Halifax Panthers, Leeds Rhinos and London Roosters were the three winners as the Betfred Wheelchair Super League followed in the footsteps of the running game with a Magic Weekend in Newcastle.
It was the second time this season that all six Super League teams have gathered at a single location to play a full round of matches, this time using the superb facilities at the University of Northumbria after the first Magic round at the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus in April.
The action kicked off with a nip and tuck first half between Hull FC and Halifax, with a hat-trick from this year’s new England call-up Tristan Norfolk keeping the black and whites in the game at 24-26 at the break.
But the champions, who needed a win after losing their previous league fixture at London Roosters, dominated the second half to score 42 unanswered points – and England World Cup hero Rob Hawkins was in blistering form, ending with a remarkable personal haul of 44 points from seven tries and eight goals.
Jodie Boyd-Ward almost matched him in the second game, the Wales international scoring six of Leeds’s 19 tries in a 112-18 victory over Warrington Wolves.
Warrington were facing a daunting task against an unbeaten Rhinos team but competed bravely, trailing 46-12 at half-time with Kyran Hoult scoring two tries.
Leeds stretched away in the second half, with five players scoring two tries – Nathan Mulhall, Josh Butler, Nathan Collins, Verity Smith and England captain Tom Halliwell – and Ewan Clibbens contributing 24 points through three tries and six goals.
Collins also landed nine conversions, but Hoult had the consolation of completing his hat-trick for Warrington, with Toby Burton-Carter landing all three conversions.
The last match between the Warriors and the Roosters was always going to be tighter, but it was the London side who maintained their impressive recent form.
The Roosters’ England stars Joe Coyd and Lewis King each scored a hat-trick, with Coyd also kicking six conversions for a 24-point haul, while Jack Lindon touched down twice and Matt Wass once.
USA international Matt Wooloff scored two tries for Wigan, and Chris Greenhalgh claimed their other, but it was the London team who made the long journey home in good spirits.
Results
Hull FC 24 Halifax Panthers 68
Leeds Rhinos 112 Warrington Wolves 18
Wigan Warriors 16 London Roosters 48
