14 Feb 2023

Betfred Championship Round-Up | Round Two

Toulouse made it a perfect two from two with a home victory over Newcastle Thunder on Saturday evening.

Sylvain Houles’ side scored 11 tries in a dominant 58-0 win. Guy Armitage crossed for a double, meanwhile nine other players scored a try each, including Anthony Marion on his 150^th appearance for Toulouse.

On Sunday, Sheffield Eagles bounced back from their opening round defeat with an away win at Barrow Raiders.

Kris Welham scored twice, including the opening try of the match.

Four first half tries saw Mark Aston’s side take a 22-12 lead into the break.

Ross Oakes added a second just after the break, as Sheffield raced away with a 36-16 victory.

Newly promoted, Swinton Lions also got their first win of the season as they beat 2022 Betfred Championship Grand Finalists, Batley Bulldogs.

The Lions took the lead thanks to Mike Butt, but tries from Lucas Walshaw and Dane Manning gave hosts, Batley the lead at half-time.

Kieran Buchanan extended the lead for the Bulldogs; however, 24 unanswered points turned the tide and came from behind to register the 30-16 win.

Featherstone Rovers once again impressed in attack as they beat Halifax Panthers 46-22.

Rovers raced into a lead with Chris Hankinson and Gadwin Springer both scoring inside the opening ten minutes.

Matty Wildie and Caleb Aekins added further scores before the break.

Panthers’ winger Lachlan Walmsley hit back, as Featherstone went to the changing rooms with a 24-4 lead.

Aekins scored a second, before Riley Dean went over for Featherstone’s seven try for the afternoon.

Both sides traded further tries, but Rovers would go on to keep their 100% record intact.

London Broncos made their long trip to Cumbria worthwhile, as they defeated Whitehaven 20-16.

The Broncos went into a 10-0 lead thanks to a double from Paul Ulberg, but a try from Jacob Douglas reduced the gap to 10-6 at half-time.

Douglas added a second after the break to level the scores, before Sam Davis barged his way over for London.

Junior Nsemba hit back for Whitehaven, however, a Jarred Bassett try five minutes from time was enough for London.

Widnes Vikings moved up to third in the table with a home success against Keighley.

Danny Craven opened the scoring inside the first quarter of an hour after stepping through the Keighley defence.

Luke Gale supported a Cougars break and the former England international touched down for his first Keighley try.

Ryan Millar struck back for Widnes to give them a 12-6 lead at half-time.

Vikings captain, Jack Owens converted his own try in the first ten minutes of the second half.

The Cougars levelled the scored thanks to tries from Gale and Robbie Storey.

Millar completed his hat-trick with two tries in the final ten minutes as Widnes registered their second win of the season.

York registered their first win of the Betfred Championship season live on Viaplay Sports.

Bradford took the lead through half-back Dec Patton after 20 minutes.

Will Jubb struck back for the visitors, but their lead was short-lived due to a Bodene Thompson score.

Former Huddersfield Giants duo, Jon Luke Kirby and Ronan Michael put the Knights into a lead heading into half-time.

York extended their lead in the first 20 minutes of the second half. James Glover converted three penalties to put the Knights into a 24-10 lead with 20 minutes to go.

Another James Glover penalty, was shortly followed by a try from new Australian signing, Josh Daley.

Jordan Lilley added a consolation score before the full time whistle.

Round Two Results:

Saturday