ESL Review - Round 8

Saints 34 - Bulls 27

Great Britain full-back Paul Wellens grabbed a hat-trick of tries as St Helens held off a spirited Bradford fightback to claim a 34-27 victory during an engage Super League thriller at Knowsley Road.

The Bulls came back from 22-12 down to edge in front by 24-22 after 56 minutes, only to concede a last-minute score to hat-trick hero Wellens.

Saints, lacking six regulars through injury, held their nerve and finished the stronger side to claim both points and keep the pressure on pacesetters Leeds.

St Helens just about deserved their nail-biting victory, although there was little hint of the drama to come in a lacklustre first half.

Bradford scrum-half Paul Deacon was wide with an early penalty before both sides missed chances to score the first try.

Saints scrum-half Sean Long stretched out for the line only to ground the ball inches short while, at the other end, Bradford substitute Karl Pratt was held up on his back.

The first try came on 21 minutes when Deacon?s grubber kick bounced awkwardly for Wellens and into the grateful arms of prop Andy Lynch.

But Wellens made amends two minutes later when he followed up Keiron Cunningham?s kick to touch down with inches to spare.

In the absence of Paul Sculthorpe and Jamie Lyon, and with Long still unable to kick for goal because of his persistent groin injury, Ian Hardman took over as marksman and kicked the first of four conversions.

Saints were the sharper team and they seized control with two tries in six minutes just before the break, both made by New Zealand international Vinnie Anderson.

First he provided the telling pass for second-rower Mike Bennett to go through a gap and then picked up a loose ball 20 metres from his own line to get stand-off James Roby away for a try.

Bradford, who gave a debut to former England schoolboy rugby union international Matt Cook, enjoyed their best spell of the game early in the second half and got back to 16-12 when 18-year-old centre Karl Pryce forced his way over for his eighth try of the season.

But when Bulls skipper Jamie Peacock missed a crucial tackle on Wellens, the Saints full-back reached out for the line to register his second try.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the game, the visitors edged in front with two tries in four minutes just short of the hour mark.

A refreshed Robbie Paul, twisting and turning out of tackles, claimed his second try of the season and the forceful Lynch took three defenders over the line as he pounced for a second try.

Deacon?s fourth goal made it 24-22 but the lead changed hands for a third time on the hour when centre Darren Albert took Long?s pass to claim his ninth try of the season.

A Deacon penalty, awarded for interference by Keith Mason, levelled the scores, but Bradford prop Joe Vagana was twice punished for committing fouls inside his own 40-metre area.

Hardman was wide with his first long-range attempt but made no mistake from 20 metres out to edge his side back in front

The flurry of points clearly confused Deacon, who had obviously lost count when he put over a drop goal, and he was wide with a second attempt that would have earned his side a share of the spoils.

It proved to be Bradford?s last chance of points, with Saints forcing their way upfield for man of the match Wellens to complete a memorable individual performance with his third try.

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gilmour, Albert, Hardman, Roby, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Mason, V. Anderson, Bennett, Wilkin. Replacements: Graham, P. Anderson, Fa'asavalu, Moore.

Bradford: L. Pryce, Reardon, Langley, K. Pryce, Smith, Harris, Deacon, Vagana, Paul, Fielden, Peacock, Meyers, Radford. Replacements: Pratt, Cook, Parker, Lynch.

St Helens: 34 (16) Tries: Wellens (3), Bennett, Roby, Albert Goals: Hardman (5)

Bradford: 27 (6) Tries: Lynch (2), K Pryce, Paul Goals: Deacon (5) Drops: Deacon ___________________

Centurians 24 - Broncos 22

Leigh Centurions produced a superb second-half fightback to claim their first engage Super League win at the eighth attempt, defeating London Broncos 24-22.

The bottom side trailed 16-8 to the Broncos at half-time at the Coliseum but hit back with renewed determination after the break.

Rob Jackson claimed the crucial try eight minutes from time after Mark McLinden had been sin-binned for a professional foul.

Neil Turley?s nerveless touchline conversion, his fourth goal of the game, secured the win.

Turley had also claimed Leigh?s first try before Jon Wells, Paul Sykes, McLinden and Nick Bradley-Qalilawa responded for London. The Centurions? other tries came from John Duffy and John Wilshere.

Leigh took the game to the Broncos in the opening stages but, as has been their problem this season, could not convert possession into points.

They twice pushed London back to their line in the first 10 minutes but a goal-line drop-out was all they earned for their efforts.

Leigh did deservedly take the lead on 14 minutes when Turley landed a penalty after a Broncos offside but London soon began to find their stride.

Aided by a number of needlessly-conceded penalties, the Broncos ran in three tries in the space of 12 minutes midway through the first half to take charge of the game.

A poor tackle by Jason Kent allowed full-back Wells an easy run to the line before the home side failed to deal with a high kick from Thomas Leuluai and Sykes touched down.

Lee Hopkins then burst through a tackle to set up a simple third for McLinden under the posts and with Sykes converting two of the three, London were well in control at 16-2.

But Leigh gave themselves some hope for the second half as they drove forward and Turley found his way over out wide after tricking his way through with a dummy. The Centurions full-back converted his own score to further reduce the deficit.

London introduced former Melbourne forward Danny Williams for his first appearance since completing an 18-match ban for striking in the second half, but Leigh found a new resolve themselves as the game restarted.

The home side had to defend for a prolonged period but somehow managed to repel the threat ? McLinden and Leuluai were both stopped short ? and hit back with two breakaway tries.

Duffy grabbed the first when he forced his way over from dummy-half on 52 minutes and winger Wilshere followed up with another by the posts after a powerful run five minutes later.

With Turley converting the latter, the Centurions were back in front and had the momentum with them.

But again Leigh could not make the most of their position, and after Turley missed a drop-goal attempt, London hit back to reclaim the lead with a Bradley-Qalilawa try in the corner. Sykes did well to add the extras from the touchline.

Yet Leigh were not finished and gained an advantage when McLinden was sin-binned for holding Jackson down. They capitalised immediately as Duffy spun the ball out wide and Jackson crashed over in the corner.

Turley brilliantly added the extra two points and Leigh survived a nervy last few minutes to claim their much-needed victory.

Leigh: Turley, Wilshere, Jackson, Cooper, Maden, Kent, J. Duffy, Sturm, Govin, Moore, Stapleton, Wilkes, Leafa. Replacements: Taylor, Smyth, Marshall, King.

London: Wells, Kirkpatrick, Smith, Sykes, Bradley-Qalilawa, Dorn, Leuluai, Lolohea, McLinden, Trindall, Haumono, Hopkins, Mbu. Replacements: Stephenson, Highton, Williams, Armour.

Leigh (8) 24. Tries: Turley, J. Duffy, Wilshere, Jackson. Goals: Turley 4.

London (16) 22. Tries: Wells, Sykes, McLinden, Bradley-Qalilawa. Goals: Sykes 3. ___________________ Hull FC 15 - Wigan 21

A Brett Dallas try six minutes from time helped Wigan once again defy the odds and secure a tremendous 21-15 victory over Hull at the KC Stadium.

The visitors, missing seven first-team regulars through injury, overturned a 14-0 half-time deficit to secure a maximum points haul over the Easter period in a lacklustre match riddled with penalties.

Captain Richard Swain?s broken arm meant Peter Lupton was brought in at hooker, while Nathan Blacklock, Shaun Briscoe, Tom Saxton and Chris Chester all returned to the starting 13.

Injuries forced Wigan coach Denis Betts to employ Chris Melling and Wayne Godwin as an untried half-back pairing while 19-year-old James Coyle was handed his engage Super League debut.

The tone for the first half was set in the first minute when Briscoe was brought down inches short of the Wigan line after Paul Cooke carved their defence apart.

Richard Whiting also breached the line shortly after and it was no surprise when Cooke?s superb pass sent Chester over in the corner to open the scoring. The impressive Danny Brough, making only his second Super League start, added the extras from the touchline.

The lead was increased further in the 14th minute when, after Brough exploited some weak Wigan marking at the play the ball, Lupton was able to create an overlap and send Stephen Kearney in to the right of the posts.

Brough again goaled and it was his kicking game which provided the base for Hull?s first-half dominance.

Gareth Raynor came the closest to increasing the score when he was dragged into touch by the corner flag after good work by Blacklock and despite generously receiving 10 first-half penalties from referee Ashley Klein, Wigan failed to trouble Hull?s line once.

Terry Newton wasted their best chance of a score just before the break when he aimlessly flung a pass into touch after they forced a repeat set of six for the first time in the game.

Brough added a late penalty goal, the 15th penalty of the opening period, to send the hosts in 14-0 ahead at the interval.

As Hull tried to capitalise on Wigan?s seemingly tiring defence, they were dealt a surprise blow themselves, when Liam Colbon intercepted Cooke?s speculative pass out wide to race the length of the field and open Wigan?s account. Danny Tickle?s conversion offered the visitors serious hope against all odds with just under 30 minutes remaining.

In a spell of Wigan dominance that ensued, Hull were grateful to Blacklock for a ball-and-all tackle that prevented David Vaealiki crossing in the corner before another penalty allowed Tickle to reduce the deficit to just six points.

Whiting?s 66th-minute drop-goal handed the home side seven points worth of breathing space but that was immediately cut as Harrison Hansen managed to touch down in the corner when he appeared to have no room to manoeuvre. Tickle?s superb touchline goal meant that just one point separated the sides with 10 minutes remaining.

As Newton began to have an increasing influence on proceedings, Dallas was handed the opportunity to score in the corner on the back of yet more Wigan pressure, and the winger did not disappoint, crossing for his fourth try of the season to break Hull?s hearts.

Tickle again goaled from the touchline, and his last-minute drop-goal, after Briscoe had spilt possession, confirmed the win.

Hull: Briscoe, Blacklock, Whiting, Saxton, Raynor, R. Horne, Brough, Dowes, Lupton, Thackray, Chester, Kearney, Cooke. Replacements: Yeaman, McMenemy, Higgins, Carvell.

Wigan: Radlinski, Dallas, Vaealiki, Wild, Aspinwall, Melling, Godwin, Seu Seu, Newton, Guisset, Hansen, Tickle, Beswick. Replacements: Allen, Colbon, J. Coyle, Prescott.

Hull: 15 (14) Tries: Chester, Kearney Goals: Brough (3) Drops: Whiting

Wigan: 21 (0) Tries: Colbon, Hansen, Dallas Goals: Tickle (4) Drops: Tickle __________________ Giants 26 - Reds 12

Australia Test centre Michael De Vere was an instant success on his engage Super League debut as the Huddersfield Giants cruised to their second win in four days, 26-12 against Salford City Reds.

The 28-year-old former Brisbane Broncos ace ended his eight-month lay-off with a knee injury in impressive fashion, creating the first of his side?s four tries and kicking five goals from five attempts, including one from the touchline.

Salford were never seriously in contention, despite the valiant efforts of skipper Malcolm Alker and strong-running prop Andy Coley, as they struggled to unlock a workmanlike home defence.

De Vere made the ideal start, taking stand-off Chris Thorman?s pass and racing clear to send winger Marcus St Hilaire over for the first of his two tries within four minutes.

When second rower Paul Smith used his 6ft 4in frame to stretch out for the line on 20 minutes, it was nothing more than Huddersfield deserved after dominating the opening quarter.

The Giants defended superbly to keep their line intact until full-back Paul Reilly fumbled Luke Robinson?s grubber kick three minutes before the break, which allowed stand-off Kevin McGuinness to touch down.

But the home side restored their 14-point lead in the final move of the first half, with St Hilaire racing onto a clever kick from substitute Stanley Gene to claim his second try.

As Salford skipper Malcolm Alker began to come into his own, the Reds produced their best spell of the game.

And they cut the deficit to 20-12 when centre Cliff Beverley took Robinson?s long pass and rounded his opposite number Hefin O?Hare to score, with Chris Charles kicking his second conversion.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors and a 58th-minute solo try from man of the match Gene, who demonstrated electrifying pace from dummy half, put the result beyond doubt.

Huddersfield: Reilly, O'Hare, Evans, De Vere, St Hilaire, Thorman, March, Jackson, Drew, Gannon, Nero, Smith, Roarty. Replacements: Slicker, Gene, Crabtree, Grayshon.

Salford: Hodgson, McAvoy, Beverley, Littler, Stewart, McGuinness, Robinson, Stringer, Alker, Coley, Brocklehurst, Baldwin, Charles. Replacements: Haggerty, Dickens, Jonkers, Johnson.

Huddersfield (20) 26. Tries: St Hilaire 2, Smith, Gene. Goals: De Vere 5.

Salford (6) 12. Tries: McGuinness, Beverley. Goals: Charles 2. __________________ Wildcats 44 - Rhinos 28

Wakefield Wildcats stunned Leeds Rhinos at Headingley by running in eight tries in a 44-28 romp to inflict the champions? first defeat of the season.

Shane McNally?s side shrugged off their recent wretched form of three straight defeats to destroy Leeds? 100% start to the season and with it their hopes of making Super League history.

Anything but defeat would have allowed Leeds to equal Bradford Bulls? record of going 21 regular rounds unbeaten.

But the visitors clearly had other ideas and richly deserved their success.

Leeds were boosted by the return of Great Britain stand-off Danny McGuire on the bench after over a month on the sidelines following groin surgery.

However, Wakefield began brightly, although they were caught cold when Rob Burrow grounded from close range after eight minutes following good work by Kevin Sinfield, who converted to make it 6-0.

The try was Burrow?s 50th in Leeds colours, but the Wildcats remained undeterred and after Steve Snitch crossed the line within seconds of replacing Olivier Elima, they were right back in the game.

Jamie Rooney added the extras to tie the scores level at 6-6 before Wakefield caught the Rhinos with a classic counter-attacking move to edge ahead.

David March burst through midfield before finding the supporting David Wrench, who delivered a delightful offload to the onrushing Jason Demetriou.

He crashed over from 10 metres out and remarkably, just minutes later, Wakefield edged further ahead when the impressive Demetriou found Colum Halpenny, who grounded in the right-hand corner.

Suitably shocked, Leeds coach Tony Smith brought on McGuire in the hope of spurring his troops into life.

However, it was to no avail and March crossed the line from acting half shortly before the hooter and Rooney added the extras to hand his side a shock 22-6 advantage.

Wakefield continued to defend like demons and they deservedly extended their lead five minutes after the restart when March grabbed his second try of the game from close range, Rooney again adding the extras to make it 28-6.

Amazingly, the Wildcats could have edged further ahead minutes later only for a superb saving tackle by Leeds winger Mark Calderwood on Semi Tadulala in the left-hand corner.

Leeds then threw themselves a lifeline when excellent work by Keith Senior coming in off the left flank saw him find former Wakefield star Gareth Ellis, who notched a try that Sinfield converted to give Leeds a glimmer of hope.

However, it proved short-lived as Ben Jeffries flighted a superb kick into the left-hand corner and this time Tadulala was able to collect and ground in the corner without any Leeds players near him.

Rooney failed to convert but Wakefield?s 32-12 was a healthy one and an advantage that simply served to spur the Wildcats on further.

Evidence of that came shortly after the hour mark when Jeffries found Darrell Griffin, who crashed over the whitewash before Rooney added the extras.

Liam Botham and then Senior both crossed the line to give Leeds hope, but the Wildcats held on for a famous victory, which was sealed in style when Demetriou took advantage of an error by Willie Poching to race clear in front of the ecstatic travelling hordes.

Rooney again converted to give the visitors a handsome scoreline to render Burrow?s second try little more than consolation.

Leeds: Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, Senior, Bai, Sinfield, Burrow, Bailey, Poching, McDonald, Botham, McKenna, Ellis. Replacements: McDermott, McGuire, Smith, Scruton.

Wakefield: M. Field, Halpenny, Demetriou, Houles, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Griffin, March, Korkidas, Solomona, Elima, Applegarth. Replacements: Wrench, Snitch, Feather, Kirk.

Leeds (6) 28. Tries: Burrow 2, Ellis, Botham, Senior. Goals: Sinfield 4.

Wakefield (22) 44. Tries: Snitch, Demetriou 2, Halpenny, March 2, Tadulala, Griffin. Goals: Rooney 6. ___________________ Wolves 44 - Vikings 12

A first-ever hat-trick from Jon Clarke helped ease the pressure on Warrington coach Paul Cullen with a 44-12 win that plunged rivals Widnes deeper into relegation trouble in the engage Super League.

The Wolves, who lost both derby fixtures last season, ran in nine tries to crush their near-neighbours and would have enjoyed a greater victory margin but for an off day with the boot by skipper Lee Briers.

Briers managed just two successes from his seven attempts at goal before handing over the duties to Chris Bridge, who landed two from three, but it hardly mattered as the Wolves cut loose to register their best win of the season.

Former Wigan and London Broncos hooker Clarke, revelling in his new loose-forward role, led the way by producing a devastating display of finishing.

In a tentative opening it was veteran forward Terry O?Connor, the Vikings captain, who came up with the first error and Warrington punished his knock-on by claiming the first try on seven minutes.

The Widnes defence failed to spot a set move from the scrum and opened up invitingly for Clarke to race through a gap to touch down at the corner for his first try.

The visitors hit back on 15 minutes when Australian centre Aaron Moule went through some poor tackling close to the line to claim his seventh try of the season.

Stand-off Stephen Myler, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury, edged his side in front with the conversion.

But their lead lasted only five minutes, with Wolves second rower Mike Wainwright taking Bridge?s pass 10 metres out to crash over.

Myler levelled the scores with a 26th-minute penalty after Widnes second rower Mick Cassidy had been tackled high in front of the Warrington posts.

The home side were marginally the better side in the first half and it was no surprise when they edged back in front nine minutes before the break when makeshift prop Ben Westwood demonstrated exceptional strength to force his way over the line despite the attentions of three defenders.

The position was set up by Briers? pilfering of the ball from the grasp of Widnes loose forward Simon Finnigan as he attempted to clear his own 20-metre area.

The Wolves skipper this time hit a post with his conversion attempt but he was finally on the mark in injury time to convert a superb try from Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson, who wrong-footed his opposite number to create the opening.

Widnes briefly got back in the match when big substitute forward Matthew Whitaker crashed over at the corner to bring his side back to 18-12 three minutes into the second half.

But the fightback was short-lived as Warrington began to get on top.

Second rower Paul Wood had a try disallowed by the video referee on 50 minutes for a double movement but there was no stopping Clarke shortly afterwards when he took Briers? pass and dummied his way over for his second try.

Briers was again off target with the conversion but he made it two successes from six attempts with a penalty which brought up his 1,500th point for the club.

Warrington made sure of the win when Clarke supported a break by Westwood to complete his hat-trick on the hour and they piled on the agony for their visitors with three further tries in the last quarter.

Kiwi international winger Henry Fa?afili intercepted a David Mills pass to scoot 40 metres and raced onto Briers? kick to claim a second try while Briers also touched down after a brilliant solo run.

Warrington: Grose, Faa?fili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Gaskell, Briers, Bridge, Hilton, Mark Gleeson, Westwood, P. Wood, Wainwright, Clarke.

Replacements: Appo, Pickersgill, Stevens, Lima.

Widnes: Rowlands, Emelio, Moule, Whittle, Ballard, Myler, Hulse, O?Connor, Smith, Mills, Cassidy, Stankevitch, Finnigan.

Replacements: Crook, O?Neill, Whitaker, Frame.

Warrington (18) 44. Tries: Clarke 3, Wainwright, Westwood, Martin Gleeson, Briers, Faa?fili 2. Goals: Briers 2, Bridge 2.

Widnes (8) 12. Tries: Moule, Whitaker. Goals: Myler 2.

Thanks to: http://www.superleague.co.uk for another excellent article.