There is a reduced Betfred League 1 schedule this weekend, but there are still three huge fixtures including current table-toppers Barrow Raiders making the tough trip to Cougar Park.
The Raiders have opened the League 1 season going nine games unbeaten with the only minor blemish on their record being a hard-fought draw with Cumbrian rivals Workington Town.
Keighley currently sit 4th in League 1 and will be looking to make a statement by overcoming Paul Crarey’s Raiders side this Sunday. The Cougars have won three of their last five outings, with each of these victories coming at Cougar Park. However, they did fall to a 34-28 defeat North Wales Crusaders last weekend.
Barrow have won their last seven meetings with Keighley. The Cougars’ last victory against the Raiders was an 18-17 League 1 home win on 16August, 2015. Barrow have also won in each of their last two visits to Cougar Park.
The weekend’s action gets underway on Saturday afternoon with winless West Wales Raiders welcoming a Rochdale Hornets side who are still adjusting to life in League 1.
After a slow start to the season, Rochdale have earned back-to-back victories for the first time in 2021 over the last fortnight with a 38-28 win over North Wales following by a dominant 22-4 performance against London Skolars.
West Wales head into this weekend’s fixture on the back of a difficult 66-0 defeat at the hands of Workington Town.
Anthony Murray’s North Wales will be looking to make it consecutive victories as they travel to a Hunslet side who were beaten 46-44 last weekend by Coventry Bears.
Hunslet have won their last seven meetings with North Wales, however. The Crusaders’ last victory against the Parksiders was a 20-12 League 1 Shield win on 13 August, 2017.
Workington were scheduled to host Coventry however Covid-19 cases saw the game postponed while London Skolars face Doncaster on Friday 16 July – the night before the Betfred Challenge Cup Final.
Betfred League 1 Fixtures:
Saturday 10 July
- West Wales Raiders v Rochdale Hornets – 3pm
Sunday 11 July
- Keighley Cougars v Barrow Raiders – 2pm
- Hunslet v North Wales Crusaders – 3pm
