The 2023 Betfred Championship season started last weekend, with many sides setting a marker for their season. Here is a look at all the fixtures taking place in Round Two.
Saturday
Toulouse v Newcastle Thunder
Toulouse and Newcastle get Round Two underway on Saturday evening. Toulouse kicked off the 2023 season, as they travelled to Barrow in a fixture which was shown live on Our League.
Danger man, Olly Ashall-Bott scored the first try within five minutes. Before Toulouse crossed for two more tries in the opening quarter.
Barrow struck back, however, a try before the break by Dominique Peyroux saw Toulouse head into the break with a 16-4 lead.
Defensively, they held firm and added two more tries to open the season with a 24-4 victory.
The French side dominated Newcastle on their last meeting in 2021. Jy Hitchcox scored four of Toulouse’s 15 tries.
Anthony Marion is just one appearance away from 150 for Olympique.
Newcastle had a crucial win during the opening round away at Swinton.
The game was a tough contest with only one try being scored in the first half.
Newcastle hit back in the second half, but the score was tied heading into the final 10 minutes.
Alex Young added a second, before Nikau Williams sealed the victory just two minutes from the end.
This will arguably be the toughest away match of the season for Newcastle, but they will head there with confidence after the opening round success.
Sunday
Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles
Barrow Raiders will be looking to repeat their home success over Sheffield from the beginning of last season.
Despite starting the season with a defeat, the Raiders will be encouraged as they played well in parts against a strong side in Toulouse.
Ryan Shaw scored the only Raiders’ try last Saturday. Shaw is just one appearance away from 200 in his career. The winger has made 68 appearances for Barrow during three stints at the club.
Another player who could hit a milestone is Josh Wood. Wood is one appearance away 100 in his career.
Barrow came out on top in both meetings last season, on their route to the Championship play-offs.
Sheffield will be looking to register a first win of the season. The Eagles travelled to The Shay last weekend to face Halifax Panthers.
Mark Aston’s side trailed at the break, but a try towards the end of the half game them momentum heading into the second half. The try was scored by Aaron Murphy, who scored his 100th career try on his 300thappearance.
The Eagles fought back in the second half and trailed by just two points heading into the final 10 minutes.
An interception break put Halifax into good field position and then Jake Maizen touched down late on for his second.
Batley Bulldogs v Swinton Lions
Batley made history in Round One as they won their first match in London for 35 years.
Craig Lingard’s side knew it would be a tough contest and both sides took the lead at stages in the contest.
Alex Walker put the Broncos ahead early in the second half, however, three tries by the Bulldogs was enough to start the season off with a victory.
Batley turned the Fox’s Biscuit Stadium into a difficult place last season, which saw them finish third and their first home game will be when Swinton visit on Sunday.
The Bulldogs have an impressive home record against Swinton. The West Yorkshire side have won the last seven home meetings.
Josh Woods made his debut for Batley last weekend, if he is to feature again it will be his 100th career appearance. Woods played 20 times for Swinton while on dual-registration.
Swinton will be looking for their first victory at Batley since a 32-24 success in April 2016 when they travel across to Yorkshire.
Swinton returned to the Championship last weekend with a defeat, however, it was a hard-fought contest with Newcastle Thunder.
The Lions took the lead before the interval, but they were unable to add any more tries in the second half.
Gavin Bennion could make his 150th appearance on Sunday. Bennion joined from Rochdale at the end of the season, but during his career he has featured 56 times for the Lions during his numerous stints.
Featherstone Rovers v Halifax Panthers
Featherstone Rovers produced arguably the strongest performance of the weekend when they defeated Keighley Cougars in the first match shown live on Viaplay Sports.
Sean Long’s side dominated from start to finish, with numerous players such as Riley Dean stood out during the match.
Rovers looked strong in pre-season, in which they produced some big performances against Super League sides, and it looks like the high standards set by Long have been reached in their first game.
Featherstone beat Halifax in all three matches last season, but the three matches were close.
If Featherstone can repeat their Round One performance, they will go close to getting the victory.
Halifax will be looking to burst the Featherstone bubble when they travel across West Yorkshire.
Simon Grix’s side started the season with a home victory over Sheffield last weekend.
The Panthers dominated the first half; however, they allowed the Eagles to fight back.
New signing and Italian international, Jake Maizen, impressed on debut with two tries. Meanwhile, Lachlan Walmsley opened his scoring account. Walmsley was the second top scorer in the Championship, with only Tee Ritson scoring more, who has since gone to Super League Champions, St Helens/
If the Panthers are able to defeat Featherstone, it will be their first away win since the 28-8 contest in July 2017.
Whitehaven v London Broncos
London Broncos will make the long trip up to Cumbria to face Whitehaven, as both sides will be looking for their first Betfred Championship win of 2023.
Whitehaven came up against a strong Bradford side, who scored back-to-back tries which put the Bulls into a commanding position.
Whitehaven were able to complete the double on the Broncos last season. In the capital, Haven kept London scoreless in the 8-0 victory.
Meanwhile up in Cumbria, Whitehaven came out on top 40-20 in Round 25 last season.
Mike Eccles’ London squad will be looking to build on their performance last weekend over Batley.
The Broncos took a 14-10 lead early in the second half thanks to Alex Walker, however, three tries for Batley was enough for them to take the points back to West Yorkshire.
In recent years, London have struggled away at Whitehaven. The Broncos have won just one of their last five visits to Whitehaven.
Widnes Vikings v Keighley Cougars
Widnes Vikings ended a poor record at York last weekend with a 19-12 victory over the Knights.
John Kear’s side produced a professional performance against a difficult side and they will be looking to produce similar when the League One Champions arrive.
Ryan Millar, Shane Grady and Ant Walker all were on the scoresheet during the victory in North Yorkshire.
Widnes have won the previous four meetings, but the most recent meeting was a Challenge Cup quarter-final in 2014 when Widnes were a Super League side.
The last time Widnes faced Keighley in the Championship was back in 2010 at Cougar Park. The Vikings came out on top in a close fought 32-24 match.
Joe Lyons is just one appearance away from 100 in his career. Since making his debut in 2018, Lyons has featured 83 times, plus 16 on dual-registration with the North Wales Crusaders.
Keighley had a tough first night in the Betfred Championship. Rhys Lovegrove’s side dominated League One last season, as the Cougars were promoted with a perfect 20 from 20 record.
However, they hosted Featherstone Rovers on Monday live on Viaplay Sports. It was a difficult evening for Keighley as Featherstone posted 50 points.
Lovegrove will be hoping his side can bounce back at Widnes on Sunday.
Full-back Lewis Young impressed in the defeat, and he will be looking to continue to offer a threat in both attack and defence.
If Keighley were to win, it would be their first win over Widnes since 2001.
Monday
York Knights v Bradford Bulls
The final game of Round Two sees York Knights face the Bradford Bulls live on Viaplay Sports.
York will be looking to bounce back, after they suffered a narrow 19-12 defeat to Widnes Vikings.
York head coach, Andrew Henderson, will be searching for his first competitive victory as York boss in just his second match.
The Knights have suffered injuries this season, but they will be hoping that the 17 that take to the field on Monday have enough to beat Bradford.
York failed to beat Bradford last season at the LNER Community Stadium, however, earlier in the season in Round 11 York defeated the Bulls 20-6 at Odsal.
Mark Dunning’s Bradford will be looking to go two from two on Monday after their opening round victory.
Kieran Gill crossed for a double during the 24-8 win over Whitehaven.
The Bulls have won their last two visits to the LNER Community Stadium, and they will be looking for the hat-trick on Monday.
Bradford will be without Jack Walker, who left the field last weekend with a hamstring injury.
Round Two Fixtures
Saturday
- Toulouse v Newcastle Thunder – 6PM
Sunday
- Batley Bulldogs v Swinton Lions – 3PM
- Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles – 3PM
- Whitehaven v London Broncos – 3PM
- Widnes Vikings v Keighley Cougars – 3PM
- Featherstone Rovers v Halifax Panthers – 4PM
Monday
- York Knights v Bradford Bulls – 7:45PM – Live on Viaplay Sports
