Wigan Warriors winger Bevan French broke the Betfred Super League record for most tries in a single game as he crossed for seven as they ran riot in a 60-0 win over Hull FC.
Australian French, out of contract at the end of the season, scored four tries in the first half before grabbing three more to break Lesley Vainikolo’s record that has stood since 2005.
Jai Field ran the length of the field to score his first try before adding a second and even with French off the pitch, Wigan scored two more tries with Liam Marshall and Harry Smith getting in on the act.
Second-placed Wigan stayed four points behind leaders St Helens, who showed their title credentials by dismantling top-four challengers Huddersfield Giants 25-0.
Saints played most of the match a man short following the dismissal of Sione Mata’utia, but preserved their unbeaten home record in 2022 and strengthen their hold on top spot.
Mata’utia was given his marching orders after 16 minutes for lifting Giants hooker Danny Levi as he lay injured on the ground.
But Saints responded to adversity by scoring tries through Joe Batchelor, Agnatius Paasi, Jack Welsby and Jonny Lomax, with the latter kicking three conversions and a penalty, while Welsby landed a drop goal.
Catalan Dragons remain fourth despite a 32-6 defeat at Salford Red Devils, for whom winger Ken Sio scored a hat-trick to keep his side's faint hopes of a top-six finish alive.
Paul Rowley’s men scored 32 points without reply after Catalans took an eighth-minute lead through a converted Joe Chan try.
Salford stand-off Brodie Croft capped a superb performance with a second-half try, while his half-back partner Marc Sneyd kicked six goals from seven attempts. Jack Ormondroyd also crossed for the home side.
Hull Kingston Rovers sealed a thrilling 15-10 win against Wakefield Trinity at Sewell Group Craven Park to reignite their play-off hopes.
Wakefield led 4-0 at half-time through Max Jowitt's try, but Hull KR hit back with second-half touchdowns from from Jimmy Keinhorst, Ethan Ryan and Lachlan Coote, as well as a Coote conversion and Will Dagger drop goal to lead 15-4.
Trinity set up a grandstand finish by crossing again through Lewis Murphy, but were unable to snatch victory and remain in the relegation zone.
Daryl Powell endured a painful return to the Jungle, where his old club Castleford Tigers inflicted a potentially lethal blow to Warrington Wolves' play-off hopes.
Powell, who spent eight years in charge of his home-town club before leaving to join the Wolves at the end of last season, watched his side fall 27-0 behind before staging a spirited comeback before eventually succumbing 35-22.
Toulouse climbed off the bottom of the table by defeating Leeds Rhinos 20-6 for a third-straight win.
The French side ran in tries from Latrell Schaumkel, Matty Russell and Joe Bretherton, while eight points came from the boot of Chris Hankinson, and they moved above Wakefield on points difference.
Betfred Super League Round 19 Results:
- Wigan Warriors 60-0 Hull FC
- St Helens 25-0 Huddersfield Giants
- Castleford Tigers 35-22 Warrington Wolves
- Toulouse 20-6 Leeds Rhinos
- Hull Kingston Rovers 15-10 Wakefield Trinity
- Salford Red Devils 32-6 Catalans Dragons
