Warriors win derby, Rhinos ease past Tigers

Shaun Wane - cropped

Wigan Warriors gained a modicum of revenge over rivals St Helens with a 12-4 victory on Friday in a bruising rematch of the 2014 Super League Grand Final.

Last year's meeting at Old Trafford was overshadowed by the actions of Wigan prop Ben Flower, who was sent off inside two minutes - and subsequently banned for six months - after punching a defenceless Lance Hohaia as the Saints man lay prone on the turf.

The Warriors went on to lose 14-6 on that occasion, yet Shaun Wane's side enjoyed a much stronger start to Friday's fixture, crossing in the first minute when Jordan Turner's kick was charged down and the ball bounced kindly for Dom Manfredi to surge over by the posts.

Matty Smith added the extras, but Saints got back to within two points on 17 minutes as the video referee awarded a try to Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, moments after Joe Greenwood had limped off with an ankle problem.

A ferocious tempo was maintained thereafter - Saints also losing Paul Wellens to injury - in what must surely be the finest match of the Super League season to date.

The score remained 6-4 until the 71st minute, when Joe Burgess touched down a precise kick from George Williams and Smith made no mistake with his second conversion attempt.

Leeds Rhinos are now two points clear of Saints at the top of the table following a 26-12 victory at Castleford Tigers earlier on Friday.

The visitors saw Ryan Hall sin-binned for not releasing early on, but Joel Moon opened the scoring upon the winger's return and then produced the break that led to Hall extending their advantage.

Michael Shenton got Castleford on the board following Liam Finn's neat grubber kick, only for the Rhinos to restore their 10-point advantage through a converted try from Stevie Ward.

Second-half scores from Hall and Adam Cuthbertson put Leeds out of sight and ensured Shenton's second try was no more than a consolation.

Salford Red Devils leapfrogged opponents Huddersfield Giants and moved up to fourth with an 18-12 away win.

Tries from Josh Griffin, Ben Jones-Bishop and Carl Forster proved enough for Salford as they enhanced their credentials as challengers for a top-four finish in 2015.

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