Super League Round 10

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Round 10 of the Betfred Super League was full of headlines, from the youngest ever St. Helen’s team to Warrington getting back to winning ways against Huddersfield Giants.

The week started on Friday night when the Sky Sports cameras were at Castleford for the second time in five days, they took on a young St.Helens team who provided their youth with a chance to impress following a big schedule coming up which sees a semi-final against local rivals, Wigan Warriors.

The game started off with Castleford receiving the ball from the kick-off, Jason Qarequare opening the scoring with a try similar to the one he scored on debut last season vs Hull FC.  Saints’ first try however came in the 58th minute when Jumah Sambou, born just down the road in Warrington, with a diving finish in the corner to get his first career try. James Bell crossed over for a try shortly after to get Saints back in the game, but it was followed by two quick-fire tries from Joe Westerman and Mahe Fonua to give the Tigers the two points.

Castleford 30-10 St.Helens

Also on Friday night, arguably the biggest game of the season so far if you are a Leeds or Toulouse supporter with the bottom two clubs colliding at Headingley in front of a crowd of 11,200. Toulouse opened the scoring through Paul Marcon. It took Leeds 14 minutes to reply with Brad Dywer going over from dummy-half capitalising on a broken defensive line. before James Donaldson crashed over from short range to get his first try of the season. A brace from Dywer and aTom Briscoe try handed Leeds their first win in six games.

Leeds 25-14 Toulouse

Moving onto Saturday games and it started off with Huddersfield making the trip to Warrington, the Wolves were missing a couple of big names with half-back pairing, George Williams and Gareth Widdop and highly influential full-back Stefan Ratchford out for the match. Huddersfield headed into the game following a defeat against three-peat Champions, St.Helens. but came out on the losing side having lost the game 12-24.

The game saw Jack Clogger getting sin-binned twice for two professional fouls in a space of three minutes of coming back onto the pitch. Josh Thewlis was highly influential at the back for Warrington getting his first career hat-trick. Riley Dean stepped up his game at half-back getting five-try contributions (Four assists, One try) with his half-back partner for the game, Pete Mata’utia getting a try assist also, sending Connor Wrench away.

Huddersfield’s only tries came from Luke Yates and Innes Senior. Ian Watson admitted it was the worse performance his side has put in all season. All of Warrington’s 32 points were scored by Academy graduates, Riley Dean getting a try and four conversions, Josh Thewlis getting three tries with also Ben Currie and Connor Wrench going over the try line.

Warrington 32-10 Huddersfield

Moving over to East Hull now as in-form Hull KR welcomed a Wakefield side that has seen their form drop in recent weeks having defeats from neighbours, Castleford Tigers and getting demolished by Wigan Warriors. Trinity were hoping to put things right against the Robins and get back to winning ways. Hull KR were too strong in the end with Kane Linett and Ethan Ryan both getting a brace, Lachlan Coote, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Ryan Hall all scored for Hull KR to make their lead in the table grow even more as they sit just outside the top four places, with a busy schedule coming for KR, the wins of late are helping them get into play-offs and getting that winning momentum for when they play Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup semi-final in a fortnight time.

Wakefield’s try-scorers came from Jacob Miller and Lewis Murphy but the damage was already done as Hull KR were already 22 points up when Miller scored the first Wakefield try. They now sit in 10th position just above Leeds Rhinos by one point.

Hull KR 32-10 Wakefield

The Sunday games started off with Wigan playing their final game at home for over two months as they welcomed the Salford Red Devils. Wigan came into the game off the back of a massive win over the Wakefield Trinity on Easter Monday, however the Salford side were looking for an answer from Easter Monday having been defeated by the Catalan Dragons.

The two sides had already faced off this season in the Challenge Cup sixth-round with Wigan victorious winning, 20-0. It was also another chance for Rugby League to show its class under the cameras of Channel Four and what a spectacle it truly was.

In front of a peak audience of 270,000, Wigan were again victorious having tries come from Jai Field, Kaide Ellis, Liam Farrell and Harry Smith with Salford’s try-scorers Ken Sio, King Vuniyayawa, Alex Gerrard and Matty Costello. A long-ranged field goal attempt from French international Morgan Escare, fell short right into the arms of sensational talent, Jai Field,  who split open the Salford defence breaking through with nobody able to stop him. Salford however can take positives out of the game having fought back into the game.

Wigan 30-24 Salford

The final game of Round 10 came from the MKM Stadium where Hull FC hosted the Catalan Dragons. Hull FC came into this game having picked up a win over the Warrington Wolves with a Manu Ma’u late try. Catalans hoped to make it three from three in the Easter period. Hull FC opened the scorings in the opening 17 minutes with home-town talent Jordan Lane stepping and weaving through the Catalans pack before going under the sticks for his third try of the season. Catalans hit back 10-minutes later with record-breaker, Fouad Yaha getting level on tries with Catalans legend Vincient Duport to get his side back into the game. A short ball from Danny Houghton, who was making his 400th senior appearance last night, to prop forward Chris Satae to put his side eight points in front. A penalty kick from Jake Connor on half-time gave the Black and Whites a 10 point lead at the interval. An end-to-end second half until the 67th minute saw Mitchell Pearce crashed over for the Dragons to give them some hope but they fell just short as Hull FC took the two points to put Bret Hodgson’s side back into the top four.

Hull FC 14-6 Catalans

Round 11

Wakefield vs Huddersfield (SKY)

Catalans vs Castleford

Leeds vs Hull KR

St.Helens vs Salford

Warrington vs Wigan (SKY)

Hull FC vs Toulouse

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