FORMER Barrow Raider Chris Hankinson was given his first start of the season for Wigan Warriors as they recorded a 42-10 thumping of Huddersfield Giants to go top of the Super League.

Hankinson wasn’t the only player with Craven Park connections to feature at the John Smith’s Stadium, as prop Joe Bullock came off the bench in what was Wigan’s fourth win in five games this season.

The match turned on the sin-binning of Huddersfield’s Aidan Sezer which came while Wigan were 10-4 down, as Liam Marshall scored twice for the visitors either side of a Sam Powell effort before half-time.

Dom Manfredi scored a fourth try while the Giants were a man down and Marshall went on to complete his hat-trick before Oliver Partington and George Burgess added further scores.

Haverthwaite’s Will Maher came up against his former club in Castleford but it wasn’t a happy reunion as Hull Kingston Rovers were defeated 28-8 at home by the Tigers.

Former Barrow Island forward Morgan Knowles featured from the start for champions St Helens as they coasted to a 32-0 win against Toronto Wolfpack in a match held at Warrington. It was Toronto’s first game without Barrovian Brad Singleton, who is expected to be out for four months after undergoing surgery on his knee for a ruptured lateral medial ligament

Prop Paul Séguier, who was on loan with the Raiders last season, featured off the bench as Catalans Dragons came back from an 18-point deficit to win 34-29 at Hull FC thanks to James Maloney’s late try.

In the Betfred Championship, Alec Susino was an interchange as Featherstone Rovers made a statement in hammering London Broncos 34-10 at Vallis Way.

There was plenty of local interest in Whitehaven’s 40-4 loss at home to Toulouse Olympique as former Raider Brett Carter, Askam product Tom Wilkinson and Barrovian Ellis Gillam all featured.

Jake Spedding started in Widnes Vikings’ 20-8 loss at Dewsbury Rams while Lewis Charnock couldn’t prevent Oldham from falling to a 26-12 defeat at home to Bradford.

In League One, Barrow old boy Andrew Dawson, Millom product Marcus O’Brien and ex-Barrow Island flyer Blain Marwood all played for Workington Town in their 24-6 win over Keighley.