HALIFAX PANTHERS maintained their 100 percent record in the Wheelchair Super League with a 62-42 win over LEEDS RHINOS.
With the two sides meeting again this Saturday in the Challenge Cup final, Halifax will go into the game with bragging rights as they now look favourites to regain their historic treble from last year.
The Panthers raced into an early lead, scoring seven unanswered tries as they went into a 36-0 lead. Rob Hawkins crossed three times and added four goals, while Finlay O’Neill went over twice, with Jack Brown and Nathan Holmes also scoring.
Leeds finally got themselves on the scoreboard through Josh Butler, before Tristan Norfolk and Nathan Collins added further tries, with Collins converting all three to reduce the deficit to 36-18.
Halifax responded through another Hawkins try, converted by Wayne Boardman, before he scored his fifth try of the afternoon to give them a 46-18 half-time lead.
Leeds started well after the break. Cameron Hills and Norfolk both crossed early, with Collins converting both, but Hawkins then added a penalty-goal for Halifax before O’Neill completed his hat-trick.
Norfolk got his third for Leeds, again converted by Collins, but Halifax remained in control. Brown scored two more tries and Hawkins added another goal, but Leeds had the final say through Butler’s second try and Collins’ seventh goal.
The meetings between the two capital clubs, LONDON ROOSTERS and EDINBURGH GIANTS were set to be the longest journeys in the league until someone had the bright idea of meeting in the middle, in Hull, and making a weekend of it, playing fixtures on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday went the way of London, who won 52-28. Lewis King and Joe Coyd both went over for hat-tricks, while Mason Billington and Ellie Cockerton each scored two tries. Jason Owen kicked five goals and Coyd one.
Replying for Edinburgh, who were 24-12 down at half-time, were Stuart Williams, who scored two tries, Dave Hill, Callum Davidson and Arran King. Davidson kicked three goals and Stephen Halsey one.
London completed a double with a 68-6 Sunday success, building up a commanding 42-0 lead by the break.
King scored four tries, Coyd and Jason Owen went over for hat-tricks and Max Owen got two. Conversions came from Jason Owen (eight) and Coyd (two).
Williams got the Edinburgh try which Davidson converted.
Brogan Evans made history when playing for WIGAN WARRIORS. She notched a hat-trick of tries in her side’s 86-30 win at SHEFFIELD EAGLES and in doing so, became the first player to score tries in both the Women’s and Wheelchair Super League.
Matthew Turner continued with his good run of form, scoring four tries, as did Jack Heggie, and he also kicked twelve goals. Toby Burton-Carter crossed for two tries, Oran Spain chipped in with a try and goal, and Adam Rigby also scored a try.
Sheffield took the lead in the game, through a Stephen Reilly try which Joe Wink-Simmonds improved. Ben Simpson added a try in the first half and scored another, as well as two goals, in the second. The other tries came from Chris Haynes, Matt Davies and Stephen Reilly.
HULL FC edged out BRADFORD BULLS 50-43 in a tight encounter after being 32-22 up at half-time.
Josh Edwards scored a hat-trick of tries, Billy Swainger and Nathan Sherwood each touched down twice, and there were also touchdowns from Devon Smith and Liam Stancliffe. Edwards also kicked six goals, and Mike Swainger one.
Keiron Johnson was excellent for Bradford with four tries, four goals and three field-goals. Michael Potter, Charlie Wanless, Isabelle Wright and Nathaniel Wright each added tries.
Results
Saturday 18 July
SUPER LEAGUE: Edinburgh Giants 28 London Roosters 52; Halifax Panthers 62 Leeds Rhinos 42.
CHAMPIONSHIP: Castleford Tigers 128 Wakefield Trinity 2; Midlands Hurricanes 34 North Wales Crusaders 42; Rochdale Hornets 56 Batley Bulldogs 60.
CONFERENCE NORTH: Leigh Leopards 50 Warrington Wolves 20; Swinton Lions 82 Hull KR 72.
Sunday 19 July
SUPER LEAGUE: Hull FC 50 Bradford Bulls 43; London Roosters 68 Edinburgh Giants 6; Sheffield Eagles 30 Wigan Warriors 86.
CONFERENCE NORTH: Widnes Vikings 46 Salford 38.
CONFERENCE SOUTH: Anglian Vipers 22 Brentwood Eels 48; Woodlands Warriors 69 Bedford Tigers 18.
Fixtures
Saturday 25 July
CHALLENGE CUP: Halifax Panthers v Leeds Rhinos (3pm, at Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan).
CONFERENCE NORTH: Swinton Lions v Widnes Vikings.
Sunday 26 July
SUPER LEAGUE: Hull FC v Wigan Warriors.
CONFERENCE NORTH: Leigh Leopards v Hull KR.
CONFERENCE SOUTH: Anglian Vipers v Woodlands Warriors.