Hull Kingston Rovers winning start to the season ends, while Salford’s struggles continue at home to Leeds.
Embed from Getty ImagesRound 7 Results
Salford Red Devils 0-28 Leeds Rhinos
After the short-lived joys of back-to-back wins in the Challenge Cup mid-way through March and a super league defeat of Huddersfield in Super League, the woes continue for the club in flux. A third straight loss for Salford and the second scoreless effort in three weeks, as well as the fourth duck egg of the season.
Leeds, on the other hand, bounced back from a tough loss at the Halliwell Jones stadium in round 6 and put some good work in over the best part of two weeks break. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the home side, however, and stuck with the Rhinos for the first half – though they were somewhat helped by Keenan Palasia getting sent for 10 for a high shot for the second game in a row. James McDonnell starred for the visitors, scoring a hat-trick in the first 45 minutes and then topping it off with a fourth just four minutes from time.
Salford Red Devils 0
Leeds Rhinos 28
Tries: James McDonnell 4, Lachlan Miller
Goals: Lachlan Miller 4/5, Jake Connor 0/1
Hull KR 12-28 Wigan Warriors
Hull KR were dealt their first loss of the season by defending Champions Wigan, who were clearly rejuvenated by a demolition of Salford the week before – having been struggling with back-to-back loses to Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos.
A comprehensive second half defensive performance saw Wigan stifle the league leaders and in turn impose their will on the Robins in the final 15 minutes after cutting their lead to two points just after half time. The score ballooned further to 28-12 as Hull KR tried to play from their line late on, gifting Abas Miski a try with a wayward error.
Hull Kingston Rovers 12
Tries: Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku
Goals: Arthur Mourgue 2/2
Wigan Warriors 28
Tries: Jacob Wardle, Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Harry Smith, Zach Eckersley
Goals: Harry Smith 4/5
St Helens 26-14 Wakefield Trinity
St Helens got back to winning ways after getting knocked out of the Challenge Cup and had the game all but wrapped up at half time with tries from Morgan Knowles, Matt Whitley, Harry Robertson, and four George Whitby two-pointers.
A woeful start for Wakefield leached into the second half and the Saints stretched their lead to 26 points through Matt Whitley before Wakefield grabbed two tries in seven minutes from the 60 minute mark before a true consolation from Oliver Pratt to soften the final scoreline in favour of the visitors.
St Helens 26
Tries: Matt Whitley 2, Morgan Knowles, Harry Robertson
Goals: George Whitby 5/6
Wakefield Trinity 14
Tries: Oliver Pratt 2, Mason Lino
Goals: Mason Lino 1/3
Warrington Wolves 16-28 Hull FC
Hull FC took advantage of Hull KR losing the night before and came out the traps fast to pile on four unanswered tries in the first 30 minutes and if the game wasn’t pretty much gone by then, it was after Davy Litten scored on the stroke of half time to put the Black and Whites into the shed s 26-4 up (George Williams with the sole Warrington try).
That said, the clearly shellshocked Wolves regrouped and replied with three unanswered tries of their own – including a sublime finish from Matty Ashton – but they clearly didn’t have enough to chase down the 26-point tally. The 26 turned 28 on the full-time hooter when Will Pryce – who added to his already vibrant highlight reel through the game fresh of the plane – converted a penalty to bolster the points difference tally for the end of the season.
Warrington Wolves 16
Tries: Matthew Ashton 2, George Williams, Josh Thewlis
Hull FC 28
Tries: Tom Briscoe 2, Davy Litten 2, Herman Ese’ese
Goals: Will Pryce 4/6
Castleford Tigers 6-20 Leigh Leopards
Leigh strung back-to-back wins together of the first time since rounds 2-3 with a comprehensive 14-point margin win at the Jungle, with Castleford producing a performance that elicited further discontent from the fans.
They struggled from the start, with Edwin Ipape crossing off the back of a soft break just over three minutes in. Gareth O’Brien then extended the lead further with a penalty as things looked like they could get ugly for the home side, but they were able to hold off any more Leigh points until the 35th minute when Darnell McIntosh dived over in the corner.
The score didn’t stay 12-0 for long after half time, with the Tigers’ edge defence faltering to allow Bailey Hodgson to score in the corner. The Castleford left edge was no better, either, with McIntosh crossing for a second about seven minutes after.
Tensions arose in the 65th minute because of foul play from Sylvestre Namo – which saw him binned – and the fracas appeared to fire up the home side, who eventually grabbed their try through Zac Cini to avoid a twenty-point whitewash.
Huddersfield Giants 18-38 Catalans Dragons
The fifth highest scoring game this season saw Catalans find their groove with a six-try showing and a near perfect kicking display from Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet.
Ex-NRL stars shone with Jacob Gagai opening the scoring for the Giants, while Tariq Sims did so off the back of a Luke Keary kick for the visitors. Newcomers got some joy as well, with Leo Darellatour crossing for a debut try for Catalans, before the old guard picked up the slack and Julian Bousquet added to the Tally. Bailey Sironen crossed very soon after in the 44th minute and the game was pretty much out of reach for the Giants at that point (6-24).
That said, they traded tries – two a piece – in the final half an hour of the game which culminated in Tevita Pangai Jr. grabbing another for the ex-NRL crew to set the final margin at 20 after a successful conversion.
Huddersfield Giants 18
Tries: Jake Bibby, Sam Halsall, Jacob Gagai
Goals: Liam Sutcliffe 3/3
Catalans Dragons 38
Tries: Tariq Sims, Julian Bousquet, Tevita Pangai Junior, Paul Séguier, Bayley Sironen, Léo Darrélator
Goals: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 7/8
