After all the ups and downs of last week’s Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals, the Super League returned this week with two days of action.

Friday saw a rematch of one of the aforementioned Quarter Finals, as the Castleford Tigers travelled to Wigan to once again face the reigning champions. Unfortunately for the West Yorkshire outfit, the result was more of the same, as Wigan ran out the victors with a score of 36-14.

The Warriors raft of tries were scored by Bevan French, Liam Marshall (2), Ryan Hampshire (2), and Abbas Miski, with conversions added by Adam Keighran (2), and Harry Smith (4). The Tigers managed to hit back with tries from Louis Senior, and Rowan Milnes, who also added two conversions and a penalty.

A change in regime at Hull FC did nothing to stop their rotten run of luck as they faced a St Helens side eager to make up for their Challenge Cup exit last week.

Despite big efforts from several of FC’s young prospects, the West Hull outfit came out on the losing side of a 58-0 trashing. Saints tries came from Tommy Makinson, Johnny Lomax, Waqa Blake (2), James Bell, Joe Batchelor, Mark Percival, Konrad Hurrell, Curtis Sironen, and Jack Welsby, with conversions by Mark Percival (6), and Jon Bennison (3), rounding out another night to forget for the Black and Whites.

In Friday night’s closest game, Huddersfield Giants managed to snatch a late win at the Leeds Rhinos, taking advantage of two late Leeds mistakes to win 24-30 at Headingley to pile the pressure on the struggling Rhinos, and their under-fire coach Rohan Smith.

The Rhinos tries were scored by Paul Nomirovski (2), David Fusitu’a, and Jarrod O’Connor, with four conversions added by Rhyse Martin. The Giants tries were provided by Esan Marsters, Elliot Wallis, Adam Swift, Harvey Livett, Kevin Naiqama, and Adam Clune. Jake Connor rounded out their scoring with one conversion and two penalties.

Meanwhile, London Broncos wait for their first win of the season continues as they came up short against Salford Red Devils by a score line of 12-4.

The Broncos started strong with a try scored by Iliess Macani, but it proved to be their only points of the day, as Kallum Watkins and Deon Cross ran in tries for the Red Devils, with Mark Sneyd providing two conversions. There was late controversy too, as Salford’s King Vuniyayawa saw red in the second half for a tip tackle.

Arguably the game of the round was offered up at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as Sam Burgess’ Warrington Wolves (as they must now be ubiquitously known) eked out a narrow 16-14 win against the Leigh Leopards.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Matt Duffy, and Matt Nicholson crossed the whitewash for the Wolves. Josh Thewlis was on kicking duties, converting two out of three from the tee. The Leopards (who lead until Nicholson’s late try) tries were scored by Josh Charnley, Ben McNamara, and Ricky Leutele. Matt Moylan added a single conversion to round out Leigh’s score.

The final match of the weekend saw a second loss of the weekend for the Super League’s Hull teams, as Hull KR produced a disappointing display in the South of France, losing decisively to a fired-up Catalans Dragons by a score of 36-6.

The Dragons took an early lead through Micky McIlorum, but not long after, Joe Burgess crossed the try line to score Rovers’ only try of the game (which was converted by Ben Reynolds, deputising for an injured Mikey Lewis). After this the floodgates opened and tries were added from Tom Davies, Matt Ikuvalu, Jordan Dezaria, Théo Fages, Tom Johnstone, and Tariq Sims. Arthur Mourgue completed the rout by adding four conversions.

Following this victory, the Dragons reclaimed their spot at the top of Super League, two points ahead of St Helens, Wigan, and Warrington who all sit on 12 points. The top six is rounded out by Hull KR, who remain in fifth, and the Huddersfield Giants, whose win at Headingley sees them move up to sixth. Down at the other end of the table, London remain rooted to the bottom, still chasing that elusive first victory, whilst Hull FC, Castleford, and Leight sit just above them on two points. A single win for the Broncos could make any of those three teams uncomfortable in the coming weeks in the race for the wooden spoon. The clash between Castleford and London next week being one to watch for that particular contest.

Next week’s fixtures:

Thursday – St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants

Friday – Castleford Tigers vs London Broncos, Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards vs Catalans Dragons

Saturday – Salford Red Devils vs Warrington Wolves

Sunday – Hull FC vs Leeds Rhinos

Written by Nathan Major-Kershaw (Site editor & Hull KR fan)