Super League XVIII Round 9 Review

Round 9 saw the start of the traditional Easter programme as all Super League teams play two rounds of games over the long weekend.

Salford City Reds and Widnes Vikings produced shock wins, with Bradford Bulls claiming a late draw over closest rivals Leeds Rhinos.

Leeds Rhinos 18
Tries:   Watkins, Achurch, Peacock
Goals:  Sinfield 3

Bradford Bulls 18
Tries:   Purtell, Olbison, Sidlow
Goals:  Forster 3

Att:      16,604

Bradford Bulls snatched a draw at the death over great rivals Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

The Rhinos, who had not played for two weeks due to the snowy weather, made the best possible start as they gained possession from Kevin Sinfield’s kick-off when the ball bounced into the grateful hands of Jamie Jones-Buchanan and full-back Kallum Watkins took Sinfield's pass to score from the next play.

Ryan Hall had a try chalked off by the video referee because Jones-Buchanan was offside from the kick and the Bulls made the most of this by hitting back in style. Elliott Whitehead superb offload got Adrian Purtell over the line to get the visitors back into the contest.

Shortly after Tom Olbison caught the Leeds defence napping by scoring from dummy-half after the dangerous Jarrod Sammut had been tackled short of the line as Bradford turned things round to lead 12-6.

Just before the break the game was all square as substitute Mitch Achurch crashed over from close range to score his first try for the Champions. Sinfield kicked his second goal to make it 12-12 at half time.

Ex Bradford star Jamie Peacock gave the hosts the lead again on 52 minutes as he took three defenders over the line with him. Sinfield's third goal made it 18-12.

For the rest of the game the Bulls had most of the possession as they threw everything at the Rhinos, but Leeds managed to scramble and keep their opponents out.

However, there was to be late drama as Peacock was sent to the sin-bin for dissent and the Bulls made the extra man count as Adam Sidlow went thorugh a huge gap in the Rhinos defence to snatch a draw.

London Broncos 24
Tries:   Dixon, Clubb, Witt, Randall
Goals:  Witt 4

Catalan Dragons 30
Tries:   Escare, Menzies, Vaccari, Taia 2
Goals:  Bosc 5

Att:      1,136

Catalan Dragons got the better of London Broncos in a high scoring contest at Esher Rugby Union Ground.

The Londoners were forced to switch their home game due to flooding at the Twickenham and they took the lead on five minutes as Kieran Dixon picked up a loose ball from inside his own half to race away and score.

Morgan Escare showed some speed as he got the Dragons back into the game but in a see-saw game which went from end-to-end Tony Clubb powered his way over to give the hosts the lead again.

Shortly after we were back to the other end of the ground as the evergreen Steve Menzies crossed in the corner after good work by Leon Pryce to leave the visitors trailing 12-10 at the break.

Once again the home side were quickest out of the block after the restart .Michael Witt followed up Shane Rodney’s break to touch down next to the posts.

But, as in the first half, the Dragons quickly struck back, Frederic Vaccari going over at the corner. As the scoring continued in the same vain Chad Randall was the next London try scorer as he showed a dummy to go through a gap.

Trailing 24-18 going into the last quarter, Catalan gained the up hand thanks to ex Newcastle Knight Zeb Taia as he helped himself to a brace. The big centre gathered a Pryce kick to ease over and won the game for the visitors by pouncing on a loose pass to score the match winning try.

Wigan Warriors 28
Tries:   Richards 2, Tomkins, Charnley, Crosby
Goals:  Richards 4

St Helens 16
Tries:   Clough, Meli, Makinson
Goals:  Percival 2

Att:      23,861

Wigan Warriors moved to the top of the Super League by seeing of old foes St Helens at a packed DW Stadium.

Both teams were down on numbers but it was Wigan he would take control and by the interval they had a comfortable 18-0 lead.

Pat Richards opened the scoring on eight minutes, finishing off a flowing move after Wigan opted to run a penalty from in front of the Saints posts.

Second row Jack Hughes made a superb break and in support was England full-back Sam Tomkins who raced in for the home side’s second try.

Saints gradually worked their way into the game and applied some pressure by forcing two goal-line drop-outs but they were hit on the counter-attack eight minutes before the break as Josh Charnley, gathered the ball from Josh Jones' high kick to race 90-meters for a fine individual effort. Richards kicked all three conversions.

St Helens made a better fist of things from the start of the second half and after a break by Mark Percival; Paul Clough forced his way over from close range on the last tackle. Percival added the conversion to make it 18-6.

The Warriors then looked to have wrapped things up when Blake Green sent young prop Dominic Crosby over for the host’s fourth try,

However, as normal in this great fixture Saints showed true spirit and hit back to make a game of it. Francis Meli got things underway by powering his way over the line on 58-minutes and then he took an overhead pass from Jordan Turner to send full-back Tom Makinson over. Percival's second goal cut the deficit to 24-16.

But, Richards finally ended any hopes for St Helens as he squeezed over in the corner five minutes from time to send his team to the top of the table.

Hull FC 10
Tries:   Crooks, Tickle
Goals:  Tickle

Hull KR 23
Tries:   J. Hodgson, D. Hodgson 2, Welham
Goals:  Hall 3
Drop Goal: Hall

Att:      19,064

Hull KR claimed the bragging rights as they eased past cross city rivals Hull FC at the KC Stadium.

Rovers were forced to go into this big game without Influential captain Michael Dobson, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury but this did not show as they took the lead on eight minutes.

Hooker Josh Hodgson barged over from dummy-half after a mistake by Ben Galea. Craig Hall added the conversion to make it 6-0. Hall then added a penalty goal for an eight-point advantage.

Travis Burns took control of things and he got his side into the position for Cory Paterson and Hall to get David Hodgson siding over the line to make it 12-0.

Just before the break Graeme Horne was penalised and sin-binned for a high tackle but the Black and Whites could not take advantage.

Within the 90 seconds of the restart Hull FC got on the scoreboard as goo work by Richard Whiting allowed Jason Crooks to dive over in the corner. Danny Tickle missed the conversion to leave an eight-point gap.

Despite losing Burns to a shoulder injury a great pass by Kris Welham had David Hodgson over for his second try, and Hall converted from the touchline to give Rovers an impressive 18-4 lead. FC fought back but they could not get over the line and the visitors effectively ended their hopes as Paterson ‘ short ball sent Welham over with 15 minutes remaining.

Hall added a one-pointer before Tickle grabbed a late consolation but it was Rovers day who moved up to seventh on the ladder four points ahead of eleventh place FC.

Widnes Vikings 38
Tries:   Ah Van, Hanbury 2, Flynn 2, White
Goals:  Ah Van 7

Warrington Wolves 22
Tries:   Riley 2, Evans, Myler
Goals:  O’Brien 3

Att:      9,271

Widnes Vikings shocked local high flying neighbours Warrington Wolves to claim the points at the Stobart Stadium.

After last week’s hammering at the hands of Wigan, most people were expecting another one-sided game but the Vikings had other ideas.

Dennis Betts men took the lead after 9 minutes with Patrick Ah Van going over. Warrington hit back five minutes later thanks to Chris Riley but they were making too many errors.

Widnes edged into a 12-6 lead at the interval as Rhys Hanbury score their second try with Ah Van making it two from two.

After feeling the words of Coach Tony smith, the Wolves came out firing at the start of the second half. Rhys Evans brought the teams level before scrum half Richard Myler turned things round as the visitors moved into an 18-12 lead.

Paddy Flynn squeezed in at the corner as the Vikings got back into the contest and then Ah Van added a penalty goal after Gareth Carvell was penalised for a swinging arm to make it 20-18.

Suddenly, Widnes smelt blood and they took control of the game. Hep Cahill sent in Hanbury for his second, and then Chris Dean scorched through to send in Lloyd White for the match winning try.

Riley scored a consolation for Warrington as Flynn had the final say by scoring on the full time hooter to complete a fine win for the Vikings.

Salford City Reds 21
Tries:   Gaskell, Broughton, Gibson, James
Goals:  Sneyd 2
Drop Goals: Sneyd

Huddersfield Giants 20
Tries:   Lunt, McGillvary, Kopczak, Brough
Goals:  Brough 2

Att:      2,788

Bottom of the table Salford City Reds shocked Huddersfield Giants by claiming a narrow win at the Salford City Stadium.

Huddersfield were looking to bounce back after last week’s defeat at Warrington, but they were without Jason Chan, Michael Lawrence, Luke George, Larne Patrick, Ukuma Ta'ai and Jamie Cording.

Salford, still looking for a new Head Coach, were missing Martin Gleeson, Danny Williams, Ryan McGoldrick, Lee Jewitt, Shannan McPherson and Vic Mauro.

They handed a debut to Lee Gaskell, signed from St Helens on a season's loan exchange with Stuart Howarth yesterday, and he could not have wished for a better start as he gave the City Reds a fourth minute lead with a superb try.

Jodie Broughton collected Liam Foran's long pass to cross in the corner to make it 10-0. Shaun Lunt supported a slick handling move involving Danny Brough, Brett Ferres and Joe Wardle to score under the posts midway through the first half as the Giants got into the game.

Back came Salford, as Gareth Owen put Ashley Gibson over, but after a mistake by Owen the hosts lead was cut to 14-10 at the break as Jermaine McGillvary took Leroy Cudjoe's pass.

Jordan James increased the City Reds lead by charging onto Owen pass. Marc Sneyd added the extras.

Craig Kopczak gave the Giants some hope and then Danny Brough set up a thrilling final quarter by going over himself to level things up at 20-20.

However, Salford snatched the win as Sneyd added a drop goal six minutes from time as the Giants were knocked off the top of the table.

MATCH ABANDONED - RESULT PENDING

Castleford Tigers 16
Tries: Thompson 2, Owen
Goals:  Ellis

Wakefield Wildcats 37
Tries:   Fox 2, T Smith, Kirmond, Mathers, L Smith
Goals:  Sykes 4, L. Smith 2
Drop Goal: Sykes

Att:      7,705

The game between Wakefield Wildcats and Castleford Tigers was abandoned after 73 minutes in confusing circumstances.

Wakefield had just scored their sixth try to lead 37-16 when spectators were told to evacuate the Princess Street Stand.

The club issued a public call for an electrician and the fire brigade were summoned. Referee Ben Thaler had stopped play and, after a delay of around 10 minutes, blew for full time.

If, as seems certain, the result is allowed to stand, it condemns the Tigers to the bottom of the Super League with a fifth successive defeat.

The Wildcats ran in four first-half tries without reply Tim Smith, Danny Kirmond, Peter Fox and Richie Mathers all got over the whitewash while Paul Sykes added four conversions and a drop goal. Castleford staged a brave fightback to get to 16-25, scoring three tries from a Jordan Thompson brace and Richard Owen.  But winger Fox and Lee Smith, who came off the bench to kick both conversions, insured a win for the Wildcats.

After the game both coaches Ian Millward and Richard Agar agreed that the result should stand subject to ratification from the RFL.

Super League XVIII Ladder after Round 9