Broncos relegated after Wolves battering, Bradford teetering on the edge

joelmonaghan

The Broncos have endured a miserable season and their drop to the Championship - which ends one of six ever-present records in the top division - has been on the cards for some time.

Their fate was sealed as the Wolves ran in 13 tries at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday to rack up their ninth straight Super League win - their best run since 1987.

Winger Joel Monaghan was the star of the show with four tries, while Chris Hill and Ben Currie both scored hat-tricks for Tony Smith's men in the demolition.

Denny Solomona and Alex Foster were on the scoresheet for the Broncos, but the gulf in quality was clear from the outset and they remain on course to become the first team to lose every match in a Super League season.

Bradford Bulls - another side who have competed in Super League every year since its inception in 1996 - appear increasingly likely to join the Broncos after James Lowes' men slumped to a 46-22 defeat at table-toppers St Helens on Friday.

The hosts, who led 28-0 at half-time, scored 40 of their points within 50 minutes of the encounter at Langtree Park.

The Bulls scored four tries in a spirited second-half fightback, but Paul Wellens had the last say with St Helens' eighth try in the final minute, meaning the Bulls could be relegated as early as next weekend if they lose to Huddersfield Giants.

Leeds Rhinos bounced back from last weekend's defeat to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats with a 30-6 triumph over Hull KR at Headingley.

After a scoreless first half, Rob Burrow - back in Leeds' starting line-up after a three-month lay-off with a broken collarbone - led the way with two of the hosts' five tries.

Also on Friday, Castleford Tigers ran in eight tries, including a brace from Liam Finn, in an entertaining 44-30 success over Huddersfield.

In the lower echelons of the table, the Wildcats secured a morale-boosting 12-10 win over Widnes Vikings on Thursday, while on Saturday big-spenders Salford Red Devils defeated fellow strugglers Hull FC 35-22.

Rounding off the action, Matty Bowen scored twice and played a part in two more scores as defending champions Wigan Warriors were 37-16 victors at Catalan Dragons on Saturday. 

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