In a big weekend we saw Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors collide as well as Hull FC heading over to Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves headed to Salford Red Devils.
Salford won in golden point but they could have had the game won earlier had they not squandered some huge opportunities.
This was something Paul Rowley didn’t want to address after the game which drew criticism from former official Ian Smith with Smith believing Rowley is quick to talk about referee mistakes.
He said: “Don’t you just love SL coaches, not wanting to talk about tries being conceded by easy ball’s being dropped, I wonder if he’d have been as magnanimous if the ref had made an error that big.”
This prompted an angry response from Salford’s Director of Rugby Ian Blease:
“Looking at your posts for sometime now, what a absolute bitter man your proving to be …Your fixation with our coach has gone too far now ….Stop trying to be relevant and enjoy your life instead hey!”
In the heat with two open and attacking sides meeting you always expected a lot of points in the meeting between the two and it only took a matter of minutes until we saw the opening try as a kick from Josh Drinkwater was fumbled by George Burgess straight into the hands of Matty Nicholson to score.
Salford looked to hit back straight away and gave the ball to Deon Cross in space. He cut inside squeezed through and went to ground the ball. There was a suspicion that he had dropped the ball so it was sent up to the video referee as a try where it was determined he had been tackled so a penalty was awarded.
There was another try disallowed at the other end when Paul Vaughan twisted and turned his way towards the try line but as he reached over he lost control of the ball.
This gave Salford the chance to level matters when after a Peter Mata’utia knock on a good line from Ben Hellewell allowed the backrower to carve through and score.
Warrington had the chance to move further clear when they kicked the ball wide and it was batted back to George Williams. He volleyed it but it went dead. Had he caught it or hit it with less venom it would have been a certain try.
They were made to regret that as a Stefan Ratchford error then allowed Brodie Croft to score a simple try.
But straight after the break Warrington hit back with a try that was just like their first as the ball was dropped by Ken Sio and picked up by Matty Nicholson to score.
Warrington then nailed a penalty for a high tackle and Ratchford kicked it to take the Wolves ahead but a fortunate Brodie Croft try gave the Red Devils the lead after a kick hit a defender and landed in his arms.
That try was followed by one for his opposite number George Williams after a great offload allowing the Wolves to take a 20-18 lead but it was all square heading into the final minutes as a deflected pass was taken by Gil Dudson who was in an offside position leaving it at 20-all and forcing golden point.
In golden point the drama continued with Marc Sneyd hitting the post with a shot at the drop goal.
They would go on to win through a try however with Sam Stone backing up a Joe Burgess try to score.
