Super League Round 19 Review

After the break for the Challenge Cup last eight, Super League officially returned with Round 19 with the run-in to the Super 8s beginning.

The round opened on Thursday night with a battle at the bottom as Widnes Vikings leapfrogged Leigh Centurions after a 36-10 win.

The Vikings raced into a 10-0 lead inside six minutes with a Chris Houston effort following a self-converted try from Chris Bridge. The Centurions suffered a first half nilling as Corey Thompson crossed before Houston claimed his second try in the final seconds with Bridge converting for 20-0.

Leigh got off the mark ten minutes after the restart as Nick Rawsthorne crossed, Josh Drinkwater converting for 20-6. Thompson claimed his second try with Bridge converting for a 26-6 lead. Leigh hit back through Atelea Vea for 26-10 but Widnes went on to confirm the win with two tries in the final seven minutes from Ryan Ince and Matt Whitley with Danny Craven converting the latter on the hooter.


On Friday night, I travelled to see Huddersfield Giants draw 19-19 with Wigan Warriors.

The Giants opened up a 13-0 lead inside 25 minutes with Leroy Cudjoe and Lee Gaskell crossing for tries which Martyn Ridyard and Danny Brough converted, Brough also kicking a drop goal at 6-0.

Wigan cut the gap to 13-12 into half-time with two tries in three minutes from John Bateman and Liam Marshall, George Williams converting both.

The Warriors went ahead within four minutes of the restart as Marshall claimed his second try with Williams converting for 13-18. A try from Jermaine McGillvary and conversion from Brough edged the Giants ahead at 19-18. The sides drew 16-16 in the reverse meeting and they would share the points again as Williams levelled at 19-19 with a drop goal. Both sides pushed for the win late on including missed drop goal attempts.

Hull FC moved into second spot with a comfortable 40-18 win over Wakefield Trinity.

FC opened up a 10-0 lead with efforts from Jamie Shaul and Fetuli Talanoa and a Marc Sneyd conversion.. Trinity fought back and would go into half-time with a 10-12 lead as James Batchelor and Sam Williams touched down for tries which Liam Finn converted.

A Reece Lyne score within four minutes of the restart saw Finn convert for 10-18. However, FC staged a superb comeback with tries from Jake Connor, Marc Sneyd and a second from Shaul all converted by Sneyd giving them a 28-18 lead with ten minutes to go.

The hosts completed a near perfect second half with two scores in the final five minutes as Mahe Fonua dashed clear ahead of a Jansin Turgut effort, Sneyd converting both to bring up the 40 point mark.


Friday's televised game saw Castleford Tigers move seven points clear at the top with a 23-12 win at Leeds Rhinos.

The Rhinos opened the scoring inside nine minutes through Ash Handley, Liam Sutcliffe converting for 6-0. The Tigers drew level within eight minutes as Greg Eden crossed with Luke Gale converting for 6-6 before adding a penalty goal on 33 minutes for a 6-8 lead into half-time.

Zak Hardaker crossed against his parent club within five minutes of the restart with Gale converting for 6-14 before improving a try from Grant Millington for 6-20. Leeds cut the gap to 12-20 with an Adam Cuthbertson try and Sutcliffe conversion. However, Castleford wrapped up the win with a penalty goal and drop goal in the final nine minutes from Gale. 


The game of the round came as St Helens secured a last-gasp 25-24 win over Salford Red Devils.

Salford took the lead on 11 minutes with a Todd Carney penalty goal before going 8-2 behind as Matty Smith crossed for a try which Marc Percival converted before adding a penalty goal.

The sides went into half-time level as Niall Evalds crossed for a try which Carney improved for 8-8. Salford took control as Greg Johnson and Robert Lui touched down ahead of a second Evalds score with Carney converting twice for a huge 8-24 lead.


The saying goes ' Never Write Off The Saints' and it came to fruition in a stunning late show from the hosts as James Roby, Regan Grace and Jonny Lomax all crossed in a four minute period from the 73rd-77th minutes with Percival levelling at 24-24 with the boot. A draw looked on the cards as the seconds ticked down but an error from Lui proved costly as Saints collected the ball and Smith swept over a drop goal on the hooter from 40+ metres out to seal the win.


The round ended on Saturday afternoon as new Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara suffered an opening 24-16 loss at Warrington Wolves.

A frantic start saw Jodie Broughton cross inside three minutes for the visitors before Benjamin Jullien levelled for the hosts on seven minutes with Kurt Gidley kicking for 6-4. Ryan Atkins increased the lead to 10-4 with a 20th minute try before Richie Myler crossed against his former club with Luke Walsh converting for 10-10.

The Wolves led 12-10 into the interval with a last-gasp penalty from Gidley and he extended the lead with a penalty just before the hour for 14-10. Atkins and Myler (Walsh conv) claimed their second tries for 18-16 with nine minutes to go. Warrington secured the win with a minute to go as André Savelio touched down and Kurt Gidley converted.

Challenge Cup Quarter Finals/SL Rd 16 Cont Review

A slight break in the Super League schedule saw the Challenge Cup quarter finals played with the remaining game from Super League Round 16 also featuring this weekend.

The quarter finals began on Thursday night as Salford Red Devils moved into the last four with a 30-6 win over Wakefield Trinity.

Salford raced into a 12-0 lead inside 13 minutes as Ryan Lannon and Ben Murdoch-Masila crossed with Michael Dobson converting before adding a penalty for 14-0 on 22 minutes. Niall Evalds went over just before the interval with Dobson converting for an 18-0 lead at the break.

Further scores within nine minutes of the restart from Greg Johnson and Craig Kopczak saw a single Dobson conversion for 30-0. Wakefield had the last say on the score though as Liam Finn crossed for a try which he converted with eight minutes left.

Friday night's non-televised action saw Huddersfield Giants and St Helens play their re-arranged round 16 game with the Giants winning 24-16.

Hudds struck first  as Leroy Cudjoe touched down with Martyn Ridyard converting for 6-0 inside 13 minutes before a self-converted effort from Ridyard made it 12-0.

Saints cut the gap just before half-time as Luke Thompson crossed with Mark Percival converting for 12-6. Percival cut the gap to two with a try three minutes after the restart for 12-10.

The sides exchanged scores with Adam O'Brien (Ridyard conv) and Kyle Amor (Percival conv) crossing for 18-16 before the Giants sealed the win with four minutes left as Lee Gaskell went over with Ridyard converting.


Friday's televised action saw Leeds Rhinos ease to a 58-0 win over Championship side Featherstone Rovers.

A superb first 15 minutes saw the Rhinos lead 18-0 as Stevie Ward, Brett Ferres and Joel Moon crossed with Liam Sutcliffe converting.

Rovers did well to keep the Rhinos out after the early spree with just one more score coming before half-time as Ash Handley crossing and Sutcliffe converting for 24-0.

The game was over as a contest before the hour mark as Carl Ablett and Sutcliffe touched down ahead of a second Handley try with Sutcliffe converting the lot for a huge 36-0 lead. A four minute brace from Brad Singleton (Sutcliffe convs) was followed late on by a Ryan Hall try which Sutcliffe converted.

Saturday afternoon saw a stunning cup clash as Wigan Warriors edged a 27-26 win over Warrington Wolves.

Wigan opened up a 12-0 lead with a brace from Joe Burgess with George Williams converting. Warrington battled back with a brace from Ryan Atkins with Declan Patton converting to level at 12-12.Wigan regained the lead just before half-time as Liam Marshall touched down and Williams converted for 12-18. A penalty from Williams nine minutes after the restart made it 12-20.

However, Warrington again hit back as Andre Savelio went over with Patton converting before levelling with a penalty for 20-20. A John Bateman score saw Williams convert for a 20-26 lead before Sam Tomkins looked to have sealed the win with a drop goal for 20-27 with seven minutes left.

Warrington fought back again with Kurt Gidley crossing on 77 minutes with Patton converting for 26-27. Wigan blew the restart and Stefan Ratchford missed the resulting penalty but the Wolves had one more chance to avoid defeat in final seconds as Patton attempted a last-gasp drop goal but it sailed wide as Wigan claimed the win.


The final game of the round saw holders Hull FC continue their defence as they claimed a 32-24 win over Castleford Tigers.

FC raced into a 12-0 lead inside seven minutes as Carlos Tuimavave and Fetuli Talanoa crossed with Jake Connor converting. Castleford hit back with two tries in three minutes from Ben Roberts and Zak Hardaker with Luke Gale levelling with the boot for 12-12.

A penalty goal from Connor gave FC a 14-12 lead at half-time but another penalty within two minutes of the restart saw him kick for 16-12.

The Tigers went ahead for the first time just six minutes later as Roberts claimed his second try, Gale converting for 16-18. Hull regained the lead as Connor kicked two penalties in seven minutes for 20-18 but they looked to have sealed the win when Mahe Fonua and Jamie Shaul crossed in a three minute spell with Connor converting both for 32-18. Castleford set up a tense finale as Greg Minikin crossed, Gale converting for 32-24 with seven minutes to go but the Tigers were unable to close the gap as the holders moved to just two wins from retaining the trophy.

Super League Round 18 Review

Ahead of the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals, Super League reached round 18 which began with the Battle of the Borough on Thursday night as Leigh Centurions stunned Wigan Warriors 50-34.

Wigan went ahead inside four minutes through Liam Marshall for 0-4 before Leigh ran in three tries in ten minutes from former Warriors duo Danny Tickle and Ryan Hampshire and Lachlan Burr with Ben Renyolds converting for 18-4. Wigan cut the gap ahead of half-time as Josh Ganson and George Williams crossed with Marshall converting for 18-14 but a Renyolds penalty made it 20-14 into half-time.

Wigan moved to 20-18 behind within four minutes of the restart as Oliver Gildart went over but Leigh took control with three scores in ten minutes as Mitch Brown crossed ahead of a three minute brace from Liam Hood with Renyolds converting for 38-18. Frank-Paul Nuuausala cut the gap for the Warriors with Marshall converting for 38-24. Leigh reached the half century with tries from Cory Paterson and Matty Dawson with Renyolds ending with nine goals but Wigan were to have the last say.  A try from Joe Burgess was followed by a second for Ganson with Marshall converting the former.

Friday night's action began with Salford Red Devils falling to a 34-10 defeat to Hull FC.

Hull raced into a 0-22 lead before half-time as Fetuli Talanoa and Danny Washbrook crossed either side of a brace from Albert Kelly with Jake Connor all but the first try.

Salford got on the board within two minutes of the restart through Niall Evalds with Michael Dobson converting for 6-22. Carlos Tuimavave and Jamie Shaul went over to surely win the game for FC with Connor's conversions making it 6-34. Salford had the last say just after the hour as Weller Hauraki touched down. 



Friday's televised action saw St Helens claim a 26-10 win over Widnes Vikings.

A self converted try from Mark Percival and effort from Regan Grace gave the Saints a 10-0 lead into half-time. Widnes got off the mark nine minutes after the restart through Ryan Ince before scores from Alex Walmsley and Ryan Morgan put the Saints in control at 20-4.

Widnes reached double figures as Danny Craven scored a try which he converted for 20-10 but Saints had the last say as Theo Fages crossed with Percival converting.

Saturday's televised action saw Catalans Dragons hammered 56-12 by Huddersfield Giants.

An early treble from Aaron Murphy, Shannon Wakeman and Danny Brough saw Brough and Martyn Ridyard convert for 0-16. Catalans got off the mark on 26 minutes as Tony Gigot crossed with Luke Walsh converting for 6-16.

The Giants went into the interval leading 6-22 as Jake Mamo crossed late on with Ridyard converting. Brough claimed his second try within five minutes of the restart ahead of a second score from Mamo and an effort from Jermaine McGillvary, Ridyard converting twice for 6-38.

Mamo ran in twice in eight minutes to score his third and fourth tries with Ridyard converting both for a huge 6-50 advantage which was cut to 12-50 as Sam Moa touched down for the Dragons with Luke Walsh converting. The Giants had the last say on the scoreline as McGillvary claimed his second score as Ridyard ended the day with seven goals. 

Saturday evening saw Leeds Rhinos secure a narrow 18-16 victory over Wakefield Trinity.

Trinity opened up a 10-0 lead with scores from Mason Caton-Brown and Kyle Wood with Liam Finn converting the first effort. Leeds fought back with two scores in three minutes as Stevie Ward and Joel Moon touched down for 10-8

A two minute double on the hour saw Leeds take the lead as Briscoe claimed his second try ahead of a Joel Moon score which Liam Sutcliffe converted for 10-18. Wakefield set up a tight finish with a try from Ben Jones-Bishop which Finn converted for 16-18 but Leeds held on for the win.

The round ended on Sunday as Castleford Tigers increased their lead atop the standings with a 36-16 win over Warrington Wolves.

The Tigers raced into a 20-0 lead inside 16 minutes as Greg Eden crossed twice ahead of scores from Greg Minikin and Mike McMeeken with Luke Gale converting twice. Warrington ended the hosts' spree with a Tom Lineham try which Declan Patton converted for 20-6. Eden completed a 26 minute hat-trick with Gale converting for 26-6.

Eden crossed twice more with 12 minutes of the second half played for a quintet of tries with Gale converting the first for 36-6. Warrington cut the gap two minutes later through Joe Westerman with Patton converting for 36-12 before Jack Hughes had the last say on the score with eight minutes left.

Super League Round 17 Review

After the Bank Holiday double weekend, Super League returned to the single round weekend with round 17.

The round opened on Friday night as Leeds Rhinos secured a 22-14 win over struggling Leigh Centurions.The Rhinos took an 8-0 lead inside 15 minutes with tries from Adam Cuthbertson and Tom Briscoe. 

 Leigh got off the mark through Matty Dawson for 8-4 before Joel Moon crossed for the hosts with Liam Sutcliffe converting for 14-4. The visitors cut the gap just before half-time as Dawson claimed his second try which Josh Drinkwater converted for 14-10.

A Sutcliffe penalty made it 16-10 within three minutes of the restart and the Rhinos went further ahead with Cuthbertson's second score which Sutcliffe converted for 22-10. Leigh had the last say as Cory Paterson crossed a minute from the end.

Saturday afternoon saw Hull FC defeat Wigan Warriors 39-26. The hosts stormed into a 24-0 inside the half hour mark as Steve Michael crossed inside the third minute before Mark Minichello and Danny Houghton sandwiched Michael's second score with Jake Connor converting the lot.

Wigan got off the mark through Tom Davies for 24-4 with Connor kicking a penalty in the final seconds of the half for 26-4.  Wigan cut the deficit with a Liam Marshall try four minutes after the restart before Lewis Tierney crossed with Marshall converting for 26-14.

Hull took control with scores from Jamie Shaul and Albert Kelly with Nick Rawsthorne both for 38-14. Wigan rallied back with a try from Joe Burgess before Kelly kicked a drop goal for 39-18 before second tries from Marshall and Davies cut the gap.


Huddersfield Giants stormed to a 44-4 win over Warrington Wolves on Sunday afternoon. The Giants led inside six minutes as Oliver Roberts crossed and Danny Brough converted for 6-0.

Jermaine McGillvary and Aaron Murphy crossed either side of the half hour mark for a 12-0 half-time lead. The lead was vastly improved within nine minutes as Paul Clough went over ahead of a debut try from Jordan Turner, Brough converting both for 24-0.

Warrington got off the mark five minutes later with a Tom Lineham try but it was to be only a minor dent in the Giants' charge as Jake Mamo scored ahead of second scores from McGillvary and Murphy with Brough converting the lot.


Wakefield Trinity extended their stay in the top four with a 34-24 win at Salford Red Devils.

A try from former Salford back Mason Caton-Brown inside six minutes saw Liam Finn convert for 0-6. Reece Lyne crossed for an 11 minute brace with Finn converting the latter for 0-16. Salford hit back just before half-time as Jake Bibby went over with Michael Dobson converting for 6-16.

Salford turned the game around before the hour mark as Craig Kopczak touched down ahead of a second score from Bibby, Dobson converting both for 18-16. Caton-Brown's second score improved by Finn regained the lead for Trinity but with eight minutes left a try from Lama Tasi converted by Dobson made it 24-22. Wakefield staged a late show to secure the win as Caton-Brown secured his hat-trick ahead of a score from James Batchelor with Finn converting both. 



Widnes Vikings continued their push to avoid the Middle 8s with a comfortable 26-6 win over Catalans Dragons.

The Dragons led inside eight minutes with a Sam Moa try and Luke Walsh conversion for 0-6. Widnes levelled with a try from Jack Buchanan with Rhys Hanbury converting for 6-6 before a self-converted effort from Hanbury made it 12-6, a lead that remained into the interval.

Corey Thompson crossed within four minutes of the restart before kicking two penalty goals after the hour mark for a 20-6 lead that was increased late on as Thompson converted an effort from Gil Dudson.
 


The final game of the round saw Castleford Tigers leave it late to secure a 16-12 win over St Helens.

Saints took the lead after 14 minutes as Mark Percival went over with Tommy Makinson converting for 0-6. Cas hit back with a debut try from Kieran Gill but Saints would go into half-time leading 4-12 as Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook crossed and Makinson converted.

Cas cut the gap to just two points as Ben Roberts crossed with Paul McShane converting for 10-12 before completing the comeback nine minutes from end as Tom Holmes went over and McShane converted. 

Super League Round 16 Review

The second double header of the season saw ten sides compete in Round 16 across Bank Holiday Monday.

Opening the review is the game I attended yesterday which saw Wigan Warriors suffer a 42-30 loss to Wakefield Trinity.

The Warriors raced into a 20-0 lead inside the first quarter of the game as James Worthington crossed for a debut try two minutes in before Lewis Tierney, Thomas Leuluai and Liam Marshall went over, George Williams converting twice.

Wakefield fought back superbly as Bill Tupou scored an 11-minute treble sandwiching a Mason Caton-Brown effort with Liam Finn converting three times for a 20-22 half-time lead.

Trinity took control with tries from Danny Kirmond and Anthony England with Finn converting both as well as a penalty goal in between for 20-36. Wigan hit back with a second score from Worthington, Marshall converting for 26-36. However, Wakefield were not to denied the win as a Jacob Miller effort converted by Finn on 70 minutes confirmed the win. Wigan had the last say on the score line as Marshall claimed his second try late on but it was to be a first win in eight seasons for Trinity at the DW Stadium.

Warrington Wolves' woes continued as they were beaten 38-12 by high-flying Salford Red Devils.

Salford raced into an 18-0 lead inside 24 minutes as Jake Bibby, Niall Evalds and Junior Sau crossed with Gareth O'Brien converting the lot. Brad Dwyer replied for the Wolves with Declan Patton converting but a second score from Sau made it 6-22 into half-time.

Sau completed his hat-trick within ten minutes of the restart with Evalds claiming his second score on the hour, O'Brien converting the latter for 6-32. A Tom Lineham try converted by Patton four minutes later made it 12-32 but it was in vain as Kriss Brining crossed five minutes from the end with O'Brien converting for a fifth time.

The last of the 3pm games saw a surprise results as Widnes Vikings stunned Leeds Rhinos with a 28-20 victory.

Ash Handley put the Rhinos ahead inside ten minutes for 0-4 before Widnes levelled through Rhys Hanbury, 4-4. Kallum Watkins restored the lead within three minutes with Liam Sutcliffe converting for 4-10 ahead of an effort from Stevie Ward for a 4-14 advantage.

A three minute double saw Ryan Ince and Corey Thompson cross for 12-14 into half-time. Widnes went ahead on the hour through Aaron Heremaia with Chris Bridge converting for 18-14. However, the lead lasted just six minutes as Adam Cuthbertson went over with Sutcliffe converting for 18-20. Widnes regained the lead with eight minutes to go as Ince claimed his second try with Bridge converting for 24-20 and unlike Friday's late slip at Castleford, they wrapped up a much needed win three minutes later with Thompson's second score.


Castleford Tigers continued their stay atop the standings with a 38-0 rout of Leigh Centurions.

A brace from Jesse Sene-Lefao and conversions from Luke Gale gave the Tigers a 0-12 lead with 23 minutes on the clock.

Leigh were stunned by a five minute hat-trick from Greg Eden just before half-time with Gale improving two efforts for a 0-28 advantage.

The Tigers winger scored his fourth within ten minutes of the restart before the rout was completed before the hour mark as Jake Webster crossed and Gale converted.




The final game of the day saw Catalans Dragons edge a 23-18 win over Hull FC.

The Dragons opened the scoring inside seven minutes as former FC forward Sam Moa crossed, Luke Walsh converting for 6-0. FC levelled with an Albert Kelly try which Jake Connor converted. Catalans edged ahead with a Walsh penalty for 8-6 before the Dragons half kicked a late drop goal for a 9-6 half-time lead.

The hosts' lead increased within four minutes of the restart with a Walsh penalty before a brace from Nick Rawsthorne saw Connor convert twice for an 11- 18 lead. The Dragons were not to suffer defeat though as Fouad Yaha and Tony Gigot crossed in the final ten minutes with Walsh converting both to confirm the victory.

Round 16 was incomplete due to the moving of the clash between Huddersfield Giants and St Helens due to Huddersfield Town's participation in the EFL Championship Play-Off Final so the game will now be played during the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals weekend with both sides having exited in earlier rounds.

Super League Round 15 Review

After a superb Magic Weekend up in Newcastle for round 14, Super League sides returned to hosting duties in round 15.

The round opened on Thursday night with as St Helens secured a 22-19 derby win over fierce rivals Wigan Warriors.Saints started superbly as Ryan Morgan crossed inside five minutes with Mark Percival converting for 6-0.

Wigan replied with tries from Tom Davies and Lewis Tierney, George Williams converting both either side of a penalty goal for a 6-14 lead. Saints cut the gap four minutes before half time through Zeb Taia, Percival converting for 12-14 into the interval.

The Warriors moved six clear just after the hour as Joe Burgess touched down for 12-18 but a self-converted try from Percival levelled at 18-18. Wigan went 18-19 ahead with a Thomas Leuluai drop goal with eight minutes to go but it was in vain as Percival went over for his second try late on to secure the win.

Friday night saw a quintet of games with a top vs bottom clash as Castleford Tigers came from behind to claim a 32-22 win over Widnes Vikings.

Cas opened the scoring through Greg Eden after 11 minutes before being hit back two Vikings scores in eight minutes as Ryan Ince and Jack Johnson crossed, Ed Chamberlain converting for a 4-12 lead. The hosts cut the gap just before the interval as Gadwin Springer went in, Luke Gale converting for 10-12.

Widnes took advantage within eight minutes of the restart Corey Thompson scoring ahead of Johnson's second try, Chamberlain converting once for 10-22. The Tigers battled back with a Greg Minikin score and Eden's second, Gale converting for 20-22. The comeback was completed in the final six minutes of the 80 as Eden completed his hat-trick ahead of an effort from Matt Cook, Gale converted both to confirm the win.


Hull FC suffered an upset as they slipped to a 26-22 loss to Leigh Centurions who claimed their first ever away success in Super League. An early try from Matty Dawson gave Leigh a 0-4 lead which was cancelled out by Jamie Shaul's effort.

Leigh regained the lead with Dawson's second try before Atelea Vea crossed, Ben Renyolds converting for a 4-14 lead that was cut to 10-14 just before the break as Carlos Tuimavave crossed and Marc Sneyd converted.

A self converted effort within five minutes of the restart from Renyolds put Leigh 10-20 ahead but a second Shaul score just three minutes later saw Sneyd convert for 16-22. A second try for Vea saw Renyolds convert for 16-26. FC set up a tense finish though as Albert Kelly crossed with five minutes left of the 80 with Sneyd converting for a four point game but Leigh held on for an historic win.

The televised game saw a blowout score as Leeds Rhinos eased to a 40-0 win over Warrington Wolves. The Rhinos went ahead with 14 minutes gone as Matt Parcell crossed, Liam Sutcliffe converted for 6-0 but was unable to improve his own effort on the half hour mark at 10-0 but made it 12-0 into the interval with a penalty goal.

Parcell's second try within four minutes of the restart was followed by a Jamie Jones-Buchanan score for 22-0 advantage. Warrington were out of the game as a contest just after the hour as Joel Moon touched down, Sutcliffe improved the score before adding a penalty for 30-0 lead. The rout was completed by Parcell crossing for his hat-trick ahead of a late try from Rob Burrow to bring up the 40 point mark.

Salford Red Devils continued their stay in the top two with a comfortable 50-12 victory over Catalans Dragons. The Red Devils raced into an 18-0 lead inside 22 minutes with scores from Gareth O'Brien, Josh Jones and Kris Welham all converted by Michael Dobson. 

Further scores before half-time saw Niall Evalds and Ryan Lannon crossing with Dobson converting the latter for a huge 28-0 half-time lead. Kriss Brining crossed to bring up the 30 point mark within two minutes of the restart before Vincent Duport got the Dragons on the board, Luke Walsh converting for 34-6.

Salford wrapped up the win with scores from Robert Lui, Olsi Krasniqi and Mark Flanagan with Dobson converting twice for 50-6. The Dragons did have the last say on the scoreline though as Fouad Yaha crossed in the final minute with Walsh converting.

The closest game of the weekend saw Wakefield Trinity edge a 28-26 win over Huddersfield Giants. Trinity raced out of the block with Ben Jones-Bishop touching down inside two minutes, Liam Finn converting for 6-0.

The Giants replied superbly with a trio of tries as Jake Mamo, Jermaine McGillvary and Lee Gaskell crossed in an 11-minute spree with Martyn Ridyard converting the lot for a 6-18 lead. However, Wakefield cut the gap to just 16-18 at the interval as Reece Lyne (Finn conv) and Danny Kirmond went over.

Dale Ferguson touched down within five minutes of the restart with Ridyard's conversion making it 16-24. A second try from Lyne (Finn conv) cut the gap to 22-24 before a Ridyard penalty made it 22-26 but Trinity would complete the comeback ten minutes from the end as Jones-Bishop claimed his second try to level at 26-26 with Sam Williams sealing the win with the resulting conversion.

Super League Magic Weekend Review

Ahead of the second double weekend of the season, Super League made the trip up north to Newcastle for the annual Magic Weeekend which this year took place in round 14.

Saturday's opening game saw Widnes Vikings suffer a 34-12 defeat to Wakefield Trinity. Trinity opened the scoring through Scott Grix with Liam Finn converting for 0-6 ahead of an effort from Reece Lyne and second score from Grix, Finn converting the latter for a 0-16 half-time lead.

Wakefield took just two minutes of the second half to resume their control as Ben Jones-Bishop crossed with Finn converting for 0-22. Widnes got off the mark five minutes later through Ryan Ince, Ed Chamberlain converting for 6-22.

However, it was to be in vain as Finn penalty just after the hour was followed by a second try from Jones-Bishop and a score from Matty Ashurst with Finn converting the latter for 6-34. Widnes had the last say though as Hep Cahill went over with Chamberlain converting four minutes from the end.


St Helens stormed to a huge 45-0 rout over Hull FC with new coach Justin Holbrook watching from the stands in the second game.

Saints opened the scoring in style as Alex Walmsley, Ryan Morgan and Morgan Knowles crossed in and eight minute spree with Mark Percival converting the lot for 0-18. A perfect first half for Saints saw Matty Smith kick a late drop goal for 0-19 at the interval.

Hull were out of the game as a contest just after the hour mark as Walmsley claimed his second try ahead of a try for Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and a superb score from Tommy Makinson,Percival converting twice for 0-35. A late brace from Regan Grace saw Percival convert the first to smash the 40 point mark.


Saturday's main event saw a rematch of last season's Grand Final as Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves shared the points in an epic 24-all draw. Wigan struck first with a try from Liam Marshall with Josh Woods converting for 0-6.

Warrington hit back within six minutes through Daryl Clark, Stefan Ratchford levelling at 6-6 before a second Marshall try saw George Williams make it 12-6 with the boot for a lead that lasted into the interval. Wigan went 18-6 ahead withing six minutes of the restart as Marshall completed his hat-trick with Williams converting.

Warrington battled back with tries from Ratchford and Tom Lineham, Ratchford converting the latter before levelling at 18-18 with a penalty goal. The Warriors edged ahead at 20-18 with a penalty from Williams on 70 minutes before former Warriors forward Jack Hughes looked to have won the game for the Wolves five minutes from the end, Ratchford converting for 20-24. However, in typical Warriors fashion, Wigan levelled in the final seconds through a Joe Burgess try but Williams was unable to seal the win with the conversion attempt.


Sunday's opening game saw Catalans Dragons fall to a 10-18 defeat to Huddesfield Giants in what proved to be the final game for Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous. A rapid start from the Dragons saw Richie Myler cross inside four minutes, Luke Walsh converting for 6-0.

The Giants replied through Lee Gaskell for 6-4 and went into the interval level after a Martyn Ridyard penalty goal for 6-6. Catalans regained the lead within eight minutes of the restart through Iain Thornley's try for 10-6.

Huddersfield secured the win with a late rally as Sam Rapira and Adam O'Brien crossed in the final eight minutes and Ridyard converted both efforts.

Salford moved level atop the league standings as they secured a 36-22 win over Leigh Centurions.

A rapid start from both sides saw a debut try from Matty Fleming (Josh Drinkwater conv) for Leigh swiftly followed by a Salford try from Ben Murdoch-Masila for 6-4. A Gareth O'Brien penalty goal made it 6-6 before Mitch Brown crossed to restore the Centurions' lead, Drinkwater converting for 12-6.

Salford hit superbly as Murdoch-Masila claimed his second try ahead of a Kris Welham score, O'Brien converting both for 12-18. The Red Devils were in control at the interval after a Greg Johnson try was converted by Michael Dobson for 12-24.

Leigh cut the gap within eight minutes of the restart through Ben Crooks with Drinkwater converting for 18-24 but they were dealt a blow as Adam Higson was sent off for a high shot on O'Brien. Salford used the man advantage instantly with a Niall Evalds try, Dobson kicking for 18-30. The Centurions did cut the gap again though as Matty Dawson went over for 22-30 but Salford were able to confirm the win with a second try from Johnson and a penalty goal from Dobson.

The final game of the round saw league leaders Castleford Tigers move clear after a 29-18 over Leeds Rhinos. A stunning start from the Tigers saw Luke Gale cross and convert for 6-0. Leeds hit back through Kallum Watkins for 6-4.

Leeds levelled just before the interval with a Liam Sutcliffe penalty goal making it 6-6 into half-time. However,two tries in four minutes after half-time from Greg Eden saw Gale convert for 18-4.

A dashing try from Tom Holmes and a hat-trick try from Eden saw Gale kick for 28-6 but Leeds rapidly cut the gap through Joel Moon, Sutcliffe converting for 28-12. Gale kicked a drop goal for 29-12 with seven minutes left but Leeds had the last say as Sutcliffe crossed for a converted try with two minutes to go.

A great event overall and one which I thoroughly enjoyed attending on Saturday but while I returned home safely, thoughts go to those who had enjoyed an event in Manchester on Monday night but tragically didn't return home.