First Utility Super League XIX - Week 1 Playoffs Review

Week 1 on of the play-offs produced one shock as Leeds Rhinos were eliminated at home by Catalan Dragons.

Warrington had to come from behind to edge past Widnes. But both Wigan and St Helens had easy games in progressing to the Qualifying Semi-Finals and getting a week off.

Wigan Warriors 57

Tries: Charnley 2, Smith, Clubb, Farrell, Tomkins, Sarginson, Bowen, O'Loughlin, Burgess
Goals: Smith 8
Drop Goal: Smith

Huddersfield Giants 4

Tries: Cudjoe

Att: 8,652

Wigan Warriors moved within 80-minutes of Old Trafford with a ten try demolition of Huddersfield Giants at the D.W. Stadium.

Huddersfield travelled to Wigan, in this qualifying play-off match, looking for a third win over their opponents this year and boasting a seven match unbeaten run.

As both sides went set for set at each other, the Warriors took the lead on six minutes when Matty Smith tagged on a penalty goal.

For the rest of the half Huddersfield were hanging on and the pressure finally told as Matty Bowens superb cut-out pass got Josh Charnley over for the games first try.

Scrum-half Smith then began to run the show he scored a fine solo effort then put Tony Clubb through a gap for try number three as the hosts led 18-0 after 33 minutes.

Then just before the break good work by Dan Sarginson and Joe Burgess led to Liam Farrell touching down near the uprights. Smith kicked his fourth goal as Wigan had one foot in the Qualifying Semi-Final as they led 24-0 at the interval.

In the early stages of the second half, Huddersfield got on the scoreboard when Shaun Lunt's run on the last tackle led to Leroy Cudjoe touching down but this was a mere consolation as Wigan blew the Giants away with four tries in twelve minutes.

Smith's half-break enabled Tomkins to power his way over for his first try since moving back to League for Union , then Sarginson took a return pass from his wing partner Burgess to score his side's sixth try.

The third was a superb team effort as Blake Green got the ball out of the tackle for Eddy Pettybourne and the big prop passed out wide to Burgess who played in the supporting Bowen. Charnley then ran over the unfortunate Scott Grix to register his second try.

There was still time for Sean O'Loughlin and Burgess, who went the full length of the pitch, to score as the hosts lead ballooned past the fifth point barrier.

Smith took his goal tally to eight from 11 attempts and then rounded off the scoring with a drop goal as Huddersfield must regroup with a home elimination tie against Catalan next week and for the Warriors it's a week off then a qualifying Semi-Final as they look to retain their title.

St Helens 41

Tries: Roby 2, Turner, Swift, Makinson, Amor, Masoe
Goals: Percival 6
Drop Goal: Turner

Castleford Tigers 0

Att: 7,548

League Leaders St Helens advanced to the Qualifying-Semi Final with a one-side shutout win over Castleford Tigers at Langtree Park.

After suffering back-to-back defeats, Saints went into this one a little bit down on confidence; however they did have the League Leaders Shield as opponents Castleford failed to win in Perpignan.

In the early stages of the game was quite tight as both sides field each other out, but the intervention of hooker James Roby turned the game in St Helens favour.

The England hooker then began to take the game to the Tigers as he opened the scoring after 19 minutes by forcing his way over from dummy half.

Five minutes later Roby repeated the feat, this time from 10 metres out, and Mark Percival kicked his second conversion to make it 12-0.

It was 13-0 at the break as on the stroke of half-time Jordan Turner popped over a one pointer.

Castleford hopes of a fightback were ended within five minutes of the restart when Roby worked a run-around with Sia Soliola to free Turner, who raced over from the halfway line.

Man-of-the-Match Roby then became try saver when he stopped Castleford centre Michael Channing touching down, which was as close as the side from West Yorkshire got in scoring.

Adam Swift then picked up a loose ball and went 70 metres for a solo effort as the score went out to 25-0.

Paul Wellens was pulled back near the visitor's line which resulted in the Tigers skipper Michael Shenton being sin-binned for a professional foul and Saints took advantage of the extra man to increase their lead when Tom Makinson took Percival's pass to cross at the corner.

Big Front-rower Kyle Amor and Mose Masoe both powered their way over for close-range tries as St Helens took the score past forty points and claimed "Club Call" where in week 3 of the play-offs they will be able to pick thier opponents. For Cas it sudden death next week as they entertain Warrington Wolves.

Warrington Wolves 22

Tries: J. Monaghan 3, Evans
Goals: Ratchford 3

Widnes Vikings 19

Tries: Flynn 2, Hanbury
Goals: Tickle 3
Drop Goal: Brown

Att: 7,229

Warrington Wolves turned in a strong second half performance by coming from behind to eliminate local rivals Widnes Vikings at H.J. Stadium.

This was sudden death as the Wolves and Vikings began the road to Old Trafford. Widnes made much the better start and led by their playmaker Kevin Brown, who ran the show in the first half.

It took five minutes for the visitors to take the lead after receiving a penalty an inch perfect kick by Brown was seized on by Paddy Flynn and four minutes later Brown was centre of things again as another good kick was taken by Flynn who beat the cover to score.

Danny Tickle kicked two excellent touchline conversions to give Widnes a 12-0 lead.

It got even better for the Vikings after half an hour when the impressive Brown sent Hanbury racing clear and he evaded the attempted tackle of Matty Russell to touchdown. Tickle again converted to make it 18-0.

Four minutes before the break, Warrington got a lifeline as on a rare attack good passing along the line ended with try scorer supreme Joel Monaghan going in at the corner.

Stefan Ratchford landed his conversion attempt from the touchline to cut the Widnes lead to 18-6. But two minutes before half time the influential Brown cooley added a drop goal to give his side a 19-6 lead at half time.

However, in the early stages of the second half, Warrington went thorugh the gears and sensationally hit back with two tries in six minutes. A superb pass out of the tackle by Chris Bridge allowed Monaghan to claim his second try of the game and moments later Rhys Evans crossed in the corner as the gap was just down to 3 points.

The Wolves hit the front on 56 minutes when a break down the right by Bridge released Monaghan to claim his hat-trick and Ratchford was once again on target with the conversion to make it 22-19.

Widnes tried their best to knick the game but Warrington held on to book a preliminary finals game at Castleford next Thursday night.

Leeds Rhinos 20

Tries: Ablett, Watkins, Jones-Buchanan
Goals: Sinfield 3, Hardaker

Catalan Dragons 24

Tries: Williams 2, Taia, Anderson
Goals: Bosc 4

Att: 7,112

Catalan Dragons knocked Leeds Rhinos out at death to claim their first ever win at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

Leeds Rhinos had been out of form since winning at Wembley and they faced a tough task as they entertained Catalan Dragons who had won thier last three games.

It took 15 minutes for Carl Ablett to charge on to a Danny McGuire's pass and open the scoring. Kevin Sinfield added the goal but Leeds were forced into some desperate defence as the Frenchside got into the game and it was no surprise when good work by Gregory Mounis on 25 minutes led to Sam Williams levelling the game up.

The Dragons started give away a string of penalties and after Vincent Duport was placed on report for another late tackle on Sinfield.

Hardaker kicked the resultant penalty to edge the Rhinos in front and centre Kallum Watkins struck on the stroke of half-time, twice kicking the ball ahead following a knock-on by Escare to touch down. Sinfield added the extras as Leeds led 14-6.

It took just six minutes into the second half for Catalan to reduce the arrears. Zeb Taia jumped above Tom Briscoe to collect Tom Bosc's high kick and slide over the line.

Now full of confidence the men from Perpignan took the lead when a well timed pass by Williams sent Louis Anderson powering his way over the line.

Bosc's third goal made it 18-14 and it needed a last-ditch tackle from Zak Hardaker on Morgan Escare to keep Leeds in the game.

Ten minutes from time Sinfield split open the visitors' defence to get Jamie Jones-Buchanan over for their third try and the skipper's thirds goal looked to have won the game.

However, in a late twist with just two minutes remaining Briscoe fumbled Sinfield's pass on his own line to gift Williams the simplest of tries and for the first time in ten attempts Catalan won a game at Headingley and knocked the six time Champions out of the play-offs.

So with this win the Dragons are on thier travels again to Huddersfield Giants next Friday night.