Super League round-up: Red Devils show title credentials, Dragons end winless streak and Giants rescue draw
Hull FC 18-54 Salford Red Devils
Little-fancied Salford are confirmed as the nearest challengers to surprise Betfred Super League leaders Castleford after blitzing Hull 54-18 at the KCOM Stadium.
The Red Devils ran in 10 tries, seven of them in a near-faultless first half, to cruise to a fourth successive win that lifts them up to second place in the table.
It was easily Salford's biggest Super League win over Hull, who had two men sent to the sin-bin during a horror show that brought their own unbeaten five-match run to an abrupt end.
Leigh Centurions 26-37 Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons ended a run of five games without a win with a 37-26 success over Leigh Centurions at the Sports Village.
Full-back Tony Gigot scored a try on his first appearance of the season after his ban for inappropriate behaviour towards an anti-doping officer was reduced from two years to three months earlier in the day.
The French side raced into a 28-2 lead after only 24 minutes with five tries, four of them converted by lively stand-off Luke Walsh.
Leigh fought back in the second half but left themselves with too much to do as they suffered a third successive defeat.
St Helens 14-14 Huddersfield Giants
Darnell McIntosh scored two tries as Huddersfield came from behind to earn a 14-14 draw at St Helens.
The Giants are without a win in six Super League matches but at least avoided a third straight defeat after full-back McIntosh inspired a second-half comeback.
It took 25 minutes for St Helens to get their first points but by the break the home side were in control as they took advantage of Huddersfield's brittle confidence.
Theo Fages broke the deadlock and then dazzled McIntosh with his footwork to make it a quickfire double before Adam Swift scored his 74th try on his 100th appearance to make it 14-0.
McIntosh's try 20 minutes from time led to a period of concerted Huddersfield pressure during which he touched down again before Sam Wood crossed two minutes from time to level the scores.
Danny Brough had the chance to win it for the Giants but he missed his touchline conversion as Huddersfield fell just short of a famous win.
Wakefield Wildcats 30-4 Widnes Vikings
Dean Hadley grabbed two tries to help Wakefield gain a fifth win in six games and continue their climb up the Betfred Super League table with a 30-4 success over Widnes.
Trinity, six days after what many considered their best performance of the season - a 38-18 victory at Catalans Dragons - continued their upward momentum with other tries from Bill Tupou, Tom Johnstone, Scott Grix and Craig Huby, while Liam Finn kicked three goals.
The Vikings, who gained their first win of the season at Leigh the previous Saturday, had a sole reply through winger Corey Thompson.
It was the first time in almost 12 months that the West Yorkshire side had registered three successive wins and leaves them in high spirits prior to next week's eagerly awaited Good Friday derby at league leaders Castleford.
Warrington Wolves 25-14 Leeds Rhinos
Ryan Atkins scored twice as Warrington finally won their first Betfred Super League game of the season with a controversial 25-14 victory over Leeds.
The Wolves were fortunate not to have Ben Westwood sent off in the first minute after late tackle on Liam Sutcliffe at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
They made the most of the reprieve as Atkins cancelled out Tom Briscoe's early score with two tries and Tom Lineham added another to put them in control.
Leeds rallied through Matt Parcell and Joel Moon but Warrington, with Westood influential, held out and Kurt Gidley made a long-awaited victory - at the eighth attempt - safe.