On a busy night of Rugby league action in the Super League, St Helens took the opportunity to leapfrog early pacesetters Leeds Rhinos and claim top spot with a convincing home victory. The result seemed assured by half-time, as they had already built up a commanding 24-0 lead over Salford by the break. Although the visitors came more into the match in the second period, Saints were never troubled in a 32-12 triumph. Elsewhere in the league, Warrington and Castleford both maintained their challenge for a top four spot by beating Catalans and Hull KR, respectively.
St Helens 32 - 12 Salford Red Devils (half-time 24-0)
St Helens were heavily indebted to a 20-point haul by Tommy Makinson for their victory over Salford. In a mainly one-sided first-half, Makinson scored two tries to add to the scores from Adam Swift and Jordan Turner.
Despite the return of their playmaker Rangi Chase, Salford were unable to make much of an impression on the home side until into the second period. Tries from Niall Evalds and Chase gave the visitors late hope of an unlikely comeback, but that was extinguished by a Makinson penalty and a further try for Shannon McDonnell.
Last year's Super League champions are beginning to assert their strong claims for retaining their crown again this season, although Leeds will go back to the top if they can beat Wakefield on Sunday.
Warrington Wolves 26 - 18 Catalans Dragons (half-time 12-6)
Catalans' hopes of a top four spot this season were dealt a blow with their defeat at Warrington, which has seen them slip back to eighth place. The Wolves remained fifth, behind Huddersfield on points' difference only.
Once again it was a case of disappointing away form for the Dragons, who have been so impressive when entertaining the league sides at their own ground in Perpignan.
Indeed, only once have the French side been successful on their travels and that was against the team bottom of the league, Wakefield.
In a far from convincing display by Warrington, they outscored the visitors by five tries to three. It was Catalans who opened the scoring through Tony Gigot's try, but Warrington were ahead by the interval through scores of their own for Ben Currie and Ryan Atkins.
The Dragons edged back in front when Eloi Pelissier and Elliott Whitehead went over for tries, but were left to rue missed opportunities thereafter. Their lack of a clinical edge allowed the Wolves to add further scores through Atkins, Chris Hill and Currie as they clinched their victory.
Hull Kingston Rovers 22 - 30 Castleford Tigers (half-time 16-24)
Hull KR's slide down the table continued with a home defeat to the resurgent Tigers. Cas followed up their victory at Newcastle last week at the 'Magic Weekend', with another two points, with Ben Roberts sparking most of their brightest moments. They scored five tries in all thanks to Roberts, Kiwi Denny Solomona, Oliver Holmes, Luke Gale and Liam Finn.
Rovers were not quite able to stay in touch on the score-line, despite a brace of tries from Albert Kelly and one apiece from Kieran Dixon and Aaron Ollett.