Engage Super League Rd 17 Review

Bradford Bulls 20 (Deacon 2, Vainikolo tries; Deacon 4 goals) def. St Helens 18 (Gilmour, Wellens, Gardner tries; Lyon 3 goals). Att: 12,450.

Bradford Bulls got back to their winning ways with a narrow victory over engage Super League leaders St Helens at Odsal Stadium.

Ade Gardner, Paul Wellens and Lee Gilmour all scored tries as the visitors led 18-12 at half-time, Paul Deacon and Lesley Vainikolo replying for the Bulls. Deacon?s second try on 56 minutes levelled the game up for the hosts and his penalty goal later on gave the Bulls a 20-18 points lead.

Bradford managed to hold on for the victory and they even had a last minute try disallowed by the video ref. For the Saints this was there third defeat in five league games and it now opens up the top spot for the chasing pack.

Hull FC 30 (R Horne 2, Whiting, G Horne, Tony tries; Cooke 5 goals) def. Harlequins R.L. 16 (Dorn 2, Randall tries; Paul 2 goals). Att: 9,540.

Hull FC made it nine wins on the spin, and equalled their club record for consecutive wins with a comfortable victory over Harlequins RL at the K.C. Stadium.

The visitors took an early lead through a Luke Dorn try but the Black and Whites hit back with three tries from Motu Tony and two from Richard Horne to give themselves a deserved half-time advantage.

Chad Randall capitalised on a Paul Cooke mistake to give Quins hope. However, Richard Whiting and Graeme Horne responded to put the result beyond any doubt.

Leeds Rhinos 19 (Walker, Poching, McGuire tries; Sinfield 3 goals; McGuire field goal) def. Salford City Reds 18 (Hodgson, Coley tries; Hodgson 5 goals). Att: 4,517.

Leeds Rhinos edged past Salford City Reds with a late, late victory in a very close game at the Willows.

The home side took the lead when Andy Coley outpaced the cover to score under the posts. Leeds hit back when the returning Danny McGuire made a break from halfway to create a try for Chev Walker, but two penalty goals from David Hodgson gave the Reds a 10-6 lead at the interval.

At the start of the second half, the visitors nosed in front for the first time with a Willie Poching try only for Salford to square things up with another Hodgson penalty and with his try and conversion shortly afterwards the hosts led 18-12.

However, McGuire scored his 19th try of the season after 61 minutes and Kevin Sinfield's goal once again levelled the scores. Both sides had chances to clinch the game but it was McGuire who scored the decisive drop goal with only two minutes left on the clock.

This was Salford's third loss to the Rhinos this season and their seventh defeat in nine games .The result also narrowed Leeds? gap on engage Super League leaders St Helens to just two points.

Castleford Tigers 32 (Pryce 2, Viane 2, Ward, A Fletcher tries; Brough 4 goals) def. Huddersfield Giants 14 (Donlan 2, Smith tries; Thorman goals). Att: 6,502.

Castleford Tigers gained a vital victory over the Huddersfield Giants at the Jungle.

Led by new signing Danny Brough the hosts produced a stunning second half performance to keep the Giants scoreless. Waine Pryce and Gray Viane each scored two tries for Castleford, with Danny Ward and Adam Fletcher scoring the others. Brough landed four conversions.

Stuart Donlan and Paul Smith scored tries for the Giants, who lead by 14-6 in the first half, but the Tigers terrific second half performance completely changed the game.

Wakefield Wildcats 17 (Rooney, Halpenny, Tadulala tries; Rooney 2 goals; Rooney field goal) def. Warrington Wolves 16 (Swann, Barnett, M Gleeson tries; Briers 2 goals). Att: 8,884.

Wakefield inflicted a third consecutive Super League defeat on Warrington Wolves with a last minute drop goal at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Logan Swann scored an early try for the Wolves but three Wildcats tries from David Solomona, Rooney and Colum Halpenny put them 14-8 up at the break. Mark Gleeson?s try pulled the home team level before Jamie Rooney's 20-metre drop goal put the visitors in front.

Warrington still had a chance to win the game but Lee Briers put his injury time penalty wide of the posts. It was a just reward for the Wildcats who have now given themselves a great chance of Super League survival.

Wigan Warriors 24 (McAvoy, Higham, Fletcher tries; Dobson 6 goals) def. Catalans Dragons 18 (Beattie, Wilson, Verges tries; Jones, Rinaldi, Frayssinous goals). Att: 11,250.

Wigan Warriors gained a nervous victory over the Catalans Dragons at the JJB Stadium. The Warriors overcame a disastrous start to beat the French newcomers and give their hopes of avoiding relegation a boost. Chris Beattie ploughed over for the Dragons in the first minute of the match after an error by Brian Fletcher.

But the Cherry and Whites fought back with first-half tries through Mick Higham and Nathan McAvoy as the visitors were left to rue missing a couple of scoring chances. The home side stretched their lead to 12 points but John Wilson's late try for the Dragons ensured a tense finish.

With Castleford and Wakefield also winning this result still leaves Wigan six points off the safety zone.