engage Super League Rd 20 Review

Salford City Reds 17
Tries:    Smith, Swain

Goals:   Holdsworth 4

Drop Goal: Smith

Harlequins RL  14
Tries:    Purdham, Jones-Bishop 2

Goals:   Orr

Att:    2,672

Salford City Reds held off a Harlequins RL charge to claim the points at The Willows.

With both teams locked together on 10 points in 12 and 13 on the ladder, a win was a must for either team if they were to have any chance of a play off place.

Salford drew first blood on 10 minutes when a Daniel Holdsworth's pass sent Luke Swain in for his first try of the season. Holdsworth added the extras.

Minutes later Rob Purdham took Tony Clubb's offload as Quins got on terms. But once again the City Reds rallied and Holdsworth' superb delayed pass led to Matty Smith scoring the try. Holdsworth kicked two more goals as the hosts went into half time with a 14-4 lead.

Holdsworth's boot proved decisive as he added another two pints with an early second period penalty goal. Salford kept Quins out but on 59 minutes Ben Jones-Bishop was on hand to finish off a move. Danny Orr added the extras as the Londoners were back in the game.

Smith added a one pointer for Salford on 73-minutes which put them two scores clear but they were forced to hold on as Jones-Bishop added his second of the game.

This win for the City Reds was their sixth of the season and leaves them five points off a top eight place.

Leeds Rhinos 28

Tries:    Clarkson, Delaney, McGuire 2, Hall

Goals:   Sinfield 4

St Helens 24

Tries:    Flannery 2, Lomax, Pryce

Goals:   Lomax 4

Att:    17,200

Leeds Rhinos came from behind to defeat St Helens in a thrilling game at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

Both teams came into this game down on numbers and it was St Helens who started the better as they opened the scoring thanks to a high kick from Leon Pryce was palmed back by Ade Gardner for Chris Flannery to score in the corner. Jonny Lomax added the extras from the touchline.

Leeds hit back in the same way as a kick from Kevin Sinfield was pounced on by Chris Clarkson. Brett Delaney also got on the score-sheet for the hosts as Gardner failed to deal with a high kick.

Sinfield's long kick down the field was not dealt with by the St Helens defence and Danny McGuire was on hand to give the Rhinos a 16-6 lead. But just before the break Saints hit back to level with scores from Lomax and a second for Flannery.

The visitors had a try disallowed early into the second half for a forward pass and moments later Leon Pryce dummied his way through and with two goals from Lomax Saints led 24-16.

However, the game turned when Pryce was carried off the field and with the earlier loss of Kyle Eastmond to an ankle injury, Leeds rallied and got back into the game after a neat offload from prop Ryan Bailey set up Danny McGuire.

Bailey was on hand again as he offloaded out of a tackle and the ball found its way to Ryan Hall who crossed out wide and the try was given by the video referee. Sinfield converted from the touchline as the Rhinos held off St Helens to claim the win and move to within 3 points of the top three.

Bradford Bulls 22
Tries:    Nero 2, Kearney, Addy

Goals:   Sykes 3

Hull FC 28
Tries:    Briscoe, Tansey, Tickle, Yeaman, Hall

Goals:   Tickle 4

Att:    8,411

Hull FC withstood a Bradford Bulls second half fight-back to record a win at Grattan Stadium Odsal.

The Black and Whites controlled the first half and opened the scoring through Tom Briscoe who cut in from the left. Bradford hit back through Chris Nero, but Hull went back in front when Jordan Tansey went over in the corner.

Danny Tickle then went in under the posts before Kirk Yeaman intercepted Sykes's pass to canter in for Hull's fourth try of the half and a commanding 22-6 lead as the Bulls were booed off the field at the break.

Bradford were a different team in the second half and they came out with all guns blazing. Brett Kearney scored out wide two minutes after the restart. Nero forced his way over and Danny Addy crossed to bring the game all square at 22-22.

However, the visitors got their composure back and a famous comeback win was undone when Tansey jinked past the Bulls defence and ran 70 metres before offloading to Craig Hall for the winning try.

This was Bradford seventh successive defeat in all competitions and for Hull it keeps them in fourth just two points behind third place St Helens.

Castleford Tigers 44
Tries:    Huby 2, Chase 2, Snitch, McGoldrick, Dixon

Goals:   Westerman 6, Dixon 2

Huddersfield Giants 18
Tries:    Cudjoe, Lolesi, Lunt 2

Goals:   B Hodgson

Att:    5,925

Castleford Tigers moved into the top eight with a comprehensive victory over Huddersfield Giants at The Jungle.

Huddersfield raced into a 10-0 lead thanks to tries from Leroy Cudjoe and Jamal Lolesi.  Craig Huby and Rangi Chase were on hand as the Tigers roared back to lead 12-10. Hooker Shaun Lunt put the visitors back in front but Steve Snitch and the goal kicking of Joe Westerman gave Castleford an 18-14 interval lead.

Early into the second period the hosts took control as they ran in two tries in three minutes. Ryan McGoldrick jumped high to take Chase's kick to score and Huby twisted his way over to score his second of the match.

Dean Widders sent Kirk Dixon away for another try. Lunt scored a consolation for Huddersfield but it was too late as Chase intercepted Luke Robinson's pass to complete and impressive win.

Crusaders 10
Tries:    Youngquest, Hanbury

Goals:   Schifcofske

Warrington Wolves 30
Tries:    Hicks 2, Solomona, Higham, Riley 2

Goals:   Briers 2, Westwood

Att:    5,197

Warrington Wolves got back to winning ways with an easy win at The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

Both teams came into this game on the back of a defeat last week, but Warrington started the better and they scored after two minutes when the ball was spun wide for Chris Hicks to go over. Nick Youngquest raced 60-meters to get the hosts o n terms.

After this it was all Warrington as Hicks scored his second and Gareth Carvell off-loaded for David Solomona to power his way over as the Wolves led 14-4 at half time.

The visitors made sure of the win with two quick-fire tries inside seven second half minutes. Chris Riley bagged his 20^th touchdown of the season and hooker Mickey Higham added the other, Rhys Hanbury pulled one back for the Welsh outfit, but Riley had the last say as he scored his second of the match on the full time hooter, as the Wolves cemented second spot on Engage Super League ladder.

Wakefield Wildcats 14
Tries:    Millard, Moore, Johnson

Goals:   Cooke

Hull KR 46
Tries:    Dobson, Newton, Welham, Fox 2, Wheeldon 2

Goals:   Dobson 9

Att:    6,218

Hull KR kept up their good form by out powering Wakefield Wildcats at Hearwell Stadium Belle Vue.

Rovers showed their intent from the start as Mick Dobson took Ben Galea's pass to weave over on five minutes. Clint Newton intercepted ex-Robins Stand-off Paul Cooke's pass and raced 80-metres to score. Moments later Newton dropped a high kick and Daryl Millard was on hand as the Wildcats got back into the game.

Galea was again the provider as just before the break his pass sent Kris Welham away as the visitors increased their lead to 16-4.

Rovers made the game safe early into the second half as England winger Peter Fox scored a fine brace, showing real pace and clinical finishing.

Richard Moore and Paul Johnson pulled two tries back for the Wildcats, but two late tries for prop Scott Wheeldon sealed victory for Rovers.

The game was reduced to 12 men aside for the last six minutes after a sin bin incident involving Wakefield's Michael Korkidas and visiting second row Rhys Lovegrove.

Catalans Dragons 16

Tries:    Greenshields 2, Stacul

Goals:   Bosc 2

Wigan Warriors 34

Tries:    Leuluai, Goulding, Richards, Coley, Riddell, Gleeson

Goals:   Richards 5

Att:    7.612

With 12 men, league leaders Wigan Warriors got past Catalans Dragons at Gilbert Brutus Stadium in Perpignan.

Pat Richards got Wigan on their way by scoring his twenty-first try of the season. Mark Riddell added another and with the kicking of Richards the visitors went into the break with a 14-0 advantage.

At the start of the second half the Warriors finished off the Dragons with three clinical scores. Thomas Leuluai, Andy Coley and Martin Gleeson were the try scorers.

Coley was shown a red card for a high tackle and this led to late rally from Catalans. Full back Clint Greenshields scored a double with Cyril Stacul adding the other.

Darrell Goulding eased Wigan home as they remained four points clear at the top of Engage Super League table.