Rugby League

Rugby-League.com

Championship

22 Jul 2021

Betfred Championship Preview

Betfred Championship Preview

Round 14 of the Betfred Championship brings us four vital clashes on Sunday afternoon, with plenty to play for at the top and bottom of the table as the campaign rolls.

Newly-crowned AB Sundecks 1895 Cup champions Featherstone Rovers get back to domestic matters at Odsal on Sunday afternoon, as they look to continue their remarkable 100% record against the Bulls.

Rovers, who triumphed over fellow Championship side York City Knights at Wembley last weekend, have won all 12 of their league games so far, but will face one of their sternest tests of the season so far as they take on John Kear's Bradford, who sit directly below them in the Betfred Championship table.

Bradford have won their last two league games, including a convincing 54-22 victory at Oldham last time out, but were whitewashed 44-0 at the Millenium Stadium last month, and will no doubt have revenge on their minds this weekend.

Elsewhere, two of the bottom three face off at the LNER Community Stadium, as winless Swinton take on the York City Knights.

The Knights, who displayed great steel and determination in defeat at Wembley last weekend, have struggled for consistency in the Betfred Championship this season, but will know a win over the Lions on Sunday will open a 10 point gap on their relegation rivals and may just all-but secure their safety for another season.

Swinton, meanwhile, have yet to pick up a single point in the league this campaign, with their most recent defeat a narrow one against the Sheffield Eagles.

York racked up 64 points in the reverse fixture in April, but this game promises to be a much closer affair, with so much on the line for both.

It's an all-Yorkshire affair in Sheffield on Sunday, as the Eagles welcome the Halifax Panthers at lunchtime.

The Panthers are well placed for a play-off chance, as they currently sit fourth in the table, while the Eagles won't have given up on sealing a spot in the top six themselves, as they currently sit just four points behind the current sixth placed side, the London Broncos.

In the final game of the weekend, Newcastle travel south to West Yorkshire to take on the Batley Bulldogs.

Thunder's first season in the Betfred Championship has been a little hit and miss so far, although they do currently sit in seventh place in the table, with a play off spot very much still in their sights.

Their opponents on Sunday - the Batley Bulldogs - currently hold a play-off position themselves, and they'll be looking to build some consistency off the back of last Thursday's triumph in the Heavy Woolen Derby, after suffering three straight defeats before it.

Whitehaven also host Oldham at 3pm on Sunday.

Table-topping Toulouse's clash with Dewsbury has been cancelled, with Widnes' trip to London also off, under the Covid Fixture Protocols.

Betfred Chamionship - Round 14 Fixtures:

Sunday 25 July

12:30pm - Sheffield Eagles v Halifax Panthers

3pm - York City Knights v Swinton Lions

3pm - Batley Bulldogs v Newcastle Thunder

3pm - Bradford Bulls v Featherstone Rovers

3pm - Whitehaven v Oldham