What had started the weekend looking like a mundane round of Superleague matches, again turned out to be anything but, as Superleague XVIII continued to be the season that just keeps on giving.

There were two big shocks over the weekend, and plenty of other raised eyebrows. The big surprises were; a win for Tony Rea and his Broncos side against an under strength Saints side; and the totally out-of-character sending off of Huddersfield Giants half-back Luke Robinson.

We bring you the pick of the weekends action.

There were two games on Friday night and both were closer than might have been expected. SKY chose to show tenth against eleventh as the Wildcats travelled to the artificial pitch of Widnes with chances of a top eight tilt starting to ebb for both sides.

[PIC1]The Vikings were favourites thanks to a favourable home record that had seen them drop just three points in five home encounters. The visitors took the lead early through a Paul Aiton try within the opening minute, and despite tries from Brown and Mellor for the Vikings it was the visitors who led 16-12 at half time.

The second half was equally tense with the sides exchanging tries until the Wildcats pulled out to a 28-20 lead thanks to a Lee Smith penalty in the dying seconds. The Vikings weren’t finished and a Joseph try and Brown conversion narrowed the margin to two points just as the final hooter sounded.

Over on the east coast it was Hull FC who gave the league leaders a bit of a fright, only losing out to the soon departing Pat Richards magical kicking foot.

Thornley and Sam Tomkins had opened the Warriors account to edge them to a 12-0 lead but Lineham and Crooks reduced the deficit to just two points at half time. In very wet conditions the Warriors had extended the lead to 24-10 (Charnley and Tomkins second) before two more from Tom Lineham gave him his hat-trick and a lifeline for the Airlie Birds at 20-24.

Pat Richards would again be the Cherry & Whites hero as he kicked two penalties to ease Wigan to safety and cement their position at the top of the pile.

Saturday saw one of Superleague XVIII’s shock results as St. Helens lost on the road at the London Broncos, only their third win of the season and the first time that they have overhauled top eight opposition.

[PIC2]Laffranchi and Swift gave the Saints an early lead but a Bailey try and Witt conversion reduced the half-time deficit to 6-10. Two quick second half tries from Robertson and Lee established an 18-10 home lead and despite a try ten minutes from the end from Wellens it was a penalty goal and a drop goal from the influential Witt that sealed the points and sent the two and a half thousand Broncos fans home happy.

The Saints fans must be wondering how long they will have to suffer the injuries that are causing Nathan Browns side to drop down the league. Already out of the Cup and holding on to the top eight by the skin of their fingernails, Brown must be treading carefully around the corridors of St Helens power.

Brian Noble took charge of Salford Reds for the first time and couldn’t have chosen a better game for his Koukash baptism as Castleford Tigers visited the City of Salford Stadium. The lead changed hands four times in an exhausting and exciting first half, which saw the Reds with a narrow 16-14 lead at half time.

Both sides boasted tries from six different players; Ashurst, Williams, Dixon, Mauro, Fages, McGoldrick for Salford, and Massey, Carney, Milner, Holmes, Ellis, and Thompson for the Tigers. It was the boot of Sneyd that made all the difference as he converted five, compared to three from Ellis.

The Reds got their third win of the season and lifted themselves off the basement and above their opponents.

The third Saturday game saw the Huddersfield Giants travel to fortress Perpignan to take on the Catalans Dragons.

Despite an early Wardle try for the Giants added to on thirty-four by Murphy, it was the home side that led into the break thanks to late tries by Philippe-Baille and Pelissier, the second converted by Bosc for 10-8.

Taia extended the home sides lead early in the second half but the turning point in the game would be the sending off of Luke Robinson by referee Child after he made off the ball contact with Escare’s head. Down to twelve men it was the Giants who galvanised and thanks to tries by Cudjoe and Lunt, both converted and extended with a penalty by Brough, saw the Giants to a 28-20 win to keep up the pressure on the Warriors at the top of the table.

[PIC3]There were just two games left for Sunday, both of which went to form.

In East Hull the Leeds Rhinos survived an early scare against Hull KR. After leading through a Hall try, a Paterson try and Dobson goal gave the home side the lead, but it wouldn’t last for long as the Rhinos took over and bossed every aspect of the game.

Tries from Delaney, Hardaker and Achurch eased the Rhinos to a comfortable 20-6 lead and it only got worse in the second half for the Robins. Moon, Watkins and Kirke had all crossed the whitewash before a consolation try for Caro on seventy-nine. While the KR fans celebrated, Kallum Watkins returned the football to score his second of the afternoon and seal a convincing 44-10 win for the visitors.

[PIC4]It all went to form at the Haliwell-Jones too as the Warrington Wolves cruised to an easy victory over the Bradford Bulls.

All that the visitors had to show for their efforts was a twenty-first minute unconverted Purtell try, small consolation as the home side ran riot. Tries for Grix, Currie and Riley established a 14-4 half time lead and more from Monaghan, Hill, Atkins and Grix, his second, sealed the easy points by 32-4 and kept the pressure on the top two.

Another week of great excitement and some close scorelines, an unexpected result and a bit of controversy. There is no wonder that we love it.