Super League Thursday 25th February 2016

Super League

Hull FC 24-31 Castleford

Denny Solomona scored a hat-trick of tries as Castleford came out on top in a thrilling game at Hull FC.

Debutant Jy Hitchcox scored two tries and Solomona crossed for his first.

Jordan Thompson had earlier scored Hull's first try, while Stephen Michaels and Jamie Shaul tied it at 18-18 before Solomona put Cas ahead again.

Shaul gave the hosts the lead for the first time but Luke Gale's penalty and drop goal, along with Solomona's hat-trick try, won it for Castleford.

Victory for Castleford moves them to second and a point behind new leaders Wigan.

The visitors went ahead after only 90 seconds with Hitchcox going over following good work from Lee Jewitt and Ben Crooks on the right-hand side.

Luke Gale added the extras and did the same minutes later after he started the move which ended with Luke Dorn releasing Solomona to run free on the left.

Thompson burst through the middle of the Castleford defence to close the gap and Marc Sneyd's added the conversation.

Dorn's cross-field kick saw Crooks palm the ball to Hitchcox to run in for his second try and Gale's successful conversion saw Cas take a healthy advantage.

But two quick tries for the hosts changed everything as first Michaels crossed in the corner, while Danny Washbrook drew two tacklers to release Shaul and Sneyd's two conversations ensured the game was level at the break.

Jake Webster's great offload saw Solomona squeeze over for his second try as Castleford started the second half strong.

But Hull went ahead for the first time when Sneyd's conversion gave them a two-point lead after Shaul dived under the posts after a brilliant run.


Gale kicked a penalty and drop goal in quick succession to edge the visitors a point ahead, before Solomona intercepted Carlos Tuimavave's pass to complete his treble.


Wigan Warriors 20-16 Salford Red Devils.

Oliver Gildart grabbed two tries as Wigan scored late to beat Salford, who staged a spirited second-half comeback.

Gildart's two first-half tries helped the hosts lead 10-2 at half-time.

Anthony Gelling went over for Wigan's third try, but successive scores from Salford's Junior Sa'u and Josh Griffin reduced the deficit to six points.

The visitors then drew level thanks to Ben Murdoch-Masila's try, before Dom Manfredi won it for Wigan with four minutes remaining.

Gareth O'Brien's penalty had put Salford ahead after only four minutes, but the lead was short-lived as Gildart darted through the Red Devils' defence to score on the left wing.

A fantastic team try extended Wigan's lead as Lewis Tierney and Gelling made ground down the right, before Taulima Tautai and Matty Smith combined to set up Gildart for his second try.

Wigan's eight-point half-time lead was added to when Tierney sent Gelling free to score through the middle of the Salford defence.

Two tries in 11 minutes brought the visitors within six points as Sa'u latched onto Michael Dobson's kick and Griffin dived in at the right-hand corner.


Murdoch-Masila went over from close range to level the scores, but Wigan won it when Gelling's run to the corner was finished off by Manfredi.