Round 5 of the Super League season has just been completed. Here is our wrap of the weekend’s action in European rugby league.

Huddersfield Giants versus Castleford Tigers
The Tigers went from the heights of ecstasy in thumping Wigan last week to the depths of despair against the Giants just six days later. There really isn’t too much to say about this game apart from the fact that it was dreadful and boring.

The Tigers too were dreadful and boring and the Giants did not need to be that good to win the game – which they did 22-0.

Former Tiger Jamie Ellis scored the only try of the first half, converted by Danny Brough. The Giants lifted their game slightly and the Tigers just could not do anything right. Ukuma Ta’ai, Aaron Murphy and Jermaine McGilivary scored second half tries for the home side and Brough kicked two goals to give the Giants there second home win of the week.

The only highlight of the game was the wing duel between the Tigers ‘Tank on the Flank’ Justin Carney and the Giants try scorer Jermaine McGilivary – it was Giants winger who came out on top and he earned the man-of-the match award.

NRL watch
Giants – Ukuma Ta’ai (Warriors) scored a try and made 18 tackles from the bench.

Tigers – Luke Dorn (Sea Eagles) ran for 133 metres and Grant Millington (Sharks) made 32 tackles. Ben Roberts (Storm) filled in at hooker from the bench, Junior Moors (Storm) worked hard in defence and Justin Carney (Roosters) could not add to his try tally of six

Warrington Wolves versus Leeds Rhinos
The Wolves put in a top class defensive effort to end the Rhinos unbeaten start to the season. The Rhinos dropped full back Zak Hardaker for disciplinary reasons and youngster Ashton Golding made his first appearance of the year – only the second of his short career.

The teenager performed well but he could not stop the Rhinos losing their fifth consecutive game at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The Wolves were without skipper Joel Monaghan but had Chris Bridge back in at off half. Both sides looked to attack at every opportunity but it was a moment of individual brilliance from Kevin Penny that broke the deadlock on 15 minutes.

The Wolves winger picked up a bouncing ball and ran across the Rhinos defensive line – he spotted Stevie Ward slightly out of position and stepped off his left foot and hot the gas with enough pace to just get him over the line.

Ryan Hall missed a huge opportunity to level the scores but fumbled the ball before Stefan Ratchford extended the Wolves lead. He picked up a Gareth O’Brien grubber kick to touch down underneath the posts. He kicked his second conversion of the match and the Wolves led 12-0 at the break.

Leeds recovered from a 12-0 deficit at Hull FC last week but the first score of the second half went to the home side. A rare loose pass from Kevin Sinfield was pounced upon by Ryan Atkins and he scored under the posts. Ratchford converted again for an 18-0 lead.

The Rhinos set up an exciting final quarter when a brilliant move involving Ryan Hal and Kallum Watkins released winger Tom Briscoe to score their first try of the night. Kevin Sinfield converted and they were fired up.

Brad Singleton was over the line a few minutes later but the try was ruled out for a Danny McGuire knock on and the Wolves held on for a deserved 18-6 victory.

NRL watch
Wolves – Ashton Sims (Cowboys) seems to have slowed down a little after a barnstorming start to his SL career and Roy Asotasi (Rabbitohs) was used sparingly from the bench.

Rhinos – Adam Cuthbertson (Knights) is having a great year and had a big match with 39 and 25 carries. Paul Aiton (Sharks) worked well from dummy half. Joel Moon (Warriors) left the field in the first quarter with concussion and did not return. From the bench Kylie Leuluai (Sea Eagles) put in his usual strong shift while Brett Delaney (Titans) returned from injury with 26 tackles.

Wigan Warriors versus Hull FC
The Warriors ended a two game losing streak but extended Hull’s losing run to four matches with a 13-12 win at the DW Stadium on Friday night.

Wigan led 12-0 at half time after tries from Joel Tomkins and Dan Sarginson were both converted by Matty Smith. Joe Burgess was back in the Warriors starting line up but they were dealt a blow on the half hour mark when Josh Charnley limped off injured.

The Warriors were on top from early on and it was only brave defending form Hull that kept them out before Tomkins eventually forced his way over from a Matty Smith ball. Hull hit back quickly and Dean Hadley got over the line only for the referee, Ben Thaler, to rule it out for a forward pass.

Smith extended the Warriors lead with a penalty before Tomkins ripped the FC defence apart down the right hand side. The ball was moved quickly back to the left and centre Dan Sarginson dummied his way over the line. Smith missed the conversion but the Warriors led 12-0 at half time.

Hull got themselves back into the game early in the second half but it was the home side that gave them a massive helping hand. A mix up between Matty Bowen and Anthony Gelling from a Marc Sneyd bomb gave Hull winger Fetuli Talanoa the opportunity to score. Sneyd converted and the deficit was halved.

Burgess quickly responded for Wigan but the referee ruled that Bowen’s pass was forward and defences began to get on top before Smith dropped a vital goal to give the Warriors a 13-6 lead.

Hooker Danny Houghton sent out a looping pass to put winger Callum Lancaster in at the corner and Sneyd converted from the touchline to set up a thrilling finish.

Wigan had opportunities to kill the game but Hull nearly snatched it at the end but a Liam Watts pass was too high for Talanoa and Wigan held on for a hard fought and much needed 12-12 win.

NRL watch
Warriors – Full back Matty Bowen (Cowboys) was always dangerous with ball in hand and ran for a 117 metres and Taulima Tautai (Eels) worked well coming off the bench making 23 tackles.

FC – Fetuli Talanoa (Rabbitohs) crossed for is second try of the year while Jordan Rankin (Titans) had another very good game at full back and gained 141 metres from 13 carries. Former Titans team mates Steve Michaels and Mark Minichello worked hard defensively with 25 and 37 tackles respectively. Gareth Ellis (Tigers) also had a strong match with 31 tackles and 104 metres.

Widnes Vikings versus St. Helens
The champions were made to work very hard for their fifth win of the season. The 30-20 win at the Vikings and the Leeds Rhinos defeat at Warrington means they go in to week six with a two-point lead at the top of the table.

The Vikings are no push overs and once again proved that they are a very competitive outfit. Skipper Kevin Brown was missing for the home side along with Lloyd White, Cameron Phelps, Manase Manuokafoa and Hep Cahill while Jonny Lomax, Kyle Amor and James Roby missed out for the Saints although they did have Travis Burns back after a one match ban.

The home side started off quickly and prop Eamonn O’Carroll scored the first try which Danny Tickle converted to open up a 6-0 lead. Determined defence from the Vikings kept Alex Walmsley from scoring but it wasn’t long before Lance Hohaiha, standing in for Roby at hooker, scampered over straight from dummy half. Burns levelled the scores.

Tommy Makinson made a try-saving tackle on Vikings half back Joe Mellor before a Rhys Hanbury pass put big wingman Patrick Ah Van in at the corner. Stefan March kicked the touchline conversion and added a penalty goal five minutes before half time to give Widnes a deserved 14-6 lead.

The Saints immediately reduced the deficit after half time. Ah Van fumbled a Jon Wilkin kick and Atelea Vea pounced on the error to score a try that was converted by Burns. Saints now upped the pressure and tempo of the game and quickly forced two drop outs from under the Vikings posts.

The pressure began to tell and teenage forward Luke Thompson took advantage after 53 minutes to put the Saints in front for the first time. Burns kicked his third goal and St. Helens led 18-14. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

In fact it didn’t take them long to extend the lead. A storming break from Vea was supported by full back Paul Wellens who in turn found the supporting Jordan Turner who scored his sides fourth try.

Burns’ conversion was again successful. 24-14 to Saints. Just a few minutes later, on the hour, Hohaiha put the game to bed with his second try and the Saints led 30-14.

Danny Craven looked likely to score a consolation try but stumbled and was stopped by Mark Dawson but the Vikings did manage to have the last say in the match through a late try from hooker Aaron Heremaia. Marsh converted but St. Helens continued their unbeaten run with a 30-20 win.

NRL watch
Vikings – Rhys Hanbury (Tigers) created a try for Patrick Ah Van (Warriors) with both players running for over 100+ metres in the game. Aaron Heremaia (Warriors) worked hard defensively as did Danny Galea (Panthers, Tigers, Raiders).

Saints – Still no Luke Walsh. Travis Burns (Panthers) returned from suspension and kicked well. Lance Hohaiha (Warriors) had a great game at hooker making 45 tackles and scoring two tries while Atelea Vea (Storm) had his best game in a Saints shirt gaining 153 metres and scoring a try. Mose Masoe (Panthers) did not get much game time off the bench this week.

Salford Red Devils versus Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Salford were looking to increase their unbeaten run to three games and had star halfback signing Michael Dobson back in tandem with Rangi Chase while the Wildcats were looking to avoid a third straight defeat after opening the year with two wins.

Adrian Morley was making his 300th Super League appearance.

For the second home game running it was the Rangi Chase show, although it took him a while to get into his stride and before he did the Wildcats could have had three tries.

A Crag Hall 40-20 set up the position for winger Chris Riley to get over the line but a forward pass was ruled and then Reece Lynne had a try disallowed for a double movement. Eventually they got the try they deserved when good work from loose forward Danny Washbrook put halfback Jacob Miller in for a try that Craig Hall converted to give them a 6-0 lead.

The Red Devils soon turned the game on it’s head and it was that man Chase that was heavily involved. First he picked up a loose Tim Smith pass and put winger Greg Johnson away on a 80-metre sprint to the line before a superb short ball gave Weller Hauraki the space to score his first try for Salford.

Josh Griffin converted both tries and the Red Devils went in 12-6 up.

Chase himself extended the lead just after half time when he dummied over for a try that Griffin again converted. They led 18-6 but the Wildcats still had some fight in them and hooker Paul McShane forced his way over from dummy half for a try that Hall converted to get them back in the game.

Veteran Adrian Morley, nearly 38 years of age, then went on a 50 metre rampage that set up the position for Chase, again, to provide the pass for Junior Sa’u to score his sides fourth try. Griffin maintained his 100per cent kicking record for the day.

The Wildcats continued to attack and scored their third try through full back Hall which he again converted to bring them back to within six points but the Red Devils did not look like losing the game and took the points 24-18.

NRL watch
Red Devils – Rangi Chase (Dragons) was the star man contributing a try and three assists, gaining 174 metres and making 19 tackles. Michael Dobson (Raiders and Knights) came back into the side but took a back seat to Chase.

Kevin Locke (Warriors) kept the full back role but did not have much impact on the game, while Junior Sa’u (Knights) and Lama Tasi (Roosters and Broncos) both had strong games. Adrian Morley (Roosters) gained 118 metres and made 29 tackles on his 300th SL appearance. Weller Hauraki (Eels) continued his good form with a try and 34 tackles.

Wildcats – Tim Smith (Eels and Sharks) and Jacob Miller (Tigers) struggled to get a hold of the game while Pita Godinet and Ali Lauitiiti (both Warriors) could make no impact coming off the bench.

Hull Kingston Rovers versus Catalans Dragons
20-6 down after 41 minutes of their last home game against Wigan two weeks ago and went on to win, this week Hull KR were 20-4 down at home to Catalans Dragons after 38 minutes and they went on to score 46 unanswered points to blitz the French side and win the game comfortably 50-20.

It was a result which took them from the bottom of the table to a play off spot in eighth, such are the fine margins in this very tight competition.

Rovers got off to a slow start though and were 4-0 down inside the first two minutes when poor goa line defence allowed Willie Tonga to force his way over from close range.

Dureaux missed the conversion but the Dragons were in again shortly after when a high kick from Dureaux was collected and touched down over the line by Zeb Taia but the referee disallowed the try for a push by the big second rower.

Rovers took advantage and a great off load by prop Adam Walker saw Liam Salter put in Ken Sio for home team’s first of the game.

Mantellato missed the conversion and the scores were tied. In the next few minutes the game went the Dragons way – Rovers prop Mitch Allgood was sin binned for punching Dureaux and Catalans took advantage.

First, a short side play to the right and clever pass out of the back of his hand by second rower Elliott Whitehead put winger Michael Oldfield in at the corner and then a powerful drive from captain Remy Casty saw him bust some poor defence to score.

Dureaux converted and the Dragons had a 10-point lead. The return of Allgood did not help. The lead was extended by Eloi Pelissier after a clever inside ball from Dureaux put fullback Morgan Escare through a massive hole to off load to the hooker.

Just minutes before Catalans had had another try disallowed for a forward pass and were really ripping the home side apart and they led 20-4. However, this was to be the last time they bothered the scoreboard all afternoon.

The tide turned just before half time when the home team got themselves back in the game. A long ball to the left from skipper Terry Campese saw centre Kris Welham give a good old fashioned hand off to two Catalans defenders before he handed on to the charging Maurice Blair who in turn off loaded to full back Ben Cockayne for him to score the first of his two tries. They were back in the game with just a 10-point halftime deficit – 10-20.

The second half was all about Campese, halfback partner Albert Kelly and new loan signing from Huddersfield Giants Shaun Lunt. Rovers scored seven second-half tries and everything went through Campese and Kelly. Campese has so far been the stand out of the two, but Kelly got back on track in this game.

Hull KR’s second half-performance was magnificent, and they went on to record a 50-20 win.

NRL watch
Rovers – Albert Kelly (Titans) was brilliant and Terry Campese (Raiders) was not far behind. They had a hand in everything Rovers did well. Ken Sio (Eels) scored a hat trick to go joint top of the SL try scoring charts and Josh Mantellato kicked seven goals to go joint top of the goal kicking charts.

Mitch Allgood (Eels) blotted his copybook a little with a first half sin binning that gave up two tries and Maurice Blair (Titans) had his best game in a Rovers shirt.

Dragons – Willie Tonga (Bulldogs) and Michael Oldfield (Roosters) both got on the score sheet and Scott Dureaux (Knights) ran the first half. Zeb Taia (Knights) was strong in the first half along with Ben Pomeroy (Sharks) and Ian Henderson (Warriors) but they could have no effect on the rampant Robins in the second half.

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