With all 27 rounds of the Betfred Championship season completed, only six remain as the season heads into the play-offs. Two fixtures will take place this weekend with all four sides knowing a defeat will end their 2022 campaign. Here is a look at both matches set to take place this weekend.
Barrow Raiders will welcome Batley Bulldogs up to Cumbria. The Raiders were sat in fifth place for large periods of the last month, however a final day win at London saw them leapfrog Batley and snatch the home play-off match.
Barrow ended the season strong with four victories in their last five matches. This included a 30-12 away win against Batley.
Tee Ritson has continued to be a dangerous attacking threat all season for Barrow. The winger scored 28 tries during the regular season, which was three more than his nearest pursuer.
Bradd Crellin could be making his 150th appearance on Sunday afternoon. Crellin made 58 appearances for Whitehaven, before switching to Barrow in 2015 where he has featured 91 times.
Batley will be looking to defeat Barrow for a second time at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium this season.
Craig Lingard’s side scored five tries during the 30-18 away victory including one from danger man Luke Hooley.
The Bulldogs were flying high and in serious contention of finishing in third place, but they have suffered a few defeats in recent weeks which has set them back. Batley lost three successive matches, before bouncing back with two consecutive wins heading into last weekend. Lingard’s side were unable to stop a red-hot Leigh Centurions side, who scored 11 tries during the fixture.
The other play-off eliminator will also take place on Sunday. York City Knights will travel to the Shay to face Halifax Panthers at 5:30PM in a game which will be shown live on Premier Sports.
Halifax will head into Sunday in confident fashion after their good form over the past few months. The Panthers will be looking for a third victory over the North Yorkshire side after successes in Round 12 and 18.
Simon Grix’s side lost their six-game winning streak with a narrow 24-22 defeat to second place, Featherstone Rovers.
Lachlan Walmsley has been a threat all season and he will be hoping to continue his good record against the Knights. Walmsley has scored in all four of his previous matches with York. The winger has scored 7 tries during these four matches. Walmsley ended the regular season with 25 tries, which placed him in second in the standings.
Experienced hooker Kyle Wood could make his 350th career appearance. Wood made the majority of his appearances in Super League, but then made the switch to Halifax at the start of the season where he has featured 23 times this campaign.
York City Knights will be hoping to be third time lucky this season when they meet Halifax.
James Ford’s side ended the regular season in sixth position, despite some blips through the season.
The most notable setback was their 100-4 away defeat at Leigh, however York have won their three games since then and head into the play-offs searching for a fourth straight victory.
The Knights will be looking for their first victory at the Shay since their 14-8 win in Round 27 of the Betfred Championship back in 2019.
Matty Marsh could make his 150th career appearance. Marsh made 42 appearances for Hull KR before making the switch to York in 2018. Since joining the club, he has made 95 appearances.
Fixtures:
Saturday
- Barrow Raiders v Batley Bulldogs - 3PM
- Halifax Panthers v York City Knights - 5:30PM - Live on Premier Sports
