Super League XVIII - Round 13 Review

Bradford Bulls 22
Tries:   Evans, Kear 2, Kearney
Goals:  Sammut 3

Leeds Rhinos 42
Tries:   Watkins, Achurch, Ablett 2, McGuire, Bailey, Hardaker
Goals:  Sinfield 7

Att:      12,016

Leeds Rhinos took their unbeaten run to eight games as they ran out comfortable winners over great local rivals Bradford Bulls at the Provident Stadium Odsal.
 
After Maundy Thursday’s thrilling 18-18 draw at Headingley both sides were looking for one better. Prop Ryan Bailey marked his return from a four-match ban for the Rhinos, the Bulls were missing second rower John Bateman, who failed to recover from a wrist
 
Leeds started strongly and they took the lead after three minutes when Ryan Hall ran the ball back after taking  Luke Gale's kick and Kallum Watkins went through the middle of  Bradford ‘ defence for a 60-metre solo try.
 
Jamie Jones-Buchanan got second rower Brett Delaney through a gap and after some good passing ex Penrith Panther Mitch Achurch finished things off. Kevin Sinfield added both conversions to make it 12-0 after only six minutes.
 
In control of the game the visitor’s third try soon arrived as Carl Ablett took Rob Burrow's pass to go over
 
Elliott Kear kept the Bulls in it with a try saving tackle on Zak Hardaker and prop Ben Evans gave them renewed hope on 29 minutes when he took Heath L'Estrange's short pass to crash over for his first try for the club. Jarrad Sammut's goal made it 18-6.
 
However, the Rhinos turned up the heat and scored twice more before the break. Substitute Hooker Paul McShane got Danny McGuire over and on the half time hooter Bailey powered over next to the posts. Sinfield made it five successful goals to give the Champions a commanding 30-6 lead.
 
The Bulls showed some real spirit in the second half and cut the gap when L'Estrange's long pass got Kear over for a try on 46 minutes.
 
Six minutes later it got even better for Bradford as full-back Brett Kearney dummied his way over for his 11th try of the campaign. Sammut kicked his second goal to cut the gap to 30-16.
 
But, the Rhinos finally ended any hopes of the comeback as Hardaker stretch out of a tackle for his side’s sixth try of the night. Sinfield then put Ablett over for his second try straight from a scrum 10 metres out and maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot.
 
However, the Bulls did have the final say when Kear scored his second on the full time hooter but it was the Champions night as they continued their winning run.

Hull FC 48
Tries:   Crooks 2, Whiting, Briscoe 2, Yeaman, Westerman, O’Meley
Goals:  Holdsworth 6, Crooks 2

London Broncos 12
Tries:   Cook, Witt
Goals:  Witt 2

Att:      11,490

Hull FC made it five wins in six games as they eased to victory over London Broncos at the KC Stadium.
 
It was a big night for the Black and Whites as Gareth Ellis finally made his debut. The ex West Tiger was meant to make his debut on the opening day of the season at Leeds in February but a foot injury robbed him of the opportunity.
 
After building up some early pressure the Londoners took the lead on 12 minutes when former Hull man Tommy Lee supplied an excellent short pass for Matt Cook to crash over.
 
The hosts soon got into the game and after forcing a drop-out of their own, Richard Horne's pass found Ben Crooks who stretched over to touchdown.
 
Crooks then made a break and his inside pass allowed Danny Houghton to supply Richard Whiting who scored beneath the posts. Daniel Holdsworth converted to make it 12-6 to FC at half time.
 
Hull started the stronger in the second half as they blew the Broncos away with four tries in 14 minutes.
 
They first came from Crooks, who grabbed his second try of the game after taking a good short pass from Holdsworth. England winger Tom Briscoe then helped himself to a quick fire brace. The first came from a great one-handed flick pass by Holdsworth, and the second off a Kirk Yeaman break.
 
Yeaman then finished off a flowing passing move before London hit back with a Michael Witt consolation.
 
But the result was never in doubt for Hull as Joe Westerman and Mark O'Meley scored further tries to give the hosts an emphatic win.

St Helens 28
Tries:   Thompson, Laffranchi, Gardner, Puletua, Walmsley
Goals:  Makinson 4

Widnes Vikings 35
Tries:   Pickersgill, Owens 2, Clarke, Marsh, Mellor
Goals:  Owens 4, Craven
Drop Goal: Craven

Att:      11,438

Widnes Vikings inflicted more misery on near neighbours St Helens, at Langtree Park, by claiming their first ever Super League win.
 
The hosts were on a four match loosing run with their last win coming against Castleford on Easter Monday and they will still down on numbers. Widnes were also missing key personal as they looked to put aside last Friday’s home defeat by Wakefield Wildcats.
 
Saints took the lead after only three minutes when Luke Thompson went over for a try on his home debut after good work by Tony Puletua.
 
Six minutes later Widnes were back on terms after nine minutes with Steve Pickersgill taking Kevin Brown's pass to crash over . St Helens then re-took the lead with Anthony Laffranchi running onto Nathan Ashe kick. Tommy Makinson added the extras to make it 12-6 to the hosts.
 
Jack Owens raced past Ashe and Paul Wellens to level things up and in the last ten minutes of the first half, the Vikings upped the tempo to take control.
 
Jon Clarke crossed for the first score and then Joe Mellor's break was finished off by Stefan Marsh. Widnes then struck for the third time in five minutes when Marsh put Owens over, who added his fourth conversion to make it 28-12 at the break.
 
After being booed off the field at the break, Saints reduced the gap seven minutes into the second period when Ade Gardner scored an easy try. Makinson booted the touchline conversion.
 
However, the comeback was short lived as Mellor got on the end of Kevin Brown's kick to make it 34-18with just over twenty minutes left.
 
Puletua reduced the gap 11 minutes from time, but Danny Craven’s one-pointer near the end made sure of the visitors claiming the points.
 
And, there was still time for Alex Walmsley to crash over for a late Saints try to make the final score more respectable but it did not take the glory away from the Vikings who claimed famous win as St Helens loosing run continues.

Wigan Warriors 46
Tries:   Charnley 2, Flower, Gelling, Tomkins 2, Farrell, Mossop, Green
Goals:  Charnley 5

Salford City Reds 6
Tries:   Walne
Goals:  Sneyd

Att:      12,489

League leaders Wigan Warriors were at their dominant best as they dispatched Salford City Reds at the DW Stadium.
 
Going for seven Super League wins on the spin, it took less than two minutes for Wigan to open the scoring. Josh Charnley raced down the touchline to score in the corner.
 
Seven minutes later the Warriors were in again as Sean O'Loughlin ‘ short pass sent Ben Flower over. The third score soon arrived this time Iain Thornley and Sam Tomkins combined to send Anthony Gelling in at the left hand corner.
 
Two more home tries arrive before the break as Tomkins and Liam Farrell both got their names on the scoresheet to leave Wigan with a match winning 22-0 half time advantage.
 
Normal service resumed on 50 minutes and Tomkins was involved again as he sent out a long ball to the right and Charnley beat the cover for his second of the night.
 
Lee Mossop burst onto a short ball from Michael McIlorum to touch down by the side of the post, with Charnley converting and as the Warriors barely got out of second gear  Charnley returned the favour to Tomkins by sending an inside ball for the full-back to grab his second.
 
Blake Green, who was having a good game, forced his way over from close range for a well deserved try. Charnley added the extras to make it 46-0 as Wigan were looking to a repeat of their 42-0 win at Salford in round 1.
 
However, the whitewash did not happened as in the last minute of the game Adam Walne forced his way over to score a consolation for the City Reds as the Warriors cemented top spot on the league ladder.

Wakefield Wildcats 30
Tries:   Fox 2, Kirmond 2, Cockayne
Goals:  L. Smith 5

Catalan Dragons 12
Tries:   Larroyer 2
Goals:  Bosc 2

Att:      6,125

Wakefield Wildcats made it two wins on the bounce as they defeated Catalan Dragons at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
 
The Dragons came into this game without eight regulars, Wakefield were also without stand-off Paul Sykes but they covered the loss by switching Kyle Wood to half back.
 
Stand-off Leon Pryce pulled the strings as the French outfit took the early lead, his perfectly placed short pass sent second rower Kevin Larroyer  thorugh the gap to open things up on 14 minutes. Thomas Bosc's goal added the conversion to make it 6-0.
 
Wakefield eventually found their rhythm and got back on terms thanks to a Dean Collis flick pass which got right winger Peter Fox over midway through the first half.
 
Danny Kirmond pounced on mistake by Zeb Taia as the hosts took the lead. Lee Smith kicked a penalty goal as Larroyer was penalised for a shoulder charge.
 
On the stroke of half-time Ben Cockayne followed up Kyle Wood’s kick which hit the post and rebounded back into his hands. Smith kicked the goal as the Wildcats opened up an 18-6 lead at the break.
 
Catalan continued to concede penalties at the start of the second half and they were soon punished as Collis combined with Lee Smith to get Fox over for his second try.
 
Tim Smith then kicked a 40-20 and this set up the position for Lee Smith to add another penalty goal as the home sides lead stretched out to 24-6.
 
The game was all over as a contest on 58 minutes as Tim Smith's inside pass got Cockayne into space and  in support was Kirmond who went over for his second try of the game.
 
Larroyer then added a consolation for the visitors again after good work by Pryce. Wakefield comfortable closed the game out but they did loose prop Justin Poore  to injury as they made it back-to-back wins for the first time this year as Catalan suffered a fourth defeat in their last five league games.

Castleford Tigers 32
Tries:   Boyle, Carney2, Shenton, Walker, Tansey
Goals   Ellis 4

Hull KR 24
Tries:   Lovegrove, Salter 2, Caro
Goals:  Dobson 4

Att:      6,474

Castleford Tigers moved off the bottom of Super League by getting past Hull KR at the Wish Communications Stadium.
 
Both teams came into this one on the back of defeats last week. Hull KR welcomed back Craig Hall, while forwards Keal Carlile and Jordon Cox were recalled.
 
The visitors made the better start and took the lead when Hall gathered a Rangi Chase kick, then he burst clear and put over Rhys Lovegrove
 
On 15th minute, Chase was the creator as he sent prop Ryan Boyle in for the equalising score. Rovers then retook the lead as Liam Salter scored from close Range. Michael Dobson kicked his second goal to make it 12-6.
 
Just on half time, Castleford bounced back again Chase and Jordan Tansey combined to put ex Sydney Rooster Justin Carney charging over the line from 30 meters out. Jamie Ellis converted as the teams went into the break all square.
 
Rovers made a dream start to the second-half when they score immediately from the kick-off. Mickey Paea scooped up a loose ball before giving the pass for Salter to make it a double.
 
However, The Tigers railed and roared back with a blistering four tries burst in a 13-minute spell. Chase's pass was deflected off Hull KR's David Hodgson into the hands of Michael Shenton, who got things underway. Prop Jonathan Walker then forced his way over and starman Chase's superb long pass got Carney in at the corner for a second.
 
Tansey weaved his way through in great style for the fourth and with Ellis kicking his fourth goal the Tigers had the Match won leading 32-18.
 
Hull KR  did mange a late consolation as Omari Caro's  scored an 80-meter interception try , but it was Castleford’ day as the news filtered round the ground that Daryl Powell would named as new Tigers Head coach this week.

Huddersfield Giants 12
Tries:   McGillvary, Leeming
Goals:  Brough 2

Warrington Wolves 34
Tries:   Higham, Waterhouse 2, Ratchford, Hodgson, Atkins
Goals:  Hodgson 5

Att:      8,585

Warrington Wolves moved to within one point of opponents Huddersfield Giants with a one-side win at the John Smith’s Stadium.
 
Second-placed Huddersfield, who were looking to keep the pressure on Wigan, took the early lead as Danny Brough's 40-20 kick on three minutes gave them the field position for Jermaine McGillvary to score the game’s opening try.
 
Bur the Giants, then lost their way as they gifted Warrington as easy score as Jason Chan knocked on and Mickey Higham picked up the ball to go over the line.
 
Enter ex Kangaroo Trent Waterhouse who gave the visitors the advantage by helping himself to a quickfire brace and after another mistake by the hosts Stefan Ratchford touched down for a simple try. Brett Hodgson kicked his third goal as the Wolves took a big 22-6 lead into the break as the Giants also had Brough sin-binned for dissent.
 
The visitors dominance continued as Ratchford’s pass put Hodgson in at the right hand corner. Teenage hooker Kruise Leeming then scored on his Huddersfield debut at the other end after goods work by Luke Robinson.
 
But the game was all over as a contest 12 minutes from time as Ryan Atkins saw Warrington home to claim a third Super League win on the bounce.

Super League Ladder after Round 13