Regan Grace scored a magnificent hat-trick to help the reigning champions, St Helens, thrash Leeds and move to within two points of Wigan at the top of the Super League table. The Wales international scored three solo tries of the highest order to not only open his account for the season but ensure the Saints were far too strong for their patched-up opponents.
Kristian Woolf’s side were, in truth, assured of victory by half-time. They led 24-0 at the break against an out-of-sorts Leeds side courtesy of tries from James Graham, Alex Walmsley, Tommy Makinson and the outstanding Grace, who produced a mazy run to score his first of the night.
He claimed his second shortly after the restart with a stunning one-handed finish to put the result beyond any doubt, before running the entire length of the field for his hat-trick, rounding numerous Rhinos defenders in the process to underline his own talent and the vast difference between the two sides. St Helens had lost three of their first five games prior to lockdown but have now posted comfortable victories against Catalans and Leeds since the restart.
A bulldozing run from Walmsley then saw the forward provide a perfect pass for Théo Fages to score St Helens’ seventh try before Lachlan Coote scored their eighth in the final seconds to make it 48-0. Leeds were nilled at home for the first time in Super League history here on a miserable evening for Richard Agar’s side.
Salford produced a standout performance of their own to inflict a heavy defeat on Hull’s interim coach, Andy Last, in his first game in charge. Last had waited five months to take charge of Hull following the dismissal of Lee Radford prior to lockdown but he will be keen to forget his inaugural match as a head coach, a 54-18 defeat.
Hull conceded 10 tries in all, with Ken Sio, Tui Lolohea and Rhys Williams all claiming braces. Table-topping Wigan were the other winners in Sunday’s triple-header, surviving a late fightback from Wakefield Trinity to win 23-22 courtesy of a drop-goal from the teenage half-back Harry Smith.
Wigan lead 22-6 with 14 minutes remaining and seemed on course for a comfortable win, before two tries from Liam Kay and a magnificent solo effort from Tom Johnstone threatened a remarkable comeback. Smith’s late drop-goal, however, settled the Warriors’ nerves and ensured they would go two points clear at the summit.