WRAP: 2024 Betfred Super League Playoffs Week 1

A quick recap of each of the weekend's Super League eliminators thanks to AJ Lucantonio and Justin Davies.

RELATED: See the full list of 2024 Betfred Super League Draw and Results.

Leigh eliminate Salford, set up Borough Battle semi final

with AJ Lucantonio

The Leigh Leopards have continued their Super League Cinderella story with a 14-6 win over the Salford Red Devils in a tightly contested semi-final in Salford.

The first half was a back and forth affair with little to report on. Salford dominated territory in the first half, however every single chance was kept out by Leigh. Twenty eight minutes past before the game's first scoring play, Nene MacDonald was chasing through a Marc Sneyd bomb, but was escorted off the ball by Gareth O'Brien. Sneyd duely converted the penalty goal and it was 2-0 at the break in a tightly contested game.

Leigh started the more aggressive side in the second half and got their reward off a well worked move out to the right side. Some nice interchange of passes saw Josh Charnley sprint away to plant the ball down in the corner to make it a 4-2 ball game. Six minutes later, Edwin Ipape charged through some poor Salford defence to break the game open, he found O'Brien in support and Leigh had two tries in six minutes to lead 10-2 on the hour mark.

Ipape charged over six minutes later to make it 14-2 and Salford were in miracle territory. The game took a bad turn with just over ten to play as Charnley was taken off on a special neck stretcher and taken straight to hospital. The winger took to social media post game to declare he was okay and given the "all clear". It was a tense finish as Leigh backrower Jack Hughes went to the sin-bin as Leigh continued to test referee Jack Smith's patience. A late cross-field kick by Sneyd ended in the arms of Ethan Ryan and it was back to an eight point game, the critical conversion was missed and Salford would be eliminated from the finals in a dramatic eliminator.

Salford Red Devils 6 Leigh Leopards 14
Venue: Salford Stadium, Barton-upon-Irwell

Date: Fri, 27th September.   Kickoff: 8:00 PM.   Halftime: Salford 2-0.   Penalties: Leigh 10-7.   Referee: Jack Smith.   Crowd: 10,867.
Salford: Hankinson, Ryan, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross; Nikorima, Sneyd; Singleton, Mellor, Dudson, Stone, Watkins (C), Partington. Int: Brierley, Wright, Shorrocks, Lewis.
Leigh: Moylan, McIntosh, Hanley, Leutele, Charnley; O'Brien, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Hughes, Asiata (C). Int: Hardaker, Trout, Dwyer, Pene.

Salford Red Devils (6)
Tries: Ethan Ryan
Goals: Marc Sneyd 1/2

Leigh Leopards (14)
Tries: Josh Charnley, Gareth O'Brien, Edwin Ipape
Goals: Matt Moylan 1/3

Wolves break Saints hearts in Golden Point

with Justin Davies

Warrington Wolves won 23-22 against St Helens in their game at Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday night.

They shook off conceding a late leveler which sent it to Golden Point before George Williams field goal sent them into a game against Hull KR.

It was an inauspicious start for the Saints who dropped the kick-off then Toby King sliced through for the opener.

Tommy Makinson made up for dropping the kick-off with a superb finish in the corner to make it 6-4.

The Saints showed off their defensive steel. Matt Dufty weaved through before he was brought down then they scrambled well to deny the Wolves a chance.

St Helens used their left side for their second score. Jonny Lomax gave Mark Percival a short pass to go over for 12-4.

Makinson made it a double before the break. Another swift pass found him steaming onto the ball and after a review, it was awarded.

Warrington reduced the deficit just before half-time. George Williams poked through then flicked it out to Matty Ashton to touch down for 16-10 at the break.

Williams was the fulcrum for the Wolves attack. He produced another stunning pass to send King away for his second.

Next, the Wolves profited from a loose Saints pass. It was scooped up and sent across to Ashton to give them back the lead, 22-16.

Saints threw up one final hail mary, swinging it left then Jonanthan Bennison dived over the score which brought huge roars from the traveling faithful when awarded.

The game headed into Golden Point. Williams had the first shot which was charged down but his second one flew over and gave Warrington the 23-22 win.

Warrington Wolves 24 St Helens 22
Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

Date: Sat, 28th September.   Kickoff: 5:30 PM.   Halftime: St Helens 16-10.   Penalties: Warrington 5-2.   Referee: Liam Moore.   Crowd: 12,111.
Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton; Williams (C), Drinkwater; Yates, Walker, Musgrove, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie. Int: Harrison, Vaughan, Philbin, Powell.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Mata'utia, Percival, Bennison; Lomax (C), Dodd; Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles. Int: Bell, Paasi, Delaney, Burns.

Warrington Wolves (23)
Tries: Toby King 2, Matthew Ashton 2
Goals: Josh Thewlis 3/4
Field Goals: George Williams

St Helens (22)
Tries: Thomas Makinson 2, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison
Goals: Mark Percival 3/4

Still to come...