ESL Friday Results

Leeds 20-14 St Helens The Rhinos made it three wins out against the Saints in a bad-tempered clash at Headingley.

Chev Walker, Francis Cummins and Gary Connolly all went over in the first half to give the home side the upper hand.

But the inspirational Keiron Cunningham kept Saints in the game with two tries before a Paul Wellens score ensured a close finish.

A 52nd-minute penalty from Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield nudged Leeds a further two points clear before tempers began to fray.

Saints substitute Jason Hooper caught Sinfield with a late challenge to spark a bout of fisticuffs, referee Karl Kirkpatrick halting the game before placing Hooper on report.

Sinfield landed another penalty 13 minutes from time to increase the lead to six points.

And that proved to be the last score of the game as Saints slipped to their seventh league defeat of the season.

Leeds: 20 Tries: Walker, Connolly, Cummins Goals: Sinfield 4 St Helens: 14 Tries: Cunningham 2, Wellens Goals: Long

Leeds: Connolly, Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Cummins, Dunemann, McGuire, McDonald, Diskin, McDermott, Furner, Adamson, Sinfield. Replacements: Burrow, Bailey, Poching, Feather.

St Helens: Wellens, Stewart, Gleeson, Albert, Gardner, Sculthorpe, Long, Britt, Cunningham, Mason, Joynt, Bennett, Smith. Replacements: Hooper, Higham, Ward, Jonkers.

Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington).

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Wigan 28-14 Hull

Wigan moved up to third in the Super League table with a five-try defeat of the high-flying Airlie Birds.

Winger David Hodgson scored two tries for the home side, with skipper Andy Farrell weighing in with six goals from seven attempts.

Steve Prescott gave Hull an early lead with a penalty after Mick Cassidy was caught offside under his own sticks.

But Hodgson pounced on Colin Best's fumble from a Farrell kick to touch down before Gareth Hock went over three minutes later.

Former Warrior Chris Chester forced his way over wide out to reduce the deficit but two goals from Farrell gave Wigan a 12-8 half-time advantage.

Martin Aspinwall grabbed his side's third try after Prescott and Richard Horne both failed to deal with a kick from Adrian Lam.

Hull came back into it when Richard Horne touched down but the Warriors sealed victory when Kevin Brown sent Hodgson in at the corner.

Wigan: 28 Tries: Hodgson 2, Hock, Aspinwall Goals: Farrell 6 Hull: 14 Tries: Chester, R. Horne Goals: Prescott 3

Wigan: Briscoe, Aspinwall, O'Loughlin, Brown, Hodgson, Graham,Lam, O'Connor, Newton, C. Smith, Cassidy, Hock, Farrell. Replacements: Robinson, Tickle, M. Smith, Bibey.

Hull: R. Horne, Best, Kohe-Love, Yeaman, Prescott, Cooke, G. Horne, Greenhill, Treister, King, Ryan, Maher, Chester. Replacements: Last, Dowes, Carvell, Fletcher.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).