Leaders Catalans Dragons maintained their best ever start to a Betfred Super League season with a first win at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle for nine years.
The French side, even without England duo Sam Tomkins and Tom Davies, dominated for much of the match as they defeated Betfred Challenge Cup finalists Castleford Tigers 16-6 to extend their winning run to six matches.
The home side struggled for creativity and were trailing 14-0 when winger Derrell Olpherts scored their only try four minutes from the end.
Earlier, Josh Drinkwater’s cut-out pass gave left winger Fouad Yaha a run-in at the corner for the game’s first try on seven minutes before Samisoni Langi pounced on a Tigers handling error to score his side’s second try.
Mathieu Laguerre gathered in another of Drinkwater’s passes over the top and James Maloney kicked the touchline conversion to stretch the lead to 14-0 and it left too much for the Tigers to do.
Hull FC mounted a second-half comeback to inflict Huddersfield Giants’ third successive defeat with a 17-10 triumph.
Hull were made to pay for an ill-disciplined first half as they trailed 10-0 at the break thanks to Olly Ashall-Bott’s sole try.
Oliver Russell added two penalties for the Giants before being sin-binned on the stroke of half-time, but Hull responded with three tries in 13 second-half minutes through Mahe Fonua, Jack Logan and Connor Wynne to lead 16-10.
Marc Sneyd added a drop-goal with four minutes remaining to secure the Black and Whites’ seventh league win of the season and maintain their assault for a play-off place.
Gareth Widdop claimed a personal haul of 20 points to help an under-strength Warrington Wolves to a 44-18 victory over winless Leigh Centurions at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Widdop won a recall to Shaun Wane’s England squad earlier this month but failed to make the final cut for Friday evening’s international against the Combined Nations All Stars.
But the half-back produced the goods for his club with a try, created another for winger Josh Charnley and landed eight goals, while Blake Austin, Danny Walker, Eribe Doro and Matt Davis also touched down.
Leigh claimed points through tries by Liam Hood, Mark Ioana and Junior Sa’u and three conversions by Ryan Brierley.
Wakefield Trinity handed a weakened Wigan Warriors their third Super League loss in a row after a strong first-half showing helped them to a 14-6 victory at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.
First-half tries from Ryan Hampshire and Matty Ashurst put Trinity up 12-0 at half-time and, although Umyla Hanley scored in the second half for Wigan, it was not enough to stop Wakefield recording their fourth victory of the season.
In Sunday's clash, Richie Myler and Jack Broadbent both scored two tries apiece as Leeds Rhinos powered past Salford Red Devils 38-12 in a frequently ill-tempered clash at the AJ Bell Stadium which saw referee Robert Hicks brandish two red cards and three yellows.
In the 16th minute, Salford skipper Lee Mossop was red-carded for flooring Konrad Hurrell and Leeds forward Bodene Thompson was also sent off for his part in the ensuing brawl.
Salford also lost Jack Wells to a yellow card midway through the first half while early in the second period, the Red Devils’ Ryan Lannon and Luke Gale of Leeds were shown yellows after an off-the-ball altercation.
Leeds, playing their first game in over a month after a Covid outbreak led to two fixtures being postponed, scored further tries through Tom Briscoe, Kruise Leeming and Gale, while Chris Atkin and Morgan Escare touched down for Salford.
Betfred Super League Results:
Castleford Tigers 6 Catalans Dragons 16
Warrington Wolves 44 Leigh Centurions 18
Wakefield Trinity 14 Wigan Warriors 6
Hull FC 17 Huddersfield Giants 10
Salford Red Devils 12 Leeds Rhinos 38
