Trent Merrin with Tui Lolohea converting for 12-8. Tom Briscoe extended the Rhinos' lead to 16-8 on the hour before a superb fightback in the final five minutes saw Matt Fozard and Will Lovell scoring with Dixon kicking the latter to complete the comeback and secure the win.

Friday's third game saw Wakefield Trinity securing a 32-12 win at Hull FC. After a scoreless opening quarter, Wakefield struck through Ryan Hampshire with Danny Brough converting for 6-0 before adding a penalty goal and converting an effort from Bill Tupou in the space of six minutes for 14-0. FC hit back with two scores in the final four minutes of the half from Danny Houghton and Bureta Faraimo, Marc Sneyd converting both for 14-12 into the interval. Wakefield resumed their scoring in the second half with a second try from Tupou ahead  of two Brough penalties either side of a Pauli Pauli try for 26-12. The final say on the score came on 76 minutes with Reece Lyne touching down and Brough converting.

Sunday afternoon saw a tight affair at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle as Castleford Tigers edged a 24-20 over Salford Red Devils. Cas flew out of the blocks with Nathan Massey and Jordan Rankin crossing inside the opening quarter with Rankin converting twice for 12-0. Jake Bibby replied for Salford for a 12-4 scoreline at the interval. Greg Eden (Rankin conv) made it 18-4 inside seven minutes of the restart before two tries in as many minutes from Jansin Turgut and Joey Lussick saw the latter convert both to cut the gap to 18-16. Cas opened up a 24-16 lead with Jesse Sene-Lefao's try and a Rankin penalty goal before Bibby's second try set up a tense finish.

Another close game saw Catalans Dragons earn their first away win of the year with a 18-16 win at Hull Kingston Rovers. A try-less first half saw Craig Hall and Sam Tomkins kick penalties for 2-2 before Weller Hauraki put Rovers ahead with a try four minutes after the restart, Hall converting for 8-2. Joel Tomkins crossed for 12-2 before Brayden Williame and Lucas Albert's tries coupled with a Tomkins conversion drew the Dragons level at 12 all. Hall crossed for a try on 65 minutes to put Rovers 16-12 up before Lewis Tierney crossed for the Dragons with just four minutes left, Tomkins conversion from long range sealing the win. 

2019 Super League Round Four/Five Reviews

Round four opened at the AJ Bell Stadium as St Helens claimed a 26-4 win over Salford Red Devils. A Mark Percival try and Lachlan Coote conversion gave Saints a 6-0 lead after 20 minutes ahead of scores for Jonny Lomax and James Roby with Coote converting only the latter for a 16-0 half-time advantage.

Salford got on the board on 53 minutes as Derrell Olpherts extended his scoring streak in 2019 for 16-4. The visitors responded with a Regan Grace try four minutes later with Roby's second try on 75 minutes and a third Coote conversion rounding off the win.

Friday night saw Castleford Tigers continue their good start with a 32-16 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers. The hosts were stung by a 13th minute opener by Mose Masoe, Ryan Shaw converting for a 6-0 lead, Cas hit back through Jordan Rankin for 6-4 before going 10-6 in front with a Liam Watts try and Paul McShane conversion. The hosts went further ahead just before the interval with Greg Eden crossing for 14-6.

James Clare continued the Tigers streak four minutes after the break, Rankin kicking for 20-6 before a second try for Masoe and Shaw conversion cut the gap to 20-12. The Tigers resumed control a second Eden score and try for ex-Robin Chris Clarkson, Rankin improving both with the boot for 32-12. The final say on the scoreline came two minutes from the end as Chris Atkin touched down for 32-16.

Another all-Yorkshire battle on Friday saw Leeds Rhinos mixed start continue as they lost 35-18 to Wakefield Trinity.  The Rhinos did open the scoring inside three minutes through Ash Handley before a stunning 11-minute hat-trick from Tom Johnstone saw Danny Brough convert twice for a 16-4 lead.

Leeds replied with Tom Briscoe crossing and Tui Lolohea converting for 16-10 but Trinity took just five minutes to regain a two-score lead as Kyle Wood went in and Brough converted for 22-10. Brough extended the advantage just after the interval with a penalty goal for 24-10, Jacob Miller crossed to make it 28-10 before a Brough drop goal and self-converted try in a four minute period looked to seal the win at 35-10. Leeds had a late rally though with both Handley and Briscoe completing braces in the final five minutes for 35-18.

A tight game at the Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday as Catalans Dragons edged a 23-22 win over Warrington Wolves. The Dragons raced out of the block as Brayden Williame crossed inside two minutes ahead of a Kenny Edwards try, Sam Tomkins converting both for 12-0 before adding a penalty goal for 14-0. Warrington replied with a self-converted try from Stefan Ratchford before Tony Gigot swept over a drop goal for the hosts for 15-6 into half-time. The Wolves turned the game around before the hour with scores from Daryl Clark and Ryan Atkins coupled with a Ratchford conversion for 16-15. Remi Casty touched down (Tomkins conv) to restore the lead but just five minutes later, Warrington went back in front, Dec Patton (Ratchford conv) crossing for 22-21. The Wolves looked set to continue their perfect start to the season but were denied the victory five minutes from the end, Tomkins sweeping over a crucial penalty goal for 23-22.

Huddersfield Giants still search for their first win of the season after a 28-8 loss to Hull FC. FC struck first with Joe Westerman crossing in the 15th minute, Marc Sneyd converting for 6-0 before Darnell McIntosh replied for the Giants with Olly Russell levelling with the conversion before kicking a penalty goal for an 8-6 advantage which lasted until five minutes after half-time when Westerman scored his second try and Sneyd kicked FC into a 12-8 lead that was rapidly increased to 16-6 by Ratu Naulago's try. The win was sealed for the visitors by a Josh Griffin brace which saw Sneyd converting both for 28-8.

The final game of the round was one I attended as London Broncos claimed a shock 18-16 win over Wigan Warriors. The Warriors opened the scoring with tries from Liam Paisley and Willie Isa with Zak Hardaker converting once for 10-0. London battled back with scores from Eddie Battye and Matt Gee with Kieran Dixon converting both for a 12-10 lead into the interval.

Dixon crossed for a self-converted try four minutes after the interval before kicking a penalty goal for 18-10. The Warriors cut the gap to 18-16 as ex-Bronco forward Tony Clubb touched down with Hardaker converting but to no avail as London triumphed.

Round five began with Warrington Wolves claiming a 24-10 win over Castleford Tigers on Thursday night. Greg Eden gave the Tigers an eighth minute lead at 4-0 before a seven minute brace from Jake Mamo saw Stefan Ratchford convert the latter for 10-4. Jack Hughes crossed just before the interval with Ratchford kicking for a 16-4 half-time advantage. Ratchford extended the lead to 18-4 with a penalty goal before improving Ben Murdoch-Masila's 50th minute try for 24-4. The Tigers had the final say on the scoreline on the hour mark as Greg Minikin touched down with Jordan Rankin converting for 24-10.

Friday night saw attendance as Huddersfield Giants ended their losing streak with a 14-6 win over Wigan Warriors. The Warriors who successfully appealed their points deduction in midweek fell behind early on as Kruise Leeming went over inside 12 minutes with Lee Gaskell converting for 6-0. The narrow lead lasted past the interval until Morgan Escaré raced over for the hosts with Zak Hardaker kicking Wigan level. Gaskell restored the Giants' lead on the hour with the boot before Joe Wardle crossed for a 65th minute try which Gaskell improved for 14-6.

Leeds Rhinos mixed start to the season continued as they blew a 10-0 lead to lose 34-10 at Hull FC. The Rhinos raced into the aforementioned lead inside nine minutes as Harry Newman and Tom Briscoe crossed with Tui Lolohea converting just the former. FC hit back through Ratu Naulago and Masimbaashe Matongo with Marc Sneyd converting twice for a 12-10 lead that swiftly became 30-10 as Sneyd crossed ahead of Jamie Shaul and Albert Kelly and converted the lot.

The second half proved to be quieter with just one score registered on the board, Dean Hadley crossing for FC to complete the rout and after 13 games without a win extend FC's current streak of three in a row.

St Helens continued their 100% start with a comfortable 26-0 success over London Broncos. Saints flew out of the blocks with Dom Peyroux touching down in the first minute, Lachlan Coote converting for 6-0. Regan Grace and Theo Fages both crossed either side of the half hour mark with Coote converting the latter for 16-0. Coote claimed a try of his own after the hour and converted for 22-0 before Kevin Naiqama completed the rout in the final minutes.

Saturday afternoon saw a huge shock at Stade Gilbert Brutus as Catalans Dragons suffered a 46-0 demolition by Salford Red Devils. The visitors struck the opening score inside eight minutes through Joey Lussick with Ken Sio converting for 6-0. The lead remained at a converted try until 28 minutes when Sio kicked a penalty goal for 8-0. A frantic final four minutes of the first half saw Salford cross twice with George Griffin and Jake Bibby touching down, Sio converting just the former for 18-0. A rapid start to the second half saw Bibby and Griffin complete braces inside six minutes with Sio's kicking making it 30-0. Jackson Hastings and Niall Evalds piled punishment on the Dragons before the hour with Sio rounding off the rout with a self-converted try late on.

A close game ended the round on Sunday as Hull Kingston Rovers edged a 10-6 win at Wakefield Trinity. A first half without a try saw Danny Brough and Craig Hall exchange penalty goals for a 2-2 half-time score. Further penalty goals either side of the hour saw Brough successful ahead of Hall for 4-4. A third Brough penalty goal edged Trinity ahead on 70 minutes before the first and last try of the afternoon came on 74 minutes as Danny McGuire went over with Hall converting for 10-6.