Super League: Castleford Tigers book a semi-final trip to Wigan Warriors
Castleford booked a semi-final trip to Wigan as they continued their domination of Wakefield while Leeds won at Halifax.
Thursday September 20
Huddersfield 6-13 Wigan
Wigan ground out a 13-6 win over Huddersfield to maintain the only 100 per cent record in the Super 8s and clinch a home semi-final.
The Warriors needed a try from Oliver Gildart three minutes from the end to finally end the resistance of the Giants and condemn them to a fourth successive defeat in an error-strewn match.
The game was played in persistent rain at the John Smith's Stadium in the type of conditions Wigan might well experience if they reach the Grand Final at Old Trafford in October.
Giants coach Simon Woolford said his players resembled a tired team after they conceded five tries in the last 23 minutes of their game at Castleford a week earlier but there was little sign of fatigue from the Yorkshiremen.
They were led out by Ryan Hinchcliffe, who along with Jake Mamo was playing his final home game ahead of his return to Australia at the end of the season, and both caught the eye, along with young half-back Oliver Russell on his fifth Super League appearance.
Friday September 21
Castleford 42-10 Wakefield
Castleford booked a semi-final trip to Wigan as they continued their domination of Wakefield with a routine 42-10 rout of their depleted West Yorkshire neighbours.
Last season's Super League Grand Finalists have quietly gone about their business in 2018 and appear in good shape for a return to Old Trafford after a fifth straight win, their 11th in a row against Trinity.
Wakefield coach Chris Chester, down to his last 17 players amid an injury crisis, sent his team out to play an expansive game, but it backfired as Castleford raced into a commanding lead thanks to Greg Eden's two tries and one from Greg Minikin.
The Tigers were guilty of overplaying themselves after a strange start to their final home game of the year and Trinity came back into it through tries from Bill Tupou and Reece Lyne either side of Grant Millington's effort.
But Eden completed his third hat-trick in seven games and added a fourth before Junior Moors completed the scoring.
Saturday September 22
Warrington 14-34 St Helens
Scrum-half Danny Richardson claimed a personal tally of 14 points and full-back Ben Barba bagged two tries as St Helens laid down a marker for their Betfred Super League semi-final against Warrington with a comfortable 34-14 victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Richardson registered a try and five goals in the win to add to Barba's brace with Saints' other tries scored by Luke Douglas, Regan Grace and Jonny Lomax, with Warrington's points coming from tries by Kevin Brown, Bryson Goodwin and Toby King and one conversion from Dec Patton.
The opening 40 minutes was a tasty appetiser for the much bigger showdown to come when the two teams go head-to-head again on Thursday week at the Totally Wicked Stadium when a Grand Final spot at Old Trafford on October 13 will be the huge prize on offer for the winners.
Despite nothing to play for with the top four positions all sorted, there was no love lost between the two sides with three players - Matty Lees and Mark Percival from St Helens and Warrington's Ryan Atkins - all spending time in the sin-bin after a first half all-in brawl.
Warrington made five changes from the side that lost at Wigan as they recalled Brown, Tyrone Roberts, Chris Hill and Ben Murdoch-Masila while Mike Cooper completed his one-match suspension as the suspended Tom Lineham, Jack Hughes, Daryl Clark, Ben Pomeroy and Luis Johnson dropped out of the side that lost 26-6 at the DW Stadium.
St Helens welcomed back Ryan Morgan, Zeb Taia, Theo Fages and Dominique Peyroux in four changes from the team that sealed the League Leaders' Shield with victory over Hull FC as they replaced Matty Costello, Kyle Amor, Jake Spedding and Jack Welsby.
An early Richardson penalty for the visitors saw the young scrum-half take his scoring run to 32 consecutive games before the game exploded into life when Lees' challenge on Roberts sparked an all-in brawl, with Roberts forced from the action and unable to return after failing a head test.
After tempers had calmed Lees was given 10 minutes in the sin-bin as was team-mate Percival and Warrington's Atkins for their part in the flare-up and the respective captains Hill and Jon Wilkin were also given a warning by referee Chris Kendall.
The home side made their extra man tell to claim the opening try when Brown scythed through a huge gap in the Saints defence to score and Patton converted to give the home side a 6-2 lead.
But Saints roared back and claimed two tries in the final eight minutes of the half as first prop Douglas managed to twist his way out of three tackles close to the line to touch down.
Then in the final minute of the half a superb 40-metre midfield break by Jack Ashworth set up the position from which quick hands out to the left allowed Grace to touch down in the corner and with Richardson adding a further conversion the visitors led 12-6 at half-time.
A 60-metre break by Richardson, who was only denied by a last-gasp try-saving tackle by Josh Charnley in the opening minute of the second half, set the tone for the second 40 minutes as the league leaders turned on the style.
They claimed three tries in a devastating seven-minute spell to put the game to bed as Lomax, Richardson and Barba all crossed for tries, and two further conversions by Richardson helped open up a commanding 28-6 lead.
King scored a 64th-minute try to spark some life back into the Wolves before Barba claimed his second of the game and Goodwin notched a last-minute consolation for the home side.
London Broncos 11-8 Salford
A fantastic kicking display from Jarrod Sammut was the difference as London Broncos held on to beat Salford 11-8 at Trailfinders Sports Ground, therefore keeping their promotion hopes alive.
The victory means the Broncos still have a chance of making the Million Pound Game with one round of Super 8s Qualifiers against Halifax left to play.
Broncos head coach Danny Ward made two changes to the side beaten by Hull KR last weekend, with Kieran Dixon and Matty Gee replacing Michael Channing and James Cunningham.
Meanwhile, Salford boss Ian Watson made sweeping changes to his side after suffering a narrow defeat to Leeds last time out.
Greg Johnson, Jack Littlejohn, Greg Burke, Luke Burgess and Ryan Lannon all came in to the starting line-up.
Sammut opened the scoring for London in the 11th minute, converting a penalty from 10 metres after Robert Lui had held Alex Walker too long in the tackle.
Three minutes later the Broncos scored the first try of the game, with Jay Pitts managing to ground the ball despite being held by three Salford players.
Malta international Sammut added the conversion to put the Broncos 8-0 ahead.
The game was being played in driving rain and London were able to adapt to the conditions better than Salford, who were guilty of a number of knock-ons and unforced errors throughout the first half.
The Broncos were temporarily reduced to 12 players in the 25th minute when Eddie Battye was shown a yellow card for ripping the ball out of a two-man tackle.
Salford were unable to capitalise on the extra man and Sammut thought he had scored the Broncos' second try only to be pulled back for offside.
The Broncos did manage to extend their lead while down to 12, with Sammut knocking over a drop goal from 20 metres five minutes from half-time.
The Red Devils finally got themselves on the scoresheet in the 56th minute, with Johnson going over in the corner after the ball had been quickly shipped out to the wing.
Joey Lussick was unable to add the extras, slicing wide from a tight angle.
Sammut converted his second penalty of the game in the 75th minute, with the ball sailing between the posts from 40 metres giving the hosts a seven-point lead with five minutes to play at 11-4.
Salford used their set of six straight from the kick-off to score their second try of the match with Johnson again going over in the corner.
This time Ed Chamberlain stepped up to try and convert from the narrow angle, but the outcome was the same as Lussick, with the ball sailing wide and although Salford gave it one last crack, the Broncos held on for the all-important win.
Hull FC 20-26 Catalans Dragons
Kenny Edwards scored a 77th-minute try as Catalans Dragons beat Hull 26-20 - their first win since the historic Challenge Cup victory over Warrington.
Edwards powered over three minutes from time to give the visitors the lead and Albert goaled to ensure they ended a run of six successive Betfred Super League defeats dating back to July 21.
However, the pain goes on for Lee Radford's side, who have now lost 10 consecutive games and have only one Super 8's fixture at Wigan remaining to end the depressing sequence.
Hull started brightly and only Lewis Tierney's tackle on Fetuli Talanoa and full-back Shaul's knock-on in front of the posts denied the hosts an opening try.
When Dragons' Sam Moa ploughed over against his former club after 15 minutes for a converted try, it was against the run of play.
The visitors then twice went close through Iain Thornley and Greg Bird before Hull were forced to drop out after Josh Drinkwater's clever grubber kick.
And it was third time lucky when Wembley man of the match Tony Gigot speared through Jamie Shaul's tackle after 34 minutes to score an unconverted try.
Hull's enterprising approach got its reward before the interval when Josh Griffin pounced as Talanoa palmed back Jake Connor's angled kick.
Drinkwater added a 44th-minute penalty to his earlier conversion to leave Hull 12-4 in arrears.
However, Radford's troops rallied and deservedly reduced their deficit, helped by Gigot's handling blunder.
Facing his own posts Gigot dropped Jake Connor's steepling kick and moments later Brad Fash got onto Connor's pass for his team's second try.
Catalans, beaten 42-16 at the KCOM Stadium back in March, were under the cosh but still fighting.
They forced their hosts to twice drop out before Thornley accepted Brayden Wiliame's pass to touch down in the corner.
The hosts responded with a Talanoa try, created by Connor's pass - although the England international missed a testing kick from the touchline.
Tierney's game ended after clashing with Talanoa as they contested another of Connor's high kicks.
And worse was to follow for the Dragons as Gigot was helped off with what appeared a self inflicted injury as he chased a ball behind the Hull tryline.
With nine minutes left Radford's men hit the front for the first time. Winger Bureta Faraimo's powerful run wreaked havoc and Danny Houghton carried on the move, which was finished by Shaul by the posts.
But, with victory in sight, Wiliame and then Kenny Edwards helped Dragons steal the points.
Toulouse 34-23 Hull KR
Toulouse pulled off a shock 34-23 win over Hull KR in the penultimate round of the Super 8s Qualifiers to keep alive their promotion hopes.
The French side recovered an early 19-0 deficit in emphatic fashion to secure a third win of the competition, to the delight of the 4,127 crowd at Stade Ernest Argeles.
With London Broncos defeating Salford earlier in the day, it means the battle for Super League places in 2019 will go down to the last weekend of the season.
Toulouse take on Salford at the AJ Bell Stadiumm in their last match next Thursday and will do so in high spirits after their six-try triumph over Rovers.
Rovers were boosted by the return of playmaker Danny McGuire, which enabled coach Tim Sheens to switch Chris Atkin to full-back, although he was forced to play second rower Joel Tomkins in the threequarters following the late withdrawal of centre Ben Crooks.
They made a dream start after five minutes when prop Rob Mulhern crashed over from close range for the game's opening try and winger Craig Hall quickly added a second after sprinting 80 metres from an interception,
Danny Tickle added both conversions for a 12-0 lead and they took advantage of the sin-binning of Toulouse half-back William Barthau with McGuire extending the lead with a drop goal midway through the first half.
The visitors were comfortably placed when Atkin went over for their third try on 24 minutes, with Tickle taking their lead out to 19-0.
But the game was turned on its head after Toulouse scored three tries in six minutes just before half-time.
Second rower Rhys Curran, centre Chris Centrone and half-back Stan Robin all went over for tries which were converted by Mark Kheirrallah to bring his side to within a point at 19-18.
Referee Ben Thaler then brandished yellow cards to Tyla Hepi (Toulouse) and James Greenwood (Hull KR) following an outbreak of fighting as the tension rose.
Toulouse maintained their moment after the break and went in front for the first time two minutes after the re-start courtesy of a penalty from Kheirallah before Gavin Marguerite went over for another try and Centrone added his second try to extend the lead to 28-19.
Kheirallah kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty before Bastien Ader rounded off his side's scoring on 65 minutes.
Hall grabbed his second try, his 13th in seven matches since returning to the club, eight minutes from the end but the visitors had left themselves with too much to do.
Toronto Wolfpack 20-12 Widnes Vikings
Widnes' seven-year stay in Super League came to an end as they were beaten 20-12 by promotion-chasing Toronto at the Lamport Stadium.
The Vikings have flirted with relegation all year and ended the regular season eight points adrift at the foot of the table with just three wins from their 23 matches.
They were handed the chance of a reprieve via the Super 8s Qualifiers but made the worst possible start with a home defeat by London Broncos and, although they grabbed a lifeline with victory over Halifax a week ago, their defeat in Toronto sealed their fate.
With Toulouse and London Broncos also claiming victories over Super League opponents in round six, it means the make-up of the top tier in 2019 will now be decided in the last weekend of the season.
Salford host Toulouse on Thursday while Toronto, who finished eight points clear in the Championship, play Leeds at Headingley on Friday and London Broncos are at home to Halifax next Saturday.
The Vikings led 6-0 against the Wolfpack after second rower Chris Dean, back in the side after recovering from injury, offloaded from the tackle to get full-back Joe Mellor over for the game's opening try after 11 minutes.
Krisnan Inu added the conversion and also kicked a penalty after Toronto second rower Cory Paterson had brought the home side level with an 18th-minute try.
The home side were temporarily reduced to 12 men in the 24th minute when centre Chase Stanley was sin-binned for a crusher tackle on winger Owen Buckley, but they managed to regain the lead in his absence after a cut-out pass from Gareth O'Brien got winger Matty Russell over in the corner.
O'Brien failed with the conversion attempt and was also wide with a penalty as the Wolfpack reached the interval 10-8 in front.
Widnes regained the lead two minutes into the second half when Liam Finn's delayed pass got Dean through a hole in the Wolfpack defence for his side's second try and the game became frantic as both sides strove to gain the ascendancy.
Paterson thought he had scored his second try but a last-ditch tackle from Sam Wilde forced the ball from his grasp over the line and at the other end Harrison Hansen forced his way over from close range only to lose his grip on the ball.
The lead changed hands for a fourth and decisive time in the 56th minute when Toronto half-back Blake Wallace darted over from dummy half on the last tackle and O'Brien's conversion made it 16-12.
The Vikings were then denied when forward Chris Houston was held up over the try line and it proved to be their last chance as O'Brien's two late penalties secured the win for the hosts.
Sunday September 23
Halifax 6-34 Leeds
Leeds are on the brink of survival after overcoming a scare to record a 34-6 victory at Halifax.
After London, Toulouse and Toronto claimed a remarkable hat-trick of wins for Championship clubs over Super League opposition on Saturday, Halifax were aiming to cause the biggest upset of them all against the Rhinos.
But a professional performance from the fallen champions virtually assured their safety and left Richard Marshall's part-timers staring at a second successive winless Qualifiers campaign.
The scoreline flattered Leeds who were out-enthused in the first half and needed a quickfire double from Brad Dwyer just after the interval to end Halifax's resistance.
Liam Sutcliffe put the result beyond doubt and finished with five goals after late efforts from Cameron Smith and Luke Briscoe.
Fax had gone into the break level after Steve Tyrer's spectacular finish cancelled out Richie Myler's opener but they were unable to maintain their intensity as fatigue set in.
Leeds had seen Widnes lose their Super League status the previous day and knew a shock defeat at The Shay would have left them in danger of dropping into the Million Pound Game on an intriguing final weekend.
The two West Yorkshire sides have taken very different paths since their last meeting 15 years ago and the match went to script in the early stages.
Halifax struggled to get out of their own 20-metre line after receiving the kick-off and, having already gone close, Myler collected Joel Moon's reverse kick to score the opening try on five minutes.
The Fax forwards rocked their Leeds counterparts with some big hits as the hosts settled into the contest and they almost took their first opportunity as Jacob Fairbank juggled the ball going for the line before dropping it.
Tyrer came up with a timely interception on halfway to keep Leeds penned in their own end and then acrobatically claimed and finished Scott Murrell's cross-field kick to stun the Rhinos.
The experienced centre added the extras to his own try to make it 6-6 with half-time approaching and Halifax finished the opening 40 minutes on top.
The break came at the right time for Leeds and they were back in front within 90 seconds of the restart as Dwyer went over from dummy half after James Woodburn-Hall had spilt Sutcliffe's high kick.
That try visibly dented Halifax's belief and the Championship side were out of the game after Dwyer scored an almost identical try and Sutcliffe glided through a huge hole in the defence.
Halifax halted Leeds' momentum and came close to their second try when Shane Grady stormed through only to lose the ball.
But the Rhinos finished strongly with Smith going over next to the posts before giving Briscoe a clear run to the line with a lovely long pass.
Ben Heaton was sin-binned three minutes from time after halting Tom Briscoe's break with a high tackle but the reception he received from the home fans underlined their appreciation for Halifax's efforts.
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