Wigan are on course to make their now traditional late-season drive for glory after squeezing through the first round of the engage Super League play-offs with an 18-12 victory over Castleford at the DW Stadium on Sunday night.

Without being anywhere near their best, the Warriors saw off the Tigers in a scrappy elimination play-off to earn a trip to Hull KR in next Saturday's preliminary semi-final.

Wigan, who went within one match of the Grand Final in each of the last two years, scored a trio of tries through George Carmont, Harrison Hansen and Amos Roberts while Pat Richards kicked three goals but it was their tremendous defensive display which kept Castleford at bay.

Two late efforts from Tigers pair Joe Westerman and Craig Huby set up a nervy finale but the hosts held on to keep Brian Noble's dream alive.

On Saturday St Helens avenged their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat and moved to within 80 minutes of a fourth successive Grand Final appearance with a patchy 15-2 play-off win over Huddersfield.

Four defeats in their last five matches, including that cup exit at the hands of the Giants, had threatened to wreck Saints' season but they never looked back after scoring three tries in the first 21 minutes.

Their reward is a week off and a home semi-final while Huddersfield, who were without five members of their Wembley line-up, will have another chance to gain a first play-off win with a home tie in next week's preliminary semi-finals.

After their early lapses, the Giants demonstrated why they have the best defence in Super League but they met their match tonight and failed to score a try for the first time for 14 months.

Wakefield were the first side to bow out of the play-offs as Catalans survived a spirited fightback to prevail 25-16 in their elimination play-off and secure a trip to Huddersfield next Friday.

The Dragons opened the scoring in the 30th minute through Vincent Duport and Olivier Elima and Dimitri Pelo added quickfire scores before the break.

Pelo claimed his second seven minutes after the restart and with influential scrum-half Thomas Bosc kicking three goals, Kevin Walters' men were well in control at 22-6.

Yet Wakefield responded impressively and hit back with tries from Luke George (two) and Ryan Atkins to cut the gap to six points with seven minutes remaining to ensure a tense finish.

However, Bosc settled French nerves with a 77th-minute drop-goal and a last-minute penalty.

Defending Super League champions Leeds put an injury-hit Hull KR to the sword to move to within 80 minutes of a third successive Grand Final at Old Trafford with a 44-8 win on Friday night.

Lee Smith and Ali Lauitiiti both scored two tries as the Rhinos scored 34 unanswered second-half points in Friday night's qualifying play-off at Headingley to earn a week off and a home semi-final in a fortnight's time.

In a revolutionary new play-off system, Leeds will also get the chance to choose their semi-final opponents.

Hull KR will have another chance to make progress with a preliminary semi-final but will first hold a roll call after going into their first play-off without five regulars and then losing centre Chev Walker with a sickening injury after only 11 minutes.