2022 Womens Challenge Cup Round One

A new format for the Women's Challenge Cup in 2022 as the opening three rounds are formed by 16 teams competing in four groups with the top two in each reaching the quarter finals. This years competition began last weekend with Round One. 

Group One -Super Saints Rout Raiders

St Helens Women opened the defence of their title with a comfortable 68-0 win over Barrow Raiders Ladies on Saturday afternoon. A rapid start from the visitors saw Amy Hardcastle cross for a brace either side of a Paige Travis effort with Zoe Harris adding two conversions to open up a 16-0 lead inside ten minutes. Leah Burke crossed for a brace herself in the 24th and final minute of the half to send the Saints into the interval with a 24-0 lead.

Hardcastle completed her hat-trick within two minutes of the restart as she crossed and Harris converted for 30-0 before Burke did the same for 34-0 within four minutes. Tara Jones touched down next with Harris kicking for 40-0 before a fourth score from Hardcastle (Harris conv) made it 46-0.Saints wrapped up the win with further scores from Dani Bush, Victoria Whitfield and Katie Mottershead with a second from Travis in-between and Harris converting thrice more to complete the 68-0 victory. 

Davis Quintet Fires Wolves Past Army 

Warrington Wolves Women stormed to a huge 50-8 win over Army RL Ladies on Sunday afternoon  which began with a brace from Michelle Davis who converted her second score for a 10-0 lead inside 18 minutes. The Army cut the gap on the half hour mark with a try from Emily Carlisle to make it 10-4 before Emily Baggaley crossed for a debut try to sent the Wolves into the interval leading 14-4. 

Baggaley scored her second within four minutes of the restart with Davis also scoring her second try to push the lead to 22-4 before Sammy Simpson went over and Davis converted to make it 28-4 on the hour. Army RL quelled the Wolves' spree with a try from Hannah Williams to cut the gap to 28-8 and the joy lasted barely three minutes as Fern Davies (Davis conv) crossed for the Wolves to make it 38-8. The win was wrapped up three further scores as Davis crossed twice in two minutes to claim her fourth and fifth of the game and Baggaley completed her hat-trick, Davis converting only the latter for a haul of 30 points in the 50-8 win. 

Group Two- Rhinos Rally Past Giants 

Leeds Rhinos Women began with a 38-8 win over Huddersfield Giants Women at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The hosts struck first as Amelia Brown crossed inside seven minutes to put the Giants into a 4-0 lead. Leeds hit back with a rapid double as Georgia Roche and Fran Goldthorp touched down with Sam Hulme converting twice for a 12-4 lead on 15 minutes. Roche scored her second try on the half hour mark with Hulme converting for 18-4 before improving a Keara Bennett try to send the Rhinos into the interval with a 24-4 lead.

Tasha Gaines and Shannon Lacey crossed just before the hour mark with Hulme converting the latter for 34-4 and she soon crossed for a try of her own for make it 34-8. Hudds quelled the Leeds spree with a late try from Angel Howey but it proved to be the final say as Leeds secured the 38-8 win. 

Majestic Miners Humble Hull

Leigh Miners Rangers Ladies cruised to a comfortable 72-0 win over Hull FC Women at Twist Lane on Sunday afternoon but sadly due to limited updates the only news from the clash is that the hosts led 34-0 at the interval with scores that included a brace from Charlotte Hill .

Hill completed her hat-trick in the second half as the Rangers Ladies eased to the 72-0 victory. 

Group Three- York Dominate Dewsbury Moor

York City Knights Ladies began their pursuit of a second consecutive final with a comfortable 78-0 win away at Dewsbury Moor. The Knights held a 34-0 lead the interval after tries from Olivia Wood, Mary Tiplady, Sinead Peach, Daisy Sanderson, Tara Jane Stanley and a brace from Rhiannion Marshall with Stanley adding three conversions and Olivia Whitehead kicking once. 

The second half was the Stanley show as she crossed for four further tries for a haul of five with Marshall completing her hat-trick and Kelsey Gentles crossing for a brace and Emma Kershaw also touching down with Stanley converting four times and Whitehead twice to wrap up the 78-0 win. 

Wondrous Warriors Beat Bulls

Wigan Warriors Women opened their campaign with a 44-6 win over Bradford Bulls Women in a clash that I attended at Horsfall Stadium on Sunday evening. The Warriors struck first with Gabi Leigh crossing inside four minutes before Georgia Wilson crossed and converted for a 10-0 lead inside ten minutes, Kaitlin Hilton (Wilson conv) crossed to extend the lead to 16-0 before a superb intercept try from Hannah Donald saw her cross and convert to cut the gap to 16-6. Wilson crossed and converted for a second time as the visitors went into the interval leading 22-6.

Wigan continued their control with a try from Anna Mary Davies for 26-6 before Holly Speakman dived over with Wilson converting for 32-6 at the hour mark. The gloss on the win came with two scores in the final ten minutes as Carys Marsh and Bethany Hayes touched down with Wilson converting both for a 44-6 final score. 

Group Four- Triumphant Trinity Topple Tigers

Wakefield Trinity Ladies were the surprise of the round as they secured a 32-10 over city rivals Castleford Tigers Women at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. The visitors opened up a 12-0 lead with tries from Kacey Davies and Abbie May Millward which saw Megan Preston convert twice. The Tigers got off the mark with a score from Tally Bryer for 12-4 before scores from Amie Leigh Wood and Lauren Harvey saw Preston convert the latter for a 22-4 advantage into the interval. 

A quiet start to the second half saw the score remain at 22-4 past the hour mark until Castleford cut the gap to 22-10 as Verity Randall touched down and Chloe Smith converted but Wakefield wrapped up the win with two further scores as Cassy Lawson and Libby Priestley crossed with Preston converting the former as Trinity completed the 32-10 win. 

Rovers Rally Against Raidettes

Featherstone Rovers Ladies began their campaign with a 30-10 win ay Oulton Raidettes on Sunday afternoon. The Raidettes opened the scoring for 4-0 before being pegged back by a Hayley Swann try which Katie Hepworth converted for 6-4 before the hosts regained the lead for 10-6. Fev regained the lead themselves with Jess Matthews, Elland Lanb, Fran Copley and a score unknown with Hepworth converting the lot for a 30-10 lead into the interval. 

The packed first half seemed to be the final say on the score as the sides shared a blank second half as Fev held firm for the 30-10 win. 

2022 Super League Round Five

The up and down season continued as another of the unbeaten sides lost their perfect record while those without a win continued their wait in Round Five.

Hull FC Humble Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos' mixed season continued with a 31-8 defeat to Hull FC at Headingley Stadium on Thursday night. A scoreless first quarter burst into action with a try from Jake Connor and Ben McNamara conversion for 6-0 before McNamara improved an effort from Adam Swift for 12-0. The visitors would go into the interval with an 18-0 lead as Connor crossed for a second time with McNamara converting. 

The control continued within six minutes of the restart with Andre Savelio crossing for 22-0 and just before the hour mark, McNamara added a penalty goal for 24-0. FC wrapped up the victory with a Joe Lovodua try (McNamara conv) before Connor swept over a drop goal for 31-0. Leeds avoided a nilling with a mini fightback late on as Tom Briscoe and Liam Sutcliffe both touched down for a 31-0 final score. 

Trinity Triumph Against Toulouse

Toulouse Olympique XIII's wait for a win continued as they lost out 18-6 to Wakefield Trinity at the Be Well Support Stadium on Friday night. The hosts struck first with Liam Hood crossing and Brad Walker converting for a 6-0 lead that was rapidly cut by a try from Guy Armitage for 6-4. Chris Hankinson levelled at 6-6 with a penalty goal on 24 minutes before Walker swept a penalty goal over for the hosts just before the half-time break to ensure an 8-6 lead into the interval.

Wakefield extended the lead with a Kelepi Tanginoa effort within three minutes of the restart with Walker converting for 14-6 and the final say on the score-line came seven minutes from the end as Corey Hall crossed to wrap up the 18-6 win for Trinity. 

Robins Rally At Struggling Salford

Hull Kingston Rovers boosted their start with a 26-16 win over Salford Red Devils at the AJ Bell Stadium. The visitors raced into an 18-0 first half advantage as Elliot Minchella, Matt Storton and Mikey Lewis all crossed for tries which Jordan Abdull successfully converted.

Salford cut the gap within three minutes of the restart as Ken Sio crossed and Marc Sneyd converted for 18-6 before improving efforts from Shane Wright and Joe Burgess to cut the gap to a mere two points at 18-6. However, the hosts' comeback halted there with Lewis claiming his second try which Abdull converted before adding a penalty goal to wrap up the 26-16 win.

Saints Stroll Past Woeful Wolves 

St Helens maintained their perfect start with a 28-2 victory over Warrington Wolves at the Totally Wicked Stadium. The Wolves opened the scoring with a 15th minute penalty from Stefan Ratchford for 2-0 before Tommy Makinson levelled with a penalty for 2-2 before he converted a Jack Welsby try for 8-2. Makinson went over for a try of his own to ensure the hosts led 12-2 into the interval. 

Makinson crossed for his second try of the evening just before the hour mark with Mark Percival crossing and Lewis Dodd taking over the converting to make it 22-2 before Jonny Lomax went over late on with Dodd kicking to complete the 28-2 win.

Hudds Hold Off Cas Comeback

Huddersfield Giants moved up to third spot after a 36-24 success over Castleford Tigers at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Giants struck first with Owen Trout crossing and Will Pryce converting for a 6-0 lead that rose to 18-0 into the interval as Luke Yates and Jermaine McGillvary crossed for scores with Pryce converting twice. 

The Tigers wasted no time after the restart in mounting a comeback as Jake Trueman, Mahe Fonua and Greg Eden all crossed for tries which Gareth O'Brien converted to level at 18-18.Trueman crossed for his second score after the hour mark with O'Brien kicking the Tigers into a 24-18 lead. The focus then became Ricky Leutele as he touched down three times in the space of 15 minutes with Pryce improving the trio of tries to secure the 36-24 win. 

Dragons Delight In Nilling Warriors

Catalans Dragons celebrated ending Wigan Warriors' perfect start in a 28-0 drubbing at the Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday evening. The Dragons struck their opener on 18 minutes as Mitchell Pearce crossed and Sam Tomkins converted for 6-0 before adding two penalty goals for a 10-0 lead. The advantage became 16-0 into the interval though as Mickael Goudemand crossed for a try that Tomkins improved. 

Pearce crossed for his second score on 47 minutes with Tomkins kicking for 22-0 before the win was wrapped up by Samisoni Langi's try and Tomkins conversion for 28-0 which proved to b the final score but not the final action as Jordan Dezaria and Kaide Ellis were both dismissed late on after a fracas. 

2022 Super League Round Four

Round Four saw a return to the four day schedule of Thur-Sun which included a couple of close results at both ends of the table. 

Rhinos Rally Topples Trinity

The round began on Thursday night at the Be Well Support Stadium as Leeds Rhinos sealed a 34-18 win over Wakefield Trinity. A rapid start from the visitors saw David Fusitu'a cross for a try which Rhyse Martin converted before he then improved a Morgan Gannon effort for 12-0 inside ten minutes. Harry Newman (Martin conv) touched down ahead of an Ash Handley brace which saw Martin convert twice for a 30-0 lead into the interval.

Wakefield got off the mark on 52 minutes with a Matty Ashurst try which saw Max Jowitt convert for 30-6 before Handley crossed for his hat-trick just after the hour mark for 34-6. Trinity cut the gap further to have the final say with a self-converted effort from Jowitt who converted a Tom Johnstone score late on for a 34-18 final score. 

Super Saints Rout Robins

St Helens kept up their perfect start with a comfortable 42-8 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at Sewell Group Craven Park on Friday night. Saints struck first with a Sione Mata'utia try which Tommy Makinson converted for 6-0 before Ryan Hall replied for the Robins to make it 6-4. A self-converted score from Makinson was followed by him converting a brace from Lewis Dodd to open up a 24-4 lead into the interval. 

Saints continued to dominate with Mata'utia and Makinson sealing their braces with Makinson kicking for 34-4 before Alex Walmsley crossed for 38-4. The hosts cut the gap to 38-8 with a Frankie Halton try but the final say went to Makinson who completed his ha-trick in the final minute to round off the 42-8 rout. 

Dragons Deny Wolves

Warrington Wolves' unbeaten start came to and end in a 24-18 defeat to Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. A closely fought first half saw the sides level the interval after tries from Matt Whitley (Josh Drinkwater conv) and Matty Ashton (Stefan Ratchford conv) for 6-6.

The Dragons raced into a 24-6 lead after the interval with Arthur Romano, Mitchell Pearce and Mickael Goudemand all crossing with Drinkwater converting the lot. Warrington made it a tight finish though with a late Josh Charnley brace which coupled with conversions from Ratchford saw the Dragons holding on for the 24-18 win. 

Warriors Edge Tricky Toulouse

Toulouse Olympique XIII's are still searching for their first win after being denied in a 29-28 loss to Wigan Warriors at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday. The Warriors raced into a 10-0 lead with scores from Jai Field and Zak Hardaker with Hardaker converting the former. Toulouse staged a rapid comeback as they scored 18 unanswered points to lead 18-10 at the interval due to Guy Armitage, Maxime Stefani and Tony Gigot all crossing with Chris Hankinson converting and Gigot and Eloi Pelissier adding drop goals.

Wigan stemmed the spree with a Cade Cust try (Hardaker conv for 18-16 before a Matty Russsell effort and second from Armitage saw Hankinson kick the latter to open up a 28-16 lead just ahead of the hour. The visitors cut the gap with Liam Marshall's try which Hardaker improved before he levelled the score in converting Field's second try for 28-28. Both sides pushed for victory but it was the Warriors who struck with Harry Smith sweeping over a drop goal to claim the 29-28 win and break the hearts of the hosts. 

Hudds Humble Suffering Salford

Huddersfield Giants continued their good form with a comfortable 34-2 win over Salford Red Devils at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday. The visitors struck first with a Marc Sneyd penalty goal to lead 2-0 but that was where the joy ended for Salford as Will Pryce crossed and converted for 6-2 before he improved a Chris McQueen effort and added a penalty goal for a 14-2 lead into the interval. 

Innes Senior crossed within eight minutes of the restart before Chris Hill and Jermaine McGillvary both touched down with Pryce converting twice for a huge 30-2 advantage that ended at 34-2 with Senior crossing to complete his brace. 

Tigers Triumph Against FC

The final game of the round saw a first win of the season for Castleford Tigers as they sealed a 33-26 victory over Hull FC at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. A perfect start from the Tigers saw Dan Smith cross in the opening minute with Gareth O'Brien converting for 6-0 before adding penalty goal for 8-0 on ten minutes. FC battled back with a Danny Houghton try which Ben McNamara converted for 8-6 but Cas regained the two score lead with tries from Greg Eden and Cheyse Blair (O'Brien conv) to lead 18-6. The sides went into the interval just one score apart though as Josh Griffin crossed for FC with McNamara converting. 

Cas resumed control with an O'Brien try and second from Eden to lead 26-12 before a comeback from FC saw Adam Swift and Conner Wynne both cross for 26-18. However, it was to be the Tigers' day as Eden sealed his hat-trick and O'Brien converted and added a drop goal either side of a Jamie Shaul try for FC as the Tigers won 33-26. 

2022 Super League Round Three

The action continued as Super League reached Round three with all games played across Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Farrell Brace Seals Warriors Win Over Giants

The round opened on Thursday night with my attendance at the DW Stadium as Wigan Warriors secured a 22-12 win over Huddersfield Giants. A rapid start from Wigan saw Liam Farrell cross for an eighth minute try which Zak Hardaker converted for 6-0. Hudds hit back quickly as Chris McQueen crossed and Will Pryce levelled at 6-6 with the boot. Farrell crossed for his second of the evening for 10-6 before Jake Bibby touched and Hardaker converted for a 16-6 lead into the interval. 

Hudds cut the gap to 16-12 within eight minutes of the restart as Tui Lolohea crossed and Pryce improved the score but the final say on the result went to Wigan as John Bateman went in for a try which Hardaker converted for a 22-12 lead which was the final score line. 

Rhinos Rue As Catalans Celebrate

Thursday's televised action saw a close battle at Headingley as Catalans Dragons edged a 10-4 win over Leeds Rhinos. Leeds opened the scoring with a Blake Austin try on 24 minutes for 4-0 before the Dragons levelled through Fouad Yaha for 4-4 into the interval. 

Catalans went ahead with 50 minutes on the clock as Joe Chan crossed for a try which Josh Drinkwater converted for a 10-6 lead which lasted until the end to continue Leeds' losing run. 

Rising Robins Topple Tigers

Friday's televised action saw Hull Kingston Rovers register their first win of the season with a 26-10 victory over Castleford Tigers at Sewell Group Craven Park. The hosts struck first with Shaun Kenny-Dowall crossing for 4-0 before Cas hit back through Jordan Turner (Gareth O'Brien conv) to lead 6-4. KR led at the interval though thanks to a late score from Sam Wood to make it 8-6. 

Wood crossed for a second time on 51 minutes with Jordan Abdull converting for a 14-6 lead that became 26-6 due to scores from Matt Parcell and Brad Takairangi which Abdull improved. The final say of the evening went to the Tigers though with Bureta Faraimo touching down for 26-10. 

Trinity Trumped By Saints Success

St Helens extended their unbeaten start with a 20-4 win against Wakefield Trinity at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Saints opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a Mark Percival try which was followed up by James Roby crossing and Tommy Makinson converting for 10-0. Percival crossed for his second score of the evening on 32 minutes with Makinson kicking for a 16-0 lead which was cut to 16-4 at the interval by Tom Johnstone's try. 

The second half proved to to be a closer affair than the first though with just one change to the score line as Josh Simm crossed for the only points on the hour mark to wrap up the 20-4 victory. 

Fabulous FC Stun Salford 

Hull FC returned to winning ways with a comfortable 48-16 success over Salford Red Devils at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The hosts raced into a 20-0 lead inside the half-hour with tries from Darnell McIntosh, Joe Lovadua and a brace from Cam Scott and two conversions from Jake Connor. Salford got off the mark before the break as Tim Lafai crossed and ex-FC half Marc Sneyd converted for 20-6 into the interval.

Connor went in for a try of his own before a brace from Jordan Lane and Josh Renyolds effort saw McIntosh convert the lot for a huge 42-6 advantage. Salford stemmed the FC spree with a Ken Sio try for 42-10 before Tevita Satae (McIntosh conv) crossed for 48-10. The final say went to the visitors as Lafai scored his second try of the afternoon 

with Sneyd converting for a 48-16 final score. 

Wolves Win Against Tricky Toulouse

Toulouse Olympique XIII's mixed start to the season continued with a battling 32-16 loss to Warrington Wolves at Stade Ernest Wallon. The Wolves struck first with Toby King crossing inside six minutes for a 4-0 lead that as soon cut to 4-2 by Chris Hankinson's penalty goal. Warrington restored the two score lead with tries from Josh Charnley and a second from King coupled with conversions from Stefan Ratchford for 16-2 which lasted into the interval.

George Williams crossed within eight minutes of the restart with Ratchford converting for 22-2 before Toulouse cut the gap as Oli Ashall-Bott went in for a try which Hankinson converted for 22-8. Charnley scored his second try ahead of a Daryl Clark effort which Ratchford improved for 32-8. The hosts mounted a mini fightback in the final eight minutes though as Romain Navarette (Hankinson conv) and Maxime Stefani both touched down to make it a closer loss at 32-18.

2022 Super League Round Two

 After the long awaited opening round saw some surprises, Super League continued with Round Two.

Winning Wolves Topple Tigers

Warrington Wolves made it two wins in a row with a 34-10 win over Castleford Tigers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday evening. The Wolves raced out of the blocks with an early opening try from Matt Ashton with Stefan Ratchford converting for 6-0 before improving a George Williams effort for 12-0 and the lead remained into the interval. 

Cas hit back within four minutes of the restart as Derrell Olpherts crossed for 12-4 with Josh Charnley touching down for 16-4. Rob Mulhern extended the lead for the hosts with a try which Ratchford converted for 22-4 before ex-Tigers back Peter Mata'utia (Ratchford conv) went over for 28-4. Cas cut the gap through Jake Trueman with Gareth O'Brien to make it 28-10 but the hosts had the final say as Charnley scored his second of the evening with Ratchford kicking to round off the 34-10 victory. 

Tri-Field As Warriors Rout Rhinos

Wigan Warriors also remain unbeaten as they eased to a 34-12 win over Leeds Rhinos at the DW Stadium on Friday night. Leeds struck first with Blake Austin crossing inside 11 minutes and Aidan Sezer converting for 6-0. Wigan responded with a self-converted brace from Jai Field in the 24th and 39th minutes to sent the Warriors into the interval with a 12-6 lead.

The hosts raced clear with a brace from Sam Powell sandwiching a superb hat-trick try for Field with Zak Hardaker converting twice for 28-6. Leeds cut the gap to 28-12 with a Matt Prior effort which Sezer improved but Wigan rounded off the win with a Liam Farrell try which Hardaker converted to complete the 34-12 success. 

Super Saints Humble Hull FC

Saturday's Channel 4 coverage featured St Helens strolling to a 38-6 win over Hull FC at the MKM Stadium in torrid conditions. Saints opened the scoring inside ten minutes through Mark Percival with Tommy Makinson converting for 6-0 before adding a penalty for 8-0. Josh Simm extended the lead with a try which Makinson converted for 14-0 before Hull suffered a further blow with the dismissal of Luke Gale on the half hour mark. St Helens wrapped up a first half nilling with Simm crossing for his brace and Makinson kicking for 20-0 into the interval. 

Saints continued their control after the restart as Jack Welsby crossed and Makinson converted for 26-0 before FC finally got off the mark with Josh Griffin touching down and Darnell McIntosh converting for 26-6. St Helens confirmed the win with two scores after the hour as Sione Mata'utia and Lewis Dodd went in with Makinson racking up seven conversions in the 38-6 win. 

Dragons Edge Past Tricky Trinity

Catalans Dragons bounced back from an opening loss with a narrow 24-22 win against Wakefield Trinity at Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday night. The Dragons raced into a 10-0 lead as Mathieu Laguerre and Fouad Yaha both crossed for tries with Sam Tomkins converting the latter. Wakefield replied through Tom Johnstone for 10-4 before a Samisoni Langi score  (Tomkins conv) and self converted try by Max Jowitt for Trinity made it 16-10 into the interval. 

Catalans restored a two score advantage within five minutes of the restart with Ben Garcia crossing and Tomkins converting for 22-10 before kicking a penalty on the hour mark for 24-10.Wakefield did mount a late charge as Johnstone crossed for his second try ahead of an effort from Tom Lineham with Jowitt converting twice for a 24-22 final score. 

Giants Glory Against Robins

Huddersfield Giants extended their unbeaten start with a 26-12 win over Hull Kingston Rovers at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. The Giants struck an opener on 10 minutes through Chris McQueen ahead of efforts from Luke Yates and Josh Jones which saw Oliver Russell convert twice for 16-0 into the interval. 

The hots resumed control within seven minutes of the restart as Jermaine McGilvary touched down for 20-0. The Robins finally got off the mark on 58 minutes after Brad Takairangi crossed and Jordan Abdull converted for 20-6 before he improved a Mikey Lewis try for 20-12. Hudds had the final say as McQueen went in for his second try which Tui Lolohea converted to round off the 26-12 win.

Sio Seals Salford Success Against Toulouse

The round ended on Sunday afternoon at the AJ Bell Stadium as Salford Red Devils claimed a 38-12 victory over Toulouse Olympique XIII. The hosts raced into a 20-0 lead with a Ken Sio brace and tries from Ryan Brierley and s self-converted effort from Marc Sneyd who also converted twice. Toulouse got off the mark just before the interval with a self-converted score from Chris Hankinson to make it 20-6 at the break. 

The visitors secured back-to-back scores as within five minutes of the restart, Joseph Paulo went in and Hankisnon converted for 20-12 but any hopes of a comeback were scuppered by Tim Lafai crossing ahead of two more from Sio who completed a quartet for the afternoon with Sneyd adding three conversions for a 38-12 final score. 

2022 Super League Round One

After two seasons affected by the Covid Pandemic, Super League 2022 opened with a full round across four days of action. 

Saints Slay Dragons

St Helens began their title defence with a comfortable 28-8 win over Catalans Dragons at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Thursday evening. The Dragons started the brighter of the two sides with Fouad Yaha crossing for the opening try on 14 minutes with Sam Tomkins converting for 6-0. Three tries in ten minutes from Tommy Makinson, James Roby and Lewis Dodd gave the hosts a 12-6 lead that became 18-8 with a second from Makinson. Catalans cut the gap to 18-8 at the interval with a Tomkins penalty. 

A Dodd penalty made the score 18-8 which lasted up to the final ten minutes which saw the Dragons reduced 12 with the dismissal of Dylan Napa and their evening got worse as Saints wrapped up a 28-8 win with scores from Joey Lussick (Dodd conv) and Konrad Hurrell. 

Robins Field Marshalled By Warriors

Wigan Warriors avenged a trio of losses to Hull Kingston Rovers with a 24-10 win at Sewell Group Craven Park on Friday night which I attended. Wigan flew out of the blocks with the opening try coming on nine minutes through Jake Bibby with Jai Field converting for a 6-0 lead that was cut to 6-4 on 18 minutes by Mikey Lewis' try. Field restored the one score lead at 10-4 with a try which was followed up by a Liam Marshall full length effort and second from Bibby to make it 18-4 into the interval.

The second half proved to be a quieter one with Wigan opening up a 24-4 advantage on the hour with Marshall's second score of the evening which Zak Hardaker converted but the Robins would have the final say as Matt Parcell crossed on 73 minutes with Jordan Abdull converting for 24-10 final score. Clips from my attendance can be seen here.

Devils Delight In Toppling Tigers 

Castleford Tigers home opener proved to be far from sweet as they lost out 26-16 to Salford Red Devils at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. Ex-Tigers back Marc Sneyd opened the scoring with a 12th minute penalty for 2-0 before George Griffin crossed for the hosts and Danny Richardson converted for a 6-2 lead. Ken Sio replied for the visitors with Sneyd converting for 8-6 but the lead changed again with Derrell Olpherts crossing for 10-8. 

Salford would lead into the interval though as King Vuniyayawa and Deon Cross touched down with Sneyd converting twice for 20-10.Cas cut the gap to 20-16 with Olpherts' second score and Richardson's conversion before a trio of Sneyd penalties rounded off a 26-16 victory for Salford.

Rhinos Wrenched By Wolves

Saturday afternoon saw history made as Leeds Rhinos lost out 22-20 to Warrington Wolves at Headingley Stadium in the FIRST ever Super League game on free TV as Channel 4 began their coverage. Warrington opened the scoring with a Gareth Widdop try inside 12 minutes before Leeds went down to 12 with James Bentley dismissed on 16 minutes. The 12 men went ahead though with Zane Tetevano crossing and Rhyse Martin converting for 6-4 before a Matt Prior effort was improved for 12-4. Warrington ensured a close score into the interval though as Josh Charnley crossed and Stefan Ratchford converted for 12-10.

Leeds restored a two score lead with an Ash Handley try which Martin converted for 18-10 before going 20-10 up with a Martin penalty. Warrington cut the gap with Charnley's second score which Ratchford converted and they completed the turnaround with five minutes remaining as Connor Wrench crossed and Ratchford converted to seal the 22-20 win. 

Giants Glory In Toulouse

Toulouse Olympique XIII's Super League debut saw an opening loss as they suffered 42-14 to Huddersfield Giants at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday evening. The hosts made a superb start with Matt Russell and Ilias Bergal both crossing with Chris Hankinson converting the latter for 10-0. Hudds hit back through Luke Yates with Oliver Russell converting before a try each from Innes and Lewis Senior saw Russell improve the latter for 16-10 into the interval.

The Giants resumed control within seven minutes of the restart as Jake Wardle touched down and Russell converted for 22-10 before adding a penalty on the hour for 24-10. Wardle crossed for a second time ahead of a Chris McQueen effort which saw Russell convert twice for a huge 36-10 lead. The rout looked to be complete with Oli Ashall-Bott (Russell conv) crossing but the hosts had the final saw through Guy Armitage's late try for a 42-14 final score.  

FC Triumph At Trinity

The final game of the round saw Hull FC seal a narrow 16-12 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Be Well Support Stadium on Sunday afternoon. FC struck first with a self-converted score from Luke Gale for 6-0 before Trinity levelled just before the interval through Corey Hall with Max Jowitt converting to send the sides into the break level. 

FC regained the lead within two minutes of the restart as Joe Lovodua went over and Gale converted for 12-6. Darnell McIntosh extended the lead to 16-6 before a blow for FC after the hour as Jake Connor was dismissed and Wakefield used the man advantage on the overlap as Tom Johnstone crossed on the wing and Jowitt converted for 16-12 which is how the clash ended. 

Taking the Two In 2022 To Start At Hull KR

After two seasons of both physical and virtual attendances while updates were very mixed, this season opens with a new rhyming title of Taking The Two in 2022. 

Attending started this weekend with a first RL trip since Sept 26 2021, as I made the trip via bus/train to the Halliwell Jones Stadium as Warrington Wolves hosted Wigan Warriors in Stefan Ratchford's Testimonial on Saturday evening. 

The performance was a good one by a strong Wigan side who came away with a 14-6 victory meaning my losing run of three against 'Wire' came to an end. 

The season itself begins next week with the first Super League #SSiRLTravels of 2022 with a trip up to Sewell Group Craven Park as Wigan Warriors visit Hull Kingston Rovers on Friday 11th.