engage Super League Rd 7 Review

Crusaders 14 Tries: Chan, Martin Goals: Witt 3

Catalans Dragons 6 Tries: Elima Goal: Mounis

Att: 6,124

Crusaders claimed their third win of the season with a hard-fought victory over Catalans Dragons in Wrexham.

A large crowd turned up to see Welsh Rugby Union legend Gareth Thomas make his Super League debut and this was a baptism of fire as he lasted just half an hour.

The Crusaders took the lead on eight minutes with a good try from Jason Chan. Michael Witt added on the extras. Thomas came close to scoring but he dropped a high kick from Witt before coming off the field due to an injury. Just before the break a penalty from Witt gave his team an 8-0 lead.

Immediately after the restart Catalans got back into the game when Casey McGuire launched a high kick out wide and Olivier Elima leaped high to claim a try converted by Gregory Mounis.

However, on 71-minutes, Tony Martin sealed the win for the Welsh outfit as he powered his way through Dimitri Pelo to score.

Hull FC 18 Tries: Tansey 2, Radford Goals: Tickle 3

Bradford Bulls 6 Tries: Reardon Goal: Sykes

Att: 14,466

Hull FC ground out a win as they got past the Bradford Bulls at K.C. Stadium.

The game was very slow in the early stages as Hull lost winger Mark Calderwood due to a groin injury and on fifteen minutes Paul Sykes added a penalty as the Bulls took a 2-0 lead.

Hull started to get momentum in the game and came close to going in front and with just six seconds of the half remaining, Jordan Turner's intelligent kick behind the Bulls' defence lead to Jordan Tansey touching down as the hosts went into the break with a 6-2 lead.

Seven minutes after the restart ex Rooster Craig Fitzgibbon sent Tansey away for his second of the game as the Black and Whites increased their lead to 12-2.

On 70 minutes ex Bull Lee Radford forced his way over as the hosts made the game safe. Bradford did manage a consolation try from Stuart Reardon in the Last minute.

Leeds Rhinos 10 Tries: Jones-Buchanan, Senior Goals: Burrow

Hull KR 17 Tries: Colbon, Fox, Briscoe Goals: Dobson 2 Drop Goal: Dobson

Att: 15,201

Leeds Rhinos suffered their fourth defeat of the season as Hull KR ran out winners at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

The Rhinos came into this game missing eight regular players due to injury and gave a debut to three youngsters and they got off to a dream start after just 40 seconds when Jamie Jones-Buchanan charged down a kick to re-gather and score underneath the posts.

Rovers got back into the game with a try from Liam Colbon in the corner and then they took control for the rest of the half as a run up the right touchline from Kiwi centre Jake Webster set up Peter Fox to score then a grubber kick from Mick Dobson set up England fullback Shaun Briscoe to touchdown as the visitors lead 16-6 at the break.

Leeds came back into the game early in the second half as the ball was moved wide for Keith Senior to score. The Rhinos pressed to get on terms and came close on occasions but they failed to make the most of their play.

With time running out Rovers managed to get a set in Leeds' twenty and Dobson added a one-pointer as the visitors claimed their first win at Headingley for twenty five years.

St Helens 28 Tries: Eastmond, Wilkin, Gardner 2 Goals: Eastmond 6

Warrington Wolves 18 Tries: Grix, King, Harrison, Hicks Goal: Bridge

Att: 17,500

St Helens withstood a Warrington Wolves fight-back to claim the points in a pulsating derby.

Played in 80 minutes of rain, St Helens took the early lead after England scrum-half Kyle Eastmond showed his electrifying pace with a mazy run to the line. Simon Grix got the Wolves on the scoreboard by scoring an unconverted try.

Just before the break Jon Wilkin pounced on a mistake from Chris Riley as the hosts took a 12-4 lead.

Saints took control in the early stages of the second half winger Ade Gardner went over and with Eastmond adding two goals the hosts were in control leading 20-6.

Warrington responded well and got themselves back into the game through Matt King - his seventh try in the last four games - before loose forward Harrison pounced after Michael Monaghan's high kick eluded Gardner and smart work from substitute Chris Bridge worked winger Hicks over but they could only manage one conversion which proved costly.

Gardner added his second and Eastmond kicked a late penalty as St Helens eased home and recorded a 16th consecutive win over the Wolves at Knowsley Road in the Super League era.

Harlequins RL 18 Tries: Randall, Melling, Clubb Goals: Orr 3

Huddersfield Giants 32 Tries: Gilmour, Cudjoe 3, Crabtree, Horne Goals: B Hodgson 4

Att: 2,624

In Form Huddersfield Giants moved into the top three with victory over Harlequins RL at The Twickenham Stoop.

Played in awful wet conditions the Giants got into their stride very quickly and inside the first 10-minutes they opened up a 10-0 lead. Lee Gilmour pounced on Kevin Brown's kick to score and the second came minutes later as Leroy Cudjoe raced on to Brett Hodgson's measured kick.

Quins slowly got back into the game but another kick - this time from Luke Robinson - led to Cudjoe going over for his second of the night. The lead was cut to14-6 at break as Chad Randall burrowed his way over from dummy-half to score a try for the hosts.

Two quick-fire tries after the restart effectively won Huddersfield the game. Cudjoe completed his hat-trick as he finished off a passing move and England prop Earl Crabtree powered his way over. New Signing Graeme Horne added another as the visitors took their lead to 30-6.

To their credit, back came Quins, Chris Melling profiting from a neat Randall kick to score under the posts. And a Tony Clubb slide in at the corner cut the gap to 30-18.

But, when Danny Orr infringed, Hodgson kicked a penalty to settle Huddersfield's nerves and keep the London outfit at the bottom of the table.

Castleford Tigers 22 Tries: Shenton 2, Wainwright, Cooper Goals: Westerman 3

Wigan Warriors 36 Tries: Roberts 3, Phelps, Richards, J Tomkins 2 Goals: Richards 4

Att: 8,493

Wigan Warriors moved two points clear at the top of the Engage Super League Table with victory over Castleford Tigers at The Jungle.

Both teams exchanged early penalty goals, before Wigan hit their straps and slick handling led to inform winger Amos Roberts scoring the first try of the game. Full-back Cameron Phelps added another moments later.

Castleford got into the game with a two try brace from England centre Michael Shenton in a six minute spell to open up a 12-10 lead. Wigan hit back and went into the break with a 14-12 lead thanks to Pat Richards' score.

Wigan upped the tempo on the second period and effectively won the game with a devastating three try burst in eight minutes. Roberts set up Joel Tomkins before scoring his second of the game and then becoming curator again for Tomkins to score his second as the visitors opened up a 30-12 advantage.

Despite being down to 12 men with Rangi Chase in the sin-bin for throwing a punch, the Tigers showed some spirit and Michael Wainwright added a consolation. Star man for Wigan Amos Roberts completed his hat-trick before on loan Warrington forward Michael Cooper scored the last try of the game for the hosts.

Wakefield Wildcats 36 Tries: Millard, Leo-Latu, Morrison, Ferguson, Murphy, Obst, Blanch Goals: Obst 4

Salford City Reds 6 Tries: Littler Goals: Ratchford

Att: 4,883

Wakefield Wildcats remained in the top eight with a seven-try demolition of Salford City Reds at Hearwell Stadium Belle Vue.

After their 52-0 defeat to Huddersfield in their last home game, Wakefield ran Salford ragged in the first half and had the game won by the break as they led 28-0.

Ex Bulldog Daryl Millard scored the first try out wide after a good passing move. Tevita Leo-Latu battered his way over before Glen Morrison stretched over as the Wildcats were running riot. The two other scores of the half came from Dale Ferguson and Aaron Murphy.

Man of the Match, scrum-half Sam Obst scored a well deserved try early into the second period. Salford's only score came from virtually their first attack of the game as they broke down the left and Luke Swain found Stuart Littler for the try which was converted by Stefan Ratchford.

Obst rounded off an impressive show with a neat kick which Damien Blanch touched down and rounded off an emphatic win for the Wildcats.