Round Nine of Super League is in the books and so too are the attendances, with three games posting five figures but one falling short of 5,000.
Scheduling was certainly an issue for fans watching from home as two games were played at the same time on Thursday and three at the same time on Friday, with no games played on Sunday.
However, the schedule also wasn’t all that favourable to match-going fans as Bradford Bulls’ home game against Hull KR clashed with the city’s big football match against Bolton Wanderers, a game between two sides chasing top six in the final throws of the season.
That saw Bradford’s attendance take a steep drop from what it has been in the opening rounds as 7,751 were in attendance, which is still a very respectable figure but short of the club’s opening few home games on their return to Super League.
Leigh Leopards drew a similar crowd at home to Huddersfield Giants on Thursday night as 7,603 turned up to watch them secure another win, whilst Thursday night’s other game saw the lowest crowd of the round. Just 4,014 watched as York beat Toulouse in a repeat of last year’s Championship Grand Final but being a Thursday game that had little to no away support, the crowd is still respectable.
Friday saw big crowds all around as over 8,000 turned up at Castleford, aided by the masses of away fans, as Hull FC ran riot as they won 50-10 in Andy Last’s first game in interim charge. Almost 15,000 watched Leeds run riot at Headingley as they beat Catalans 46-4 whilst the other game saw Wire see off Wigan in front of 13,218.
The final game of the round saw St Helens hold off Wakefield Trinity’s comeback with over 11,000 at the BrewDog Stadium.
Super League round nine attendances
Leigh Leopards 30-16 Huddersfield Giants – 7,603
York Knights 38-14 Toulouse Olympique – 4,014
Castleford 10-50 Tigers Hull FC – 8,035
Leeds Rhinos 46-4 Catalans Dragons – 14,607
Warrington Wolves 23-6 Wigan Warriors – 13,218
Bradford 12-48 Bulls Hull KR – 7,751
St Helens 18-12 Wakefield Trinity – 11,059
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