Castleford, Leeds and Widnes maintain perfect starts

Castleford, Leeds and Widnes maintained their 100% starts to the Super League season with wins over Hull KR, Catalan and Huddersfield on Friday night.

The Vikings pulled off the shock of the night, twice coming from two scores behind to defeat last season’s minor premiers Huddersfield.

Jermaine McGillvary pounced after Rhys Hanbury had dropped Danny Brough‘s towering kick, before Leroy Cudjoe intercepted Danny Craven‘s pass to race 60m for a try.

But Widnes led 12-10 at the interval, scoring through Hanbury and on-loan St Helens prop Paul Clough, on debut.

Huddersfield regained the lead early in the second half through Eorl Crabtree, and two Danny Brough penalties put them 20-12 in front, only for Widnes to mount a fine comeback just as it looked like the game might be going away from them.

First, Joe Mellor pounced on a loose ball to go in under the sticks, and Jack Owens and Hanbury combined on the left late on to give the Vikings the edge, and they held out at the death to record their second win of their season, and their fifth straight Super League win.

In France, Catalan’s difficult start to 2014 continued as they were soundly beaten 40-12 by Leeds.

The Dragons, who suffered a heavy defeat to Castleford last time out, led 6-0 after 20 minutes through Michael Oldfield‘s try, but Joel Moon, Brett Delaney and Tom Briscoe had the Rhinos 18-6 up at the break.

Two quick tries early in the second half from Carl Ablett and Ryan Hall put Brian McDermott’s side out of site, before Hall added his second and Kevin Sinfield scored to complete the rout.

Castleford made it three wins from three thanks to a Richard Owen hat-trick in a 30-10 win at Hull KR.

They led 18-10 at half-time, Frankie Mariano adding to two Owen touchdowns with Omari Caro and James Green replying for the hosts.

But Castleford made sure of the win thanks to Owen’s hat-trick score and an Oliver Holmes try, to add to their wins at Bradford and against Catalan so far this season.