engage Super League Round Up

Hull FC 18
Tries: Briscoe 2, Radford
Goals: Tickle 3

Bradford Bulls 21
Tries: Worrincy, Deacon, Donaldson
Goals: Deacon 4
Drop Goal: Deacon

Att: 10,412

Bradford Bulls made it five wins on the bounce, but missed out on the play-offs, with victory over Hull FC at the K.C. Stadium.

Hull started with great intensity and deservedly took the lead thanks to a try from young winger Tom Briscoe. Michael Worrincy hit back for the Bulls and skipper Paul Deacon gave the visitors a lead of 12-6 with a try and goal. Deacon and Sam Burgess both had injuries in a very competitive first half as Bradford went into the break with a six point lead.

The Black and Whites had most of the possession in the first quarter of the second half but they failed to score and the Bulls punished them with a Deacon goal and a touchdown from 17 year old forward James Donaldson to move into a useful 18-6 lead.

However, Hull hit back and with two quick-fire tries from ex-Bull Lee Radford and a second for Briscoe to level the game up. Glen Morrison was put in the sin-bin for being involved in a scuffle for Bradford, who re-took the lead with Deacon drop-goal and they confirmed the win with an 80th minute penalty from Deacon but missed out on a top eight place due to Catalans win at St Helens.

St Helens 12
Tries: Puletua Cunningham
Goals: Lomax, Eastmond

Catalans Dragons 24
Tries: Pelo, McGuire, Elima, Greenshields
Goals: Bosc 4

Att: 8,268

Catalans Dragons booked a place in the play-offs with a surprise win over St Helens at the GPW Stadium Knowsley Road.

The injury hit French outfit, who were missing six regulars, made a storming start to the game and took the lead with a Dimitri Pelo score. Shaun Long sent Tony Puletua away as Saints got on terms but the Dragons deservedly went into the break at 12-6 as Casey McGuire barged his way over from dummy half.

Saints looked to get back into the game early into the second half but they made a number of mistakes and they were punished by Oliver Elima who found a big gap in the hosts’ defence to score. Full-back Clint Greenshields killed the game off as he carved his way through to touchdown on 69-minutes.

Kerion Cunningham managed a late consolation for St Helens but they were well beaten as they finished second and face host Huddersfield Giants in next week’s qualifying play-off and for the Dragons they finished eight and travel to Wakefield Wildcats next Saturday night in an elimination play-off tie.

Salford City Reds 24
Tries: Adamson, Wilshere, Littler, Ratchford
Goals: Wilshere 4

Leeds Rhinos 30
Tries: Watkins, Pitts, Burgess, Webb, Ablett
Goals: Smith 5

Att: 6,101

Leeds Rhinos clinched the League Leaders Shield and pole position going into the play-offs with a battling victory over Salford City Reds at the Willows.

Salford withstood some pressure on their own line and came away to score two unanswered tries from Luke Adamson and John Wilshere, who was playing his last game for the Reds, to open up a 12-0 lead. Leeds hit back to level the scores 12-12 at the break with tries from teenager’s Kallum Watkins and Jay Pitts, on his Rhinos debut.

In the early stages of the second period the Rhinos upped the tempo and scores from Luke Burgess, Brent Webb and Carl Ablett they opened up a commanding 30-12 lead.

The Reds showed some spirit in the last ten-minutes of the game and hit back with two tries in two minutes from Stuart Littler and Stefan Ratchford to cut the gap to 6 points.

However, the Rhinos held on and became Minor Premiers for the first time since 2004, finishing four points clear at the top of the engage Super League table, to book a home tie against Hull KR in next Friday night’s qualifying play-off.

Wakefield Wildcats 24
Tries: Ferguson, Obst, Moore, Murphy
Goals: Brough 3, Obst

Hull KR 10
Tries: Newton, Fox
Goals: Dobson

Att: 6,328

Wakefield Wildcats gave themselves a boost ahead of the play-offs with an easy win over Hull KR at Belle Vue.

The Wildcats led by man of the match Sam Obst took the early lead after his kick was pounced on by Dale Ferguson. Clint Newton put Rovers in front when he stretched over the line but Wakefield hit back thorough Obst who scored a solo try to go in at the break leading 12-6.

A mistake by Rovers, early into the second period, led to a Richard Moore score as the hosts increased their lead. Peter Fox gave the Robins some hope with a try in the corner.

However, Obst sent a kick through for Aaron Murphy to go over as the Wildcats secured their best ever finish to a season in fifth place. For Hull KR they dropped to fourth and they must travel to Minor Premiers Leeds Rhinos next Friday night.

Castleford Tigers 35
Tries: Dixon, Sargent, Wainwright, Owen, Shenton 2, Huby
Goals: Westerman, Dixon 2
Drop goal: Sherwin

Celtic Crusaders 22
Tries: White, Withers 2, O'Hara
Goals: Tyrer 3

Castleford Tigers claimed a hard-fought win over bottom side Celtic Crusaders at the Jungle.

Celtic showed some real sprit and pride in this game which was the last in charge for Coach John Dixon. In a tight first half the Welsh-side led 16-14 at the interval; Lloyd White and a brace for Lincoln Withers were the visitors try scorers. Kirk Dixon, Mitchell Sargent and Michael Wainwright all replied for Castleford.

In the early stages of the second half Ryan O’Hara went over and with Steve Tyrer’s conversion the Crusaders increased their lead to 22-14.

However the Tigers would not lie down and led by Michael Shenton, who scored a double and a late Craig Huby effort they hit back to win the game to finish seventh in league table and book a visit to Wigan next Sunday.

Huddersfield Giants 48
Tries: B Hodgson, D Hodgson, Lunt 2, Cudjoe 3, Whatuira
Goals: B Hodgson 8

Wigan Warriors 16
Tries: Flanagan, Richards, J Tomkins
Goals: Richards 2

Att: 8,988

Huddersfield Giants clinched third place with a win over Wigan Warriors at the Galpharm Stadium.

Skipper Brett Hodgson opened the scoring for the Giants on eight minutes. Mark Flanagan got the Warriors back into the game but the hosts increased the pressure and took control with scores from David Hodgson and Shaun Lunt. Just before the break Pat Richards crossed as Wigan cut the gap to 18-10.

Huddersfield dominated the second period and routed Wigan by scoring five tries. Winger Leroy Cudjoe helped himself to hat-trick with Lunt scoring his second of the game as the Giants ran out easy winners.

This result means Huddersfield travel to St Helens next Saturday and Wigan dropped to sixth and host Castleford next Sunday.

Warrington Wolves 44
Tries: Penny 2, Westwood, Briers, Blythe, Thompson, Higham, McCarthy
Goals: Bridge 6

Harlequins RL 34
Tries: Clubb, Dorn 3, O'Callaghan, Gafa
Goals: Gafa 4, Melling

Warrington Wolves got the better of Harlequins RL in an entertaining end of season game at the HJ Stadium.

At the start of this game both sides knew that they could not make the play-offs and all they were playing for was some pride. The visitors made the better start and with scores from Tony Clubb and Luke Dorn they led 10-0. Warrington hit back through flying winger Kevin Penny and the match was all square thanks to a Ben Westwood try. However, Dorn added his second as the Quins re-took the lead but they were then down to 12 men when Luke Williamson was put in the sin-bin which saw Lee Briers waltz over to level the game up at the break 16-16.

Warrington made the one man advantage pay at the start of the second half as they ran in three tries from Mattie Blythe, Alex Thompson and a second for Penny to take a 32-16 lead. Jamie O'Callaghan and Matt Gafa crossed in quick succession for Quins to cut the gap to four points, before Mickey Higham and Dorn, with his hat-trick try, traded scores. But Tyrone McCarthy settled the game in Warrington's favour with a try three minutes from time.

The result meant Warrington, Challenge Cup winners, finished 10th in the final Super League table, one place ahead of Harlequins who only won one of their last 12 games.