Catalans Dragons charged again into the Tremendous League’s high two with a 61-0 humiliation of woeful Leeds in Perpignan.
Adam Keighran ran in three tries and kicked 18 factors with the boot as Steve McNamara’s males made an enormous assertion with one spherical of the common season remaining.
A youthful Rhinos aspect, nonetheless reeling from final week’s 50-0 thrashing by Wigan, have been second-best in all areas once more on Saturday night and noticed their faint mathematical hopes of reserving a top-six berth ruthlessly uncovered.
In distinction, Catalans head to Salford subsequent week realizing one other massive win is more likely to safe them a top-two slot and with it, a single dwelling match of their quest to achieve a second Grand Last.
Rohan Smith, who would later describe the match as “an actual low level” for his aspect, noticed his gamers wilt as early because the third minute within the 30-degree warmth when Keighran rounded off a 30-metre transfer involving Tom Johnstone earlier than changing from the touchline.
Then hooker Michael McIlorum slipped a brief ball to place his captain Ben Garcia in near the posts, Keighran changing to make it 12-0 after 12 minutes.
Three minutes later, Tom Davies struck on the proper after extra good work from McIlorum. Keighran curled the conversion in from the proper touchline, bouncing it over on the crossbar.
Jack Sinfield was denied a response for an incorrect grounding and Catalans swept down the opposite finish the place Davies touched down for his second and Keighran added one other touchline kick to make it 28-0 at half-time.
Mitchell Pearce, Johnstone and Keighran’s second – all transformed by the Wigan-bound star – stretched the Catalans lead earlier than Matt Ikuvalu benefited from nice work from Garcia to carry up the hosts’ half-century.
Sam Tomkins caught the boot in with a cheeky drop objective seven minutes from time as Catalans sought to squeeze out each spare level with one eye on the doubtless essential factors distinction within the closing desk.
Moments later the previous England captain broke on an unlikely dash to the road however he was halted by Harry Newman, who acquired a yellow card after a scuffle.
The sport was wrapped up when Keighran scored his hat-trick and transformed as soon as once more for a document Tremendous League defeat for the Rhinos.
Sam Lisone was sin-binned for a late deal with as the ultimate hooter blew and Keighran added the penalty, rounding off one other day to neglect for the Rhinos, whose closing sport of the season in opposition to Castleford subsequent Friday is now rendered tutorial.
Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith described Saturday’s loss as ‘an actual low level’ for his aspect
“It is a actual low level however it’s skilled sport and it occurs,” Smith stated. “We had a very younger crew on the market tonight and it was at all times going to be tough.
“I spoke about transition not too long ago nevertheless it was not about having 4 senior gamers depart in the course of the season and then you definately throw 5 – 6 accidents on high of that, you have obtained 10 or 11 of your high 22 gamers unavailable.
“That is not the transition we had been hoping for, so we’re studying some onerous classes and the experiences are robust for all of us.”
Hull KR 12-0 Salford Crimson Devils
Ryan Corridor scores an important attempt for Hull KR
Hull KR sealed their place within the Tremendous League play-offs with a tense 12-0 win over Salford at Craven Park.
Tries from James Batchelor and Ryan Corridor, plus 4 factors from the boot of Brad Schneider, have been sufficient to see Willie Peters’ aspect lengthen their season as they pushed their profitable run to 4 video games.
Rovers ought to have taken the lead within the sixth minute when Kane Linnett made the break and handed to Shaun Kenny-Dowall who discovered Schneider, however the scrum-half couldn’t take within the move simply yards from the road.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Hull KR half-back Brad Schneider by some means managed to spill the ball ahead unchallenged with the attempt line beckoning of their match in opposition to Salford
Schneider’s dummy and offload discovered Tom Opacic, his move set Batchelor away and he raced in for the opening attempt after 23 minutes, with Schneider including the extras.
Rovers have been holding Salford pinned in their very own half and when the Crimson Devils obtained up the opposite finish, they have been denied a attempt due to a ahead move by Oliver Partington.
Mikey Lewis practically escaped, however a try-saving deal with by Ryan Brierley denied him a run to the road. Two minutes earlier than the break Salford’s King Vuniyayawa was despatched to the sin-bin for tackling Walker with out the ball.
The victory sealed Hull KR’s place within the play-offs
Rovers have been unable to make the participant benefit inform as a scrappy begin to the second half noticed either side make errors.
Salford knocked on attempting to interrupt clear and a excessive deal with on Lewis gifted Schneider with a penalty which he kicked for the primary factors of the second half and an 8-0 lead 4 minutes later.
Kenny-Dowall and Linnett obtained the ball to Lewis from a Schneider bomb, however the stand-off was unable to get the ball down earlier than being bundled into contact as Rovers pushed for a clinching attempt.
That attempt got here with eight minutes left by way of Corridor after Lewis had flicked on a move from Schneider and the wing raced to the touch down within the nook, sealing Rovers’ place within the play-offs.
Hull FC 20-52 Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield produced a scintillating second-half efficiency to defeat Hull 52-20 within the Black and Whites’ closing dwelling sport of the Tremendous League season.
The sport was finely poised early within the second half, with the Giants main by simply two factors. Nonetheless, the hosts collapsed below Huddersfield strain, with the guests scoring six tries to spherical off a depressing day for Tony Smith’s aspect.
Kevin Naiqama scores a attempt for the Huddersfield Giants in opposition to Hull FC
Jake Connor got here again to hang-out the Black and Whites, pulling his former crew aside with the boot and out of the fingers to make sure his aspect ran out comfy winners.
Hull got here into the sport determined to snap a four-game shedding streak and ship a number of departing gamers out as winners, whereas Huddersfield have been eager to search out some type of their closing two outings to springboard into 2024.
Nonetheless, after displaying some grit within the first half, the defence on present at occasions within the second was embarrassing from the house aspect, who had no reply to the slickness of Huddersfield, who head into the ultimate sport of the season stuffed with confidence.
Huddersfield made an important begin with Jermaine McGillvary displaying slick fingers earlier than racing over untouched on the proper to open the scoring.
Huddersfield’s Will Pryce (L) celebrates with Tui Lolohea after scoring a attempt
The house aspect weren’t deterred and hit again swiftly with a attempt from Tex Hoy, who minimize by way of the Giants line and rounded the full-back to attain from shut vary and stage up the scores.
Hull had gained the benefit and shortly took the lead with a long-range attempt to Darnell McIntosh, who supported a break from Andre Savelio to attain in opposition to his outdated membership.
The Giants have been having loads of success off the boot and, off the again of one other repeat set, Connor fired an ideal move for Esan Marsters to attain untouched and stage the scores.
Huddersfield scored once more simply earlier than the break to take the lead, Seb Ikahihifo beating a number of gamers earlier than crashing over on the left.
Hull needed to rating within the second half and did by way of Savelio, who touched down from shut vary to chop the hole to 4 factors.
That was nearly as good because it obtained for the hosts although because the Giants minimize free in a blistering 25-minute spell which introduced them six tries.
Kevin Naiqama scored a hat-trick, there was a well-taken double from Will Pryce and McGillvary accomplished his personal double with a rating out broad a couple of minutes from time.
Hull would have the ultimate say although, with the retiring Scott Taylor crashing over below the posts and changing his personal attempt within the final act of the sport.
Stream one of the best rugby league and extra high sport with NOW. Cancel anytime.
Disclaimer: The content material offered right here is authored by a 3rd celebration and doesn’t essentially signify the views or opinions of Europa Information. The opinions expressed on this content material belong solely to the respective authors/entities, and Europa Information doesn’t endorse or assure the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the knowledge supplied. Readers are suggested to independently confirm and validate any info and content material offered right here. Europa Information disclaims all warranties, specific or implied, concerning this content material and any penalties that will come up from its use.
