On paper, the game of the round looked like being Sunday’s clash at the Leigh Sports Village between fourth placed Centurions and a Vikings side currently residing in third. The outcome would go some way to suggesting the three sides who would definitely be playing Super League next season.
On Saturday evening the Warrington Wolves were strong favourites as they travelled to a London Broncos side who have pushed sides close in the Qualifiers without getting the points.
Sunday also saw a struggling Catalans Dragons at Halifax, and Hull KR travel to Featherstone.
The opening game of round four was at the Trailfinders where Warrington Wolves made very hard work of their
40-38 win over the London Broncos.
The Leigh Centurions fans left disappointed after their side were controlled throughout by the Widnes Vikings who now open up a two point league lead over their opponents today. White opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a converted try and two tries in two minutes mid-way through the half from Gerrard and Hanbury gave the visitors a 14-0 interval lead. Clare grabbed one back for the Centurions on fifty-five but that was cancelled out by Thompson four minutes later. A sixty-sixth minute Dawson try reduced the arrears to 8-20 but two Bridge penalties in the last ten minutes eased the Vikings to their 24-8 win.
Once the Catalans Dragons managed to break the deadlock on twenty-nine, through a Walsh try and conversion, they never looked like dropping the points. Myler added a second try five minutes from the interval for 12-0 and in the second half Wiliame and ahaha grabbed four pointers to seal a 24-0 win which lifts the Dragons level on Qualifiers points with the Leigh Centurions.
Despite going behind to a ninth minute Hardman converted try, KR never really looked in much trouble at Featherstone Rovers. Shaw, Addy and Ellis all scored converted tries before the interval for an 18-6 lead. Mariano reduced the deficit to six with a try on fifty-one but an Ellis penalty on the hour was followed by tries for Minns and Hefernan, the second converted, for a 30-12 lead. The late Johnson converted try just reduced the margin of defeat as Hull KR continued their march back towards Super League.
Two points next week for any of the top five sides would guarantee them at least a shot of Super League in the Million Pound Game. A win for Warrington or Hull KR would make them near certainties for an automatic Super League place.
On current standings (four games of seven played);
2018 Super League: Warrington Wolves, Hull KR, Widnes Vikings
Million Pound Game: Leigh Centurions v. Catalans Dragons
2018 Championship: London Broncos, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax