After round four of the Super Eights Qualifiers we are starting to get a clearer picture of which sides will be playing in the top flight next season and which sides will compete in the Championship in 2017.
This weekend the Rhinos met the Red Devils as they looked for a fourth consecutive win while the Giants were looking for a convincing home win against the Broncos. On Saturday afternoon the Centurions visited Hull KR, looking to maintain their own unbeaten record while the Bulldogs and Featherstone were both hoping for their first points of a disappointing campaign.
It was a 'nip and tuck' first half at Headingley on Friday night. Jones-Buchanan opened the Leeds scoring but a converted Griffin try and a thirty-third minute O'Brien penalty gave the Red Devils the lead. Watkins scored Leeds' second just before half time for 10-8 to the home side. The Rhinos kept Salford pointless in the second half while running in three converted tries and kicking a penalty through Lilley. Segeyaro, Ablett and Cuthbertson all got on the score sheet as the Rhinos won 30-8 to make it four from four. The Red Devils are now in all sorts of trouble as they fight for their Super League survival with games against Featherstone, London and Batley all now must win.
Just down the road at the John Smiths Stadium the Huddersfield Giants were putting London to the sword with a dominant performance. London had taken an early lead through a Williams try after nineteen minutes but McGillvary and Cudjoe both scored before the interval for a 10-4 half time lead for the home side. The second half saw a Giants onslaught with tries from Wardle, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Brough and Murphy securing an impressive 40-4 win to keep them on target for a top three finish.
We brought you full details of Leigh Centurions superb Saturday afternoon
25-18 away win at Hull KR which lifted them ahead of Huddersfield Giants and level on points with top placed Leeds Rhinos.
Batley and Featherstone were both looking for their first points of the Qualifiers and the first half showed that the was little between the two sides. Reittie opened the scoring for The Bulldogs after ten minutes but the scores were level on fifteen when Briscoe scored for Rovers. Duckworth added a second Fev try on thirty seven but a dying seconds Brambani drop goal reduced the margin to three points at the break at 8-5. A Foster penalty extended the Rovers lead to 10-5 but Walker replied with his own two pointer to make the difference three points again. Six minutes from time Reittie went over for his second for the Bulldogs for a hard fought 11-10 win.
Next weekends mouthwatering game is Leigh at home to the Huddersfield Giants as second plays third. The Rhinos look to have a simple Friday night game aggressive home to Batley and on Sunday London host Hull KR in an intriguing looking game while Featherstone mKe the trip to Salford.
Current Standings
Playing Super League in 2017: Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Centurions, Huddersfield Giants
Million Pound Game: Hull KR v. London Broncos
Playing Championship in 2017: Salford Red Devils, Batley Bulldogs, Featherstone Rovers