Patrick Ah Van and Rhys Hanbury both scored two tries each to lead struggling Widnes to an impressive 46-16 victory over Castleford in the Super League on Sunday.
The Tigers – without injured top try-scorer Justin Carney – missed the chance to go fourth in the table, while hosts Widnes enjoyed just a fourth win in their opening 11 league games.
Ah Van, who arrived in Super League from NZ Warriors in 2011, and Hanbury each grabbed an early try before doubling up, while Cameron Phelps also got in on the act.
Elsewhere Ukuma Ta’ai came off the bench to grab two tries in Huddersfield’s 38-14 triumph at home to Catalans Dragons.
Aaron Murhpy also grabbed a double as Huddersfield ran in seven tries in total against their French visitors.
The Giants, who made a slow start to the Super League campaign, went fifth in the table with the win, level on points with three other sides and just one behind Salford.
Ash Handley scored a first-half hat-trick as Leeds thrashed reigning champions St Helens 41-16 at Langtree Park on Friday to open up a six-point lead at the top of the table.
Former Penrith Panthers halfback Travis Burns kicked a pair of goals for the Saints but they were well beaten as Leeds — who have now won 10 of their 11 league matches — racked up seven tries.
The rout was completed by Joel Moon, the former Brisbane Broncos man capitalising on a failed offload to race over and rub salt into St Helens’ wounds.
Wigan celebrated Ben Flower’s return to action with a win, as Dom Manfredi’s hat-trick led them to a 30-20 victory over Warrington.
Flower returned from a six-month ban — imposed after he punched former NZ Warriors stalwart Lance Hohaia in last season’s Grand Final defeat by St Helens — to a warm reception from the Warriors fans.
Veteran Aussie winger Joel Monaghan grabbed one of Warrington’s three tries but it wasn’t enough, Kiwi-born centre Anthony Gelling crossing over for the decisive try before Manfredi scored his third late on.
In the Challenge Cup, Josh Mantellato stole the show at Bradford Bulls — running in four tries and kicking seven goals to take Hull KR into the next round with a 50-30 win on Sunday.
Meanwhile, city rivals Hull FC saw off Sheffield 34-12 after former Gold Coast Titans forward Mark Minichello and Mickey Paea got them up and running with an early try apiece.
Gareth Hock came off the bench to help Championship leaders Leigh Centurions upset Salford — his former club — despite threats of legal action.
Salford claimed before the match that the ex-England forward would break a settlement agreement if he were to play in the Challenge Cup clash, but he emerged before half-time and Leigh went on to win 22-18, dumping the Super League side out of the competition.
Wakefield, bottom of the Super League, ended their eight-match winless run with a 44-16 Challenge Cup victory over second-tier Halifax.
Richard Owen and Ian Kirke scored two tries apiece while Craig Hall amassed 16 points.
