Stobart Super League XVII - Round 7 Review

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Huddersfield Giants 42
Tries:   George 3, Brown, Lawrence, Wardle, Eden, Patrick
Goals:  Brough

Castleford Tigers 4
Tries:   Youngquest

Att:      6,298

Huddersfield Giants remained top of the Stobart Super League with a comprehensive win over West Yorkshire rivals Castleford Tigers at the Galpharm Stadium.

Ian Millward, who returned to work this week from a month's compassionate leave, made some changes in order to halt the Tigers five-match losing run. 

Huddersfield  had other ideas as they looked to continue their good run of form and on 11 minutes try machine Luke George regathered is own kick to open the scoring.

Two more scores followed quickly as the hosts dominated. Scott Grix burst clear to send former Castleford full-back Greg Eden over before centre Joe Wardle crashed through some poor defence to make it 14-0. 

The Tigers made four changes and this gave them a lift as Richard Owen sent winger Nick Youngquest in at the corner to cut the deficit. It looked to be getting even better for the visitors as Huddersfield were reduced to twelve men as Jason Chan was given a spell in the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle.

However, it was the Giants who prospered and they increased their to 22-4 at the break with a 40-meter burst from Larne Patrick and George made it a double by racing on to Kevin Brown' kick.
The one way traffic continued in the second half. Within two minutes of the restart, still a man down, George was on hand to complete his third hat trick of the season.

He then turned provided as Brown scored his sides sixth try of the game. Michael Lawrence rounded things by forcing his way over the line. Danny Brough kicked five from eight as the Giants continued their best ever start to the Super League.
Salford City Reds 16
Tries:   Anderson, Owen, Patten
Goals:  Holdsworth 2

Leeds Rhinos 56
Tries:   Hardaker 3, McGuire, Sinfield, Watkins, Delaney, Burrow, Hood, Ablett
Goals:  Sinfield 8 

Att:      6,891

Leeds Rhinos made it four wins on the bounce as they demolished Salford City Reds at the City of Salford Stadium. 

After their three match winning run came to an end in Perpignan last weekend, the City Reds faced the daunting task of trying to get past the World Champions Leeds Rhinos.

Having not beaten Leeds at home in Super League, Salford made a bright start and took the lead on nine minutes when Daniel Holdsworth's kick bounced nicely for Vinnie Anderson to score the opening try.

However, this was as good as it got for them as the Rhinos blew them away with 54 unanswered points. Chris Clarkson raced onto Kevin Sinfield's well-timed pass for Zak Hardaker to finish things off.

Sinfield's conversion made it 6-4 and it got even better for the visitors as Brent Webb sent Brett Delaney over midway through the first half and Sinfield obliged with the conversion to make it 12-4. Then the floodgates opened as Leeds raced into a 32-4 lead by the interval. Danny McGuire's 90 metre sprint was only stopped by a superb Luke Patten tackle but Leeds spun the ball out wide for Kallum Watkins to round Stuart Howarth with ease.

It was Sinfield' turn to get on the try scoring sheet as he collected Ben Jones-Bishop's kick for his four pointer of the season. Carl Ablett gathered McGuire's kick for Liam Hood to notch his third try in three sub appearances. Sinfield and Watkins combined for McGuire to cross in the corner just before the break as the Rhinos made it six unanswered tries.

In the second half Leeds continued their try scoring form. Hardaker started things off as he showed real pace and skill to waltz thorugh the hosts defence for a brace. Sinfield's conversion made it 38-4 and the hat-trick arrived on the hour mark after smart inter-passing by Ablett and Webb.

Then history was made by Kevin Sinfield.  By adding the extras, he broke Lewis Jones Leeds Rhinos all time points scoring record of 2,920 points which has stood since 1964.

Rob Burrow scooted over for the Rhinos' ninth try before Ablett crossed for the tenth on 71 minutes as Leeds were running riot. However, Salford did make the score more respectable by adding two late consolations from Gareth Owen and Luke Pattern.
Catalan Dragons 20
Tries:   Bosc, Blanch, Paea
Goals:  Dureau 4

Hull KR 12
Tries:   Dobson, Welham
Goals:  Welham 2 

Att:      7,337

Catalan Dragons came from behind to see of Hull KR in a hard-fought win at Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.

Both sides started brightly and looked to play expansive rugby by moving the ball out wide quickly.
Catalans missed some guilt edge chances in the Hull KR twenty but there pressure did tell and on 25 minutes after having a back-to-back set , Scott Dureau provided the  pass for Lopini  Paea to brush away former Dragon Michael Dobson to touch down near the posts.. Dureau added the conversion to give the Dragons a 6-0 lead.

Rovers hit back quickly and levelled things up thanks to a smart dummy by Dobson who dived over the line and added the extras.

The Frenchside looked for another score just before the break but on a fifth tackle play Dureau
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