Super League XVIII Round 17 review by Simon Reuben

Hull FC (18)

Tries: Westerman, Crooks, Houghton

Goals: Holdsworth 3

Leeds (6)

Tries: Delaney

Goals: Sinfield 

Att: 11,901 

Hull FC moved into the top four as they got the better of an injury hit Leeds Rhinos at the KC Stadium.

Hull came into this game full of confidence especially after their controversial win over City Rivals Hull KR at last week’s Magic weekend. 

On the other side were the Champions, Leeds Rhinos, whose form was the opposite as they were looking to end their three game losing run and they did not get the start they wanted.

With their first set of the contest, the Black and Whites made the dream start as they moved the ball across the line and Ben Crooks offloaded for Joe Westerman to score after just two minutes. Daniel Holdsworth tagged on the extras.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan was penalised for holding down Gareth Ellis and Holdsworth made no mistake with the penalty goal to make it 8-0 after 8-minutes.

Four minutes later it got even better for the hosts as the Rhinos put a high kick up on the last and on his own ten-meter line; Tom Lineham plucked the ball out of the air and raced 70 meters where he off-loaded for Ben Crooks to score an unconverted try.

Leeds then lost England Centre Kallum Watkins to a nasty looking ankle injury and just on half time Danny Houghton finds a huge gap in the visitors defence as he touches down from dummy half. Holdsworth kicked the goal to make give Hull a commanding 18-0 interval lead.

It could not get any worst for the Rhinos after the resumption, but it did as they lost key playmaker Danny McGuire to a broken fibula.

After finally getting some sort of foothold in the game the Champions did score next as on 61 minutes Liam Sutcliffe gave out the pass, which was taken by makeshift Centre Brett Delaney, who slid in at the corner.

Kevin Sinfield landed the touchline conversion to make it 18-6 and Hull should have gone further ahead after Kirk Yeaman broke through but his pass went to Jay Pitts went to ground.

Holdsworth missed a late one-pointer for the hosts whose first half lead was enough for them to hold on and claim a ninth win in ten games.

For Leeds, it is four defeats on the bounce as their mid season slump continue but also worrying is their injury toil which is beginning to mount.

London Broncos (30)

Tries: Mendeika, Wheeldon, Melling, Bailey, Gower

Goals: Witt 5

Castleford Tigers (30)

Tries:  Clark, Chase, Millington, Carney, Massey

Goals: Ellis 5

Att: 1,810

Castleford Tigers came form 14 points down to snatch a draw at the death over London Broncos at the Twickenham Stoop.

It was the Broncos who made the fast start as James Mendeika took Michael Witt pass to score the games first try

Back came the Tigers with a superb length-of-the-field effort, from their own goal line Justin Carney put Kirk Dixon trough a gap and in support was Daryl Clark who raced  60 metres to touchdown.

But, led by the influential Craig Gower, London re-took the lead after his no-look pass sent Scott Wheeldon powering over the line.

Rangi Chase combined with Carney for the former to finish the move which saw the visitors make it 10-10 after 32-minutes.

However, the Londoners would have one more say as Luke Dorn sent Chris Melling in the dying seconds of half. Witt added the extras to make it 16-10 at the break.

Witt then kicked a 40-metre penalty to edge the hosts 18-10 ahead on 50 minutes and then it got better for the Broncos as Gower cut through and set up the supporting Chris Bailey.

Chase’ brilliant high kick found Grant Millington who grounded the ball as Castleford had some hope, but Gower ducked his way to the line from close range as the London looked to have the game wrapped up leading 30-16.

However, since Daryl Powell took over the reins Castleford have shown real spirit and they did show this in the last ten minutes by turning things around to claim a dramatic draw. First Carney showed good footwork for the first score and then, after Nathan Massey went over from close range, Jamie Ellis slotted the decisive penalty as the Tigers took an unlikely point back to West Yorkshire.

Hull KR (28)

Tries: Lovegrove 2 Withers 2, Hall

Goals: Dobson 4

Bradford Bulls (18)

Tries: Sammut, Lulia, Platt

Goals: Sammut, Galea

Att: 7,259

Hull KR get last weeks controversial defeat out of their system as they came from behind to deny the Bradford Bulls at MS3 Craven Park.

After Last week's controversial late defeat to cross City rivals Hull FC, Craig Sandercock ‘ men were desperate for the win against the Bradford Bulls who were also in need of the points.

On ten minutes, it was Bradford who scored first as Jarrod Sammut combined with Keith Lulia to go over the line. Sammut also added the extras.

Rhys Lovegrove responded for the hosts as he powered his way over the line. Sammut then kicked a 37-minute penalty goal as the Bulls led 8-4 at the interval.

13 minutes into the second half, Keith Lulia rounded off a good move to score the visitor’s second try and increase their lead to 12-4.

But, Rovers responded well and after good work by Michael Dobson Lovegrove went over for his second four pointer of the game. The comeback was complete on 66 minutes as Travis Burns sent Lincoln Withers clear.

Dobson then took control of the contest and sent over Craig Hall’s, before Withers made it a double to claim the points for Hull KR as they led 28-12.

Bradford did have the last say as Michael Platt's scored with the last play of the game.

Wakefield Wildcats (23)

Tries:   Collis, Kirmond 2 Wood

Goals:  Smith 2, Cockayne

Drop Goal: Smith 

Wigan Warriors (36)

Tries: Charnley 3, Hansen, Mossop, Goulding

Goals: Richards 6

Att: 8,459

Wigan Warriors were taken the distance as they claimed a hard-fought win over Wakefield Wildcats at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.

The Warriors made their customary good start as Darrell Goulding got Josh Charnley over the line after just six minutes and shortly after the deadly duo struck again as Charnley made it 10-0 after fifteen minutes.

Despite being without key players Paul Aiton and Tim Smith, Wakefield hit back themselves with a two try burst. Dean Collis scored the first by going over in the corner and Danny Kirmond added the other with Lee Smith converting both scores to give the hosts a 12-10 lead.

It got even better for the Wildcats as just before the break Kyle Wood scored his sides’ third try of the half and on the half time Smith landed a one-pointer to make it 17-10 at the break.

Wigan made a good start to the second period as Harrison Hansen added a try but Wakefield hit back with a try of their own, Kirmond making it a double to give the hosts a 23-16 advantage.

However, the League leaders upped the tempo in the final quarter and hit Wakefield with a three try burst to claim the win. Charnley got things underway by scoring his hat-trick.

Lee Mossop barged over from close range and the Warriors made it ten wins on the bounce as Goulding capped a good game by scoring the visitors sixth try of the game.

Warrington Wolves (68)

Tries: Westwood 3, J. Monaghan 2, Currie 2, Ratchford, Myler, Riley, M. Monaghan, Higham

Goals: Ratchford 10

Salford City Reds (10)

Tries:   Broughton, Gaskell

Goals:  Sneyd

Att:      9,560

Warrington Wolves handed out a twelve try destruction of Salford City Reds at the H.J. Stadium.

The dominant Wolves got on their way after just three minutes with Ben Westwood crashing over close to the line.

Two minutes later Westwood was in the try scoring act again as he finished off a Simon Grix break. It was all Warrington and Joel Monaghan finished off a fine flowing move for the third touchdown.

On the 20 minute mark it was pretty much game over for Salford as Richard Myler found a gap and then sent Ben Currie under the posts.

Jodie Broughton showed some good footwork as the City Reds stopped the one-way scoring. Normal service was soon resumed as Myler offloaded superbly to send Currie over for his second try of the game as the hosts led 28-4 at the break.

In the early stages of the second half, Warrington continued their ruthless streak as they put Salford to the sword.

Ex Red Stefan Ratchford got the first and Joel Monaghan touched down when he stepped in off the right touchline.

Ratchford then turned provider as he broke clear to get Myler over and Westwood made it a day to remember by scoring his hat-trick as the Wolves went past the 50 point barrier.

More misery was to follow for Salford as Riley sprinted down the left touchline and from the kick-off; Michael Monaghan returned the ball for another score.

Salford claimed a consolation when Lee Gaskell scored late on but there was still time for Mickey Higham to bring up Warrington’s twelfth try of the game as they completed a very easy win.

Widnes Vikings (32)

Tries:   Flynn, Owens 2, Phelps, Winterstein 2

Goals:  Owens 4

Catalan Dragons (32)

Tries: Escare 3, Duport, Taia, Larroyer

Goals: Dureau 2, Mounis 2

Att: 4,560

Widnes Vikings and Catalan Dragons shared the spoils in a high scoring game at the Stobart Stadium.

Both1 teams had mixed fortunes at last week’s Magic weekend and it was the French visitors who made the brightest start. Steve Menzies set the play up for Morgan Escare to open the scoring.

Widnes hit back when Joe Mellor’s pass got Paddy Flynn over the line the beneficiary after Joe Mellor's pass. Escare then struck again for Catalan as he raced over from 80-meters out.

However, the Vikings would have a good end to the half as they led 14-12 with Jack Owens and Cameron Phelps getting their names on the scoreboard.

Frank Winterstein gave Widnes a bit of a cushion early into the second half, before the Dragons soon got back in to the game as on 50 minutes Escare bagged his hat-trick.

It got better for the visitors as Vincent Duport strolled over after good work on the last tackle by Leon Pryce. Zeb Taia then crossed for another before Owens gave the Vikings some hope with a breakaway score.

In an interesting end to the game both sides then swapped tries as Kevin Larroyer and Winterstein touched down, leaving the Dragons with a 32-30 lead.

But, there was still time for Owens to kick a late penalty goal as both teams settled for a draw.

Huddersfield Giants (25)

Tries: Murphy, Wardle 2, Ferguson

Goals: Brough 4

Drop Goal: Brough

St Helens (16)

Tries: Wilkin, Jones, Turner

Goals: O’Brien 2

Att: 5,203

Huddersfield Giants cemented second spot by doing a season’s double over St Helens.

James Roby was a welcome return for St Helens, but he was overshadowed by Danny Brough who ran the game for the Giants.

His first act was to hoist a high kick that forced Saints full-back Paul Wellens to knock-on, and, from the scrum Brough’ cut-out pass got Aaron Murphy over for the game's first try on eight minutes.

Five minutes later, Brough once again caused havoc in the visitors defence and, after Ade Gardner palmed the ball back towards team-mate Jordan Turner, Joe Wardle got his hand to the ball and on the nod of the video referee the try was awarded.

Brough then kicked a penalty to make it 12-0 and then the Stand-off broker clear and in support was Dale Ferguson, who scored Huddersfield’s third try of the night.

After struggling to get any ball, Saints finally got some and after a pass from, on-loan Warrington half-back Gareth O’Brien, Jon Wilkin forced his way over the line. O’Brien added the extras as St Helens trailed 18-6 at the interval.

Shortly after the resumption, Brough added a drop goal and on 52 minutes his perfectly-timed pass got Wardle over for his second try as the game looked to be up for Saints.

However, the visitors made a game of it by hitting the Giants with two tries in four minutes. Centre Josh Jones went over wide out and stand-off Jordan Turner scored next to the posts. O’Brien kicked one goal as with 10 minutes remaining the gap was down to 25-16.

Huddersfield weathered the storm and held on for the wins which see’s St Helens drop out of the top eight.

Super League Ladder after Round 17