Filed under: Rugby League
Crusaders produced the performance, and story of the weekend, as Iestyn Harris' side thrashed Wakefield just five days after the clubs withdrew its Super League licence.Elsewhere Sam Tomkins produced another sparkling display for Wigan to keep the Warriors one point clear at the head of the table from Warrington who ran up a monster score against Bradford for the second time this season.
Hull FC 16 Wigan Warriors 30
The basics: Sam Tomkins was again the star of the show as Wigan maintained their place at the head of Super League's table.
Tomkins helped Wigan into a 22-6 lead, before being forced out of the action for 20 minutes with a shoulder injury.
Hull then closed the cap to six points, before Tomkins re-emerged to score a dazzling match winning try.
What it means: This was perfect preparation for Wigan ahead of Saturday's massive Challenge Cup semi-final with St Helens. Hull are still looking nervously over their shoulders at the play-off chasing pack.
They said it: "I think we committed rugby league suicide for a short time in the first half. The errors were damaging and simply, against a top side, you can't gift them 16 points. But, the errors could have been deflating to our team, but I thought we showed belief and spirit to pull it back and give ourselves a chance of winning it." - Hull coach Richard Agar.
"Sam is a good player and I'm glad he's on our team. He's a tough player. He's a real competitor." - Wigan coach Michael Maguire.
Salford City Reds 22 Leeds Rhinos 30
The basics: Leeds Rhinos continued their recent improvement with skipper Kevin Sinfield again producing an outstanding display.
Sinfield earned praise from his coach Brian McDermott, while prop Ryan Bailey scored his first try in four years.
Salford staged a second half rally but it was not enough to give new coach Matt Parish a win in his first home game in charge.
What it means: Leeds consolidated their position in fifth and now have a Challenge Cup semi-final with Castleford to prepare for. Salford are up against it to make the top eight.
They said it: "I didn't think our options in attack were great, particularly in the first half. I thought we butchered a number of opportunities and got caught three or four times." - Salford coach Matt Parish.
"I thought Salford gave it a crack. I didn't think they were great with the ball and probably dropped too many balls but they certainly did not ease off the gas. I thought we defended strongly. Salford laid down a marker early and said we were not going to roll over them." - Leeds boss Brian McDermott.
Catalan Dragons 48 Harlequins 22
The basics: Gregory Mounis and Clint Greenshields both bagged try doubles as the Dragons maintained their top four push.
Despite the absence of scrum half Scott Dureau, Dragons raced into a 24-0 lead before Quins finally got going.
Luke Dorn helped to inspire the Harlequins comeback but Catalans rarely looked in danger of losing.
What it means: Catalans remain just a point outside the top four, with four rounds of Super League remaining. Quins' hopes of making the play-offs have long since disappeared.
They said it: "I thought we played well enough to win the game, especially building a 24-0 lead. We came out and played some more good footy, but we didn't control the game like we should have." - Catalans coach Trent Robinson.
"We talked about playing quick and getting out of the blocks this week and did a lot of things in training about playing quick and coming at teams. But we didn't do that tonight and left too much juice in the Catalan tank offensively at the end. They're a good team and we need to be better than that." - Harlequins coach Rob Powell.
Huddersfield Giants 46 Hull KR 26
The basics: Depleted Huddersfield saw off a strong Hull KR challenge to end a three-match losing run and hang onto fourth place.
Scott Grix finished with a personal haul of 18 points from two tries and five goals, while Graeme Horne also impressed with his own try double.
Rovers completed fully for much of the game, but the second half sin binning of Clint Newton for dissent hit them hard.
What it means: Out of the Challenge Cup, Huddersfield can now focus on regaining their early season form in the league. Hull KR missed a chance to leap frog rivals Hull in eighth place.
They said it: "It wasn't great but we were able to get the win with the personnel we had available. People are going to talk about those that are injured. But we should be really talking about the ones that have come into the side." - Giants assistant coach Paul Anderson.
"The season's not dead. We've just got a game less to catch the team that's ahead of us. When people see the newspapers they'll see the result and think it was an easy win. But we stayed with them and worked hard without being able to get our noses in front." - Hull KR coach Justin Morgan.
Warrington Wolves 64 Bradford Bulls 6
The basics: Warrington's outside backs had an absolute field day as Bradford's rollercoaster season continued.
Centre Ryan Atkins finished with four tries, Joel Monaghan three, and Matt King and Brett Hodgson two apiece.
Just a week after stunning high-flying Huddersfield, the Bulls again came crashing down to earth, with their only try coming from Patrick Ah Van.
What it means: Warrington, who have scored 122 points in their two meetings with the Bulls, quickly bounced back from their Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Wigan and remain in second. Bradford are still three points off a play-off place.
They said it: "We were very good today right from the start and the response we got from boys after last week was fantastic. It wasn't about getting back to winning ways today, but about performing the way we want to, they way we have done and the way we know how and the boys did that plus a bit extra." - Warrington assistant coach Willie Poching.
"We have gone from being very good one week to very poor the next and Warrington were hot today and we just couldn't contain them. I'd like to think we can bounce back but we need to address that consistency issue which has plagued us through the season and is why we are where we are on the table." - Bradford boss Mick Potter.
Castleford Tigers 26 St Helens 46
The basics: St Helens saw off a determined Castleford comeback to warm up for their cup semi-final against Wigan with a victory.
Inspired by James Roby, Saints raced into a 18-0 lead, but with Rangi Chase on fire the Tigers quickly reduced that to 18-16.
Royce Simmons' side then eased clear in the second half, with fullback Paul Wellens finishing with two tries.
What it means: Both teams now head into next weekend's Challenge Cup semi-finals, but while Saints emerged victorious, they now have injury doubts over James Roby, James Graham and Jonny Lomax, while Shaun Magennis is definitely ruled out. The Tigers fared better but will still have to check on Brett Ferres.
They said it: "We gave a good crack and I can't believe we didn't go in at half-time in front. But we came out of the blocks slow and you can't afford to do that against such a quality team. In the second-half we did exactly the same thing." - Castleford coach Terry Matterson.
"I was happy with the start to the game but I think we might have got a little bit ahead of ourselves. Castleford got back in the game and we should have been a little bit more professional in not giving them as much ball. Castleford can score points and we gave them way too much ball." - St Helens coach Royce Simmons.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/08/01/suoer-league-round-up-crusaders-defiant-wigan-stay-top-wolves/
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