Super League 21st April to 24th April 2016

Thursday 21st April

Wigan Warriors 26-19 Huddersfield Giants 

Huddersfield full-back Ryan Brierley scored a stunning hat-trick of tries but Super League's bottom club lost to Wigan, who went top of the table.

Brierley, who signed from Championship side Leigh Centurions in March, had never crossed in the top flight before.

Wigan tries from Anthony Gelling, John Bateman and Matty Smith made it 18-18.

Smith and Danny Brough swapped drop-goals before Smith landed a second one-pointer and Dan Sarginson's score sent the Warriors to the summit.

Shaun Wane's Wigan moved two points clear of Warrington and Catalans, although for so long it appeared that the visitors would register two successive wins for the first time in 2016 and move off the foot of the table.

Brierley's hat-trick was high in quality - Leroy Cudjoe's break set up his first, while his second was created by Brough's superb grubber kick.

After Huddersfield had been pegged back to 12-12 by Bateman's close-range score, some free-flowing handling gave Brierley a free run to the line - a try scored while team-mate Nathan Mason was in the sin-bin.

The final 10 minutes became a drop-goal contest between half-backs Smith and Brough, and Wigan forged a crucial one-point lead before England international Sarginson raced over in the dying seconds to clinch a thrilling victory.

Defeat for Huddersfield, who have been beaten in 10 of their 12 Super League games this season, was further soured by the loss of centre Jake Connor to a serious-looking ankle injury just before half-time.



Friday 22nd April

St Helens 38-34 Leeds Rhinos

St Helens full-back Jonny Lomax scored two tries after a 13-month absence with a knee injury to help Saints to a thrilling win over Leeds Rhinos.

It took just five minutes for Lomax to score with Joe Greenwood and Lomax's second making it 16-16 at the break.

After Kyle Amor's score, Ash Handley's try put champions Leeds ahead for the first time.

However, another from Greenwood and two tries by Theo Fages for Saints held off a late fightback by the Rhinos.

The win ends a three-game losing streak for Keiron Cunningham's side at Langtree Park and moves them up to fifth in Super League.

Lomax, 25, suffered his first serious knee injury in June 2014 and required another reconstruction last year that ruled him out for the season.

Leeds, whose try scorers included Ashton Golding, Rob Burrow, Jimmy Keinhorst (two) and Anthony Mullally, have now lost five of their last six games and sit 10th.


Their miserable start to an injury-hit season has seen them win just three of 12 matches in the defence of their title.


Widnes Vikings 16-48 Warrington Wolves

Warrington responded to back-to-back Super League defeats by beating Widnes to reclaim top spot in the table.

Wolves, beaten by St Helens and bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield in their last two games, never looked like losing again as they led 30-6 at half-time.

Kevin Penny, Joe Westerman and Stefan Ratchford all scored twice as Wolves went above Wigan on points difference.

Kurt Gidley and Ben Westwood also crossed, with Joe Mellor, Stefan Marsh and Corey Thompson replying for Widnes.

Gidley also landed seven goals and Ratchford one as Warrington converted all eight of their tries.

The Vikings had won their last three home games against Tony Smith's side but never looked like making it four in a row as Warrington completed the double over their local rivals after winning the reverse fixture 28-10 last month.

That victory on Good Friday was Warrington's seventh in a row in a perfect start to the season, but they have wobbled since with three defeats in four games before this convincing win.

Widnes also started the season well, winning six of their first seven games but have slipped into mid-table after five successive league defeats.

Denis Betts' side were soon behind as Gidley sped past Chris Dean and Penny scored in the corner. Mellor cut the deficit only for Warrington to ease clear as Westerman touched down either side of Westwood stretching for the line.


Thompson went in at the corner after the restart to give Widnes hope, but Penny darted over before Ratchford grabbed a late brace either side of Marsh's consolation.




Saturday 23rd April

Catalans Dragons 42-32 Salford Red Devils

Jodie Broughton and Richie Myler scored two tries each against Salford to help ensure Catalans Dragons maintain leadership pace in the Super League.

Dragons led 16-14 at the break, with Broughton, Myler, Morgan Escare and Vincent Duport grabbing tries, while Gareth O'Brien, Justin Carney and Junior Sa'u went over in response.

Sa'u completed his hat-trick and Niall Evalds scored to keep Salford in touch.

But tries from Brougton and Myler and Pat Richards effort sealed victory.

Richards' late try and penalty to ensure victory took his tally to 16 point for the game, while Thomas Bosc marked his 200th appearance by converting Richards' try.

Catalans moved to second in the table behind Warrington Wolves and ahead of Wigan Warriors on points difference, with Super League's top three sides equal on 18 points after 12 games.

The defeat leaves Salford 11th in the table.



Sunday 24th April

Wakefield Wildcats 28-46 Hull FC 

Fetuli Talanoa ran in four tries for Hull FC as they ended Wakefield's five-match winning run in Super League.

Ashley Gibson opened the scoring for the hosts before the Black and Whites responded through captain Gareth Ellis, Talanoa (two) and Josh Bowden.

Gibson completed his hat-trick and Tom Johnstone placed down as it was all square at 24-24 at half-time.

Danny Kirmond put Wakefield ahead, but Kirk Yeaman, Jamie Shaul and another two tries from Talanoa secured the win.

Hull FC remain fourth in Super League but are just two points off leaders Warrington after their sixth win in their past seven games.


The Wildcats last defeat was 22-4 on 18 March against Hull FC and this was head coach Chris Chester's first home loss since he took charge.


Castleford Tigers 16-58 Hull KR

Thomas Minns scored a hat-trick as Hull KR came from behind as they responded to their Challenge Cup exit with victory against Castleford Tigers.

Maurice Blair went over the visitors in the first minute before Jake Webster and Ryan Hampshire put Cas ahead.

Minns, Albert Kelly and Graeme Horne helped Rovers take the lead but Jy Hitchcox reduced the deficit.

Rovers reached 11 tries as Ken Sio and Iain Thornley scored twice, Minns added two more and Mitchell Allgood got one.

A third Super League win for Hull KR this term moved them into 10th place above Leeds, while Castleford remain seventh.

The Robins entered into the match off the back of a 22-36 defeat by Championship side Oldham Roughyeds in the Challenge Cup, but produced an emphatic performance.


Both sides had players sin-binned when Paul McShane and Shaun Lunt clashed off the ball, but Rovers' score of 38-0 in the second-half showed their dominance.