Super League round-up
It wasn’t as convincing as many people had predicted but the Wigan Warriors came out victorious in the top v bottom battle against Catalan Dragons on Sunday evening.
The league leaders, who maintain their lead at the top of Super League, ran in six tries in the 34-16 win, as they overcame the challenge of the French side without really having to move out of second gear.
The scoreline was made to look more respectable towards the end of the game as Wigan prop Andy Coley was dismissed for a high tackle midway through the second half. With their opponents down to 12 men the struggling Dragons managed to run in two late tries, but the sending off never really put the result in doubt.
A more watchable game for lovers of competitive rugby took place at Headingley between last year’s Super League finalists, Wigan and St Helens. The home side managed to come from behind to win the game 28-24, which lifted the reigning champions up to fourth in the table.
St Helens held the early lead thanks to a Chris Flannery try, but Chris Clarkson, Brett Delaney and Danny McGuire crossed over which gave Leeds a 16-6 advantage at the half-way stage.
But St Helens rallied in the second half with scores from Jonny Lomax and Leon Pryce, to put them in touching distance of victory. However, the Super League champions showed their mental toughness and bombarded the St Helens line in the final stages. McGuire's second closed the gap and Leeds won it when Ryan Hall crossed with the last play of the game.
It was a bitter blow for the Saints who came into the game without seven first-team players, and were looking to close the gap on leaders Wigan to two points.
To make matters worse, England scrum-half Kyle Eastmond, playing in his first game for a month after an ankle injury, and try-scorer Pryce both ended the game on the sidelines after aggravating their injuries.
Other results:
Salford 17 Harlequins RL 14
Bradford 22 Hull 28
Crusaders RL 10 Warrington 30
Wakefield 14 Hull KR 46
Castleford 44 Huddersfield 18
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