Engage Super League XVI Round 23 review

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Engage Super League XVI Round 23 review by Simon Reuben
Hull FC                                   16
Tries:   Yeaman, Turner, Manu
Goals:  Tickle 2
 
Wigan Warriors                       30
Tries:   S. Tomkins 2, Richards 2, Carmont
Goals:  Richards 5
 
Att:      11,729
 
Wigan Warriors stayed top of Super League by seeing off Hull FC at KC Stadium.
 
After losing in the Quarter Finals of the Challenge Cup last Sunday, the Black and Whites had only the top eight and Old Trafford to aim for.
 
Wigan on the other hand will still in both competitions and they needed the points to cement their top spot.
 
Hull FC, desperate for the win, made a terrific start and took the lead on two minutes when Kirk Yeaman finished things off after the ball had been spun out wide.
 
After defending for the early stages Wigan first attack produced a try for Sam Tompkins after good work by Brett Finch.
 
Just after the first quarter the Warriors upped the tempo and hit the Black and Whites with three quickfire tries. First Pat Richards intercepted Danny Tickle's pass and ran 90 metres to score.  Sam Tomkins grubber caused confusion in the home sides defence and George Carmont was on hand to score.
 
Richards made it 22-4 after a dreadful pass by Jordan Turner was snapped up by the winger. But to Turner's credit he gave the hosts' a lifeline by scoring just before the interval.
 
As Hull came out with a spring in their step Willie Manu powered his way over the line as the deficit was cut to six and it could have been even better if Danny Tickle would not have knocked on.
 
Richards kicked a penalty to give the Warriors some breathing space and then Coach Michael McGuire sent Sam Tomkins back on to the pitch and his second try of the game got Wigan home.
 
However, with next week's Carnegie Challenge Cup Semi-Final against St Helens in mind, Wigan suffered some injuries to some of their key players, but with only four rounds left a second successive League Leaders Shield looks in sight.
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Salford City Reds                   22
Tries:   Broughton, Pattern, Anderson, Jewitt
Goals:  Holdsworth 3
 
Leeds Rhinos                          30
Tries:   Hall, Bailey, McGuire, Webb, Smith
Goals:  Sinfield 5
 
Att:      4,024
 
Leeds Rhinos made it three wins on the bounce as they saw a Salford City Reds comeback at The Willows.
 
Playing their last ever games at The Willows, Leeds were looking to keep up their 100% record in the Super League. Salford on the other hand were looking to try and get into the eight especially as it was new Coach Matt Parrish's  first home game in charge.
 
The hosts made a bright start and took the game to their opponents but a high kick to the corner by Stefan Ratchford was collected by teenager Kallum Watkins-returning for his first game since Easter-who raced down the touchline and fed the ball to the supporting Danny Buderus who then passed the ball out to Ryan Hall who finished off a length of the field move to give the Rhinos the lead.
 
Ryan Bailey scored his first try for four years as the visitors made it made it 12-0 and just before the break Carl Ablett offloaded for Danny McGuire to score his side's third try of the half.
 
Salford enjoyed another good spell early in the second half and this time broke through as Luke Patten and Vinnie Anderson exchanged quick passes and the full-back dived over to get his side on the scoreboard.
 
Holdsworth added the conversion but any hopes of a fight back appeared to have been quickly extinguished as Rob Burrow broke up the middle and released Brent Webb to score underneath the posts.
 
Matt Parish got the response he wanted as first Jodie Broughton raced in at the corner and then Ratchford
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