The Betfred Championship fixtures will take place earlier than usual this weekend due to the Easter schedule. Six of the Round Eight matches will take place on Good Friday, here is a look at all the matches taking place this weekend.
Barrow Raiders will welcome Whitehaven in an all-Cumbrian clash.
The Raiders have won one of their seven league matches and currently occupy 13th position in the Betfred Championship.
In their last Championship match, a second half Jarrod Sammut try was the difference as Barrow defeated Halifax.
Barrow have won the previous four meetings between the two sides.
Whitehaven sit one place above their opponents with two victories in their seven matches.
Haven won their first away game of the season with a 14-12 success away at York Knights.
In their last league match, they were narrowly beaten by Batley Bulldogs.
Newcastle Thunder will be looking to rise up the table, as they welcome high flying Sheffield Eagles to Kingston Park.
Chris Thorman’s side beat Swinton Lions in the opening game, however, they have been unable to find that second league win.
Thunder have reached the Fifth Round of the Challenge Cup and have won two matches in that competition.
Sheffield Eagles were knocked out the Betfred Challenge Cup last weekend, after a slow start against York Knights.
Mark Aston’s side sit third in the table with five wins, including an impressive 32-4 home win against Toulouse in Round Seven.
Corey Aston has posed a persistent threat for Sheffield. He is 14 points away from scoring 500 in his Sheffield career.
Sheffield won both meetings between the two sides last season.
Swinton Lions will be looking to end their losing run against Widnes Vikings. The Lions have lost their last 16 matches against Widnes, with their last success against the Cheshire side coming in July 1998.
Swinton started the season strong, with two victories in their opening three matches. In their last league fixture, Swinton were narrowly beaten by London Broncos.
Widnes will be looking for a response after they were knocked out the Challenge Cup by League One side, Dewsbury Rams.
With four wins, Widnes are occupying fourth spot in the Betfred Championship table.
John Kear’s side have won once on the road this season. Their opening round away success at York was enough to kickstart their season.
Winger, Kieran Dixon is one try away from 150 in his career.
Batley Bulldogs will be looking to repeat their semi-final success against Featherstone.
Craig Lingard’s side won two of the four meetings last season, as well as drawing 20-20 at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium in Round Six.
Batley have won their last two league matches with a home win against Barrow and an away win at Whitehaven.
Martyn Reilly could make his 100th career appearance. Reilly has made 31 appearances for the Bulldogs since joining them in 2022.
Featherstone Rovers will be looking to continue their 100% record in the league. Sean Long’s side have won all seven matches and have stood out as the leading candidates in the division.
Featherstone have scored 334 points and only conceded 54 points in defence.
Craig Hall has been a regular feature since joining Rovers in 2020. Hall is set to make his 350th career appearance. The back has made 66 appearances for the West Yorkshire side.
Featherstone are unbeaten in their last seven away meetings with Batley, a run which stretches back to 2016.
Toulouse Olympique welcome London Broncos to France.
Toulouse will be looking to bounce back after suffering a defeat at Sheffield Eagles in the previous round.
In the previous meeting out in France, the spoils were shared as the sides drew 20-20.
The French side have not lost at home yet this season.
London will be looking to become the first side to win at Toulouse this season.
The Broncos have won three matches this season, two of which have come away from home.
A home victory in Round Seven and a Challenge Cup success will give Mike Eccles’ side confidence as they search for a third straight win.
York Knights will round off the Friday fixtures as they welcome Keighley Cougars to the LNER Community Stadium.
The Knights are looking for a fourth home victory in a row against the Cougars.
Last weekend, a strong first half displayed proved to be enough to defeat Sheffield. Danny Kirmond saw red before the break, which made the second half a struggle for Andrew Henderson’s men.
York currently sit ninth in the table with three victories.
Keighley Cougars know that a win would take them above York when they travel to North Yorkshire on Friday evening.
In their last Championship fixture, they produced a huge performance to defeat local rivals, Bradford Bulls.
Rhys Lovegrove’s side have also won three Championship matches in their first season back in the Championship.
Keighley are yet to win away from Cougar Park in the league this season.
The final match of Round Eight takes place on Monday, as Halifax Panthers take on the Bradford Bulls, live on Viaplay Sports.
Halifax and Bradford both progressed last week in the Challenge Cup and the two sides are set to meet in the next round of the cup.
Halifax welcomed back prolific winger Lachlan Walmsley last week. Walmsley has scored 10 tries this season, which only puts him behind Featherstone’s Gareth Gale.
The Panthers have won all four matches at The Shay this season and will be looking to continue their good form.
James Woodburn-Hall is one appearance away from 150 in his career. Woodburn-Hall has made 110 appearances for the West Yorkshire club.
Bradford have lost their last four matches against Halifax and will be looking to stop that run.
The Bulls have won four of their seven matches and a win would take them above the Panthers.
Half-back, Jordan Lilley could make his 150th career appearance when the sides meet on Monday.
Round Eight Fixtures
Friday
- Barrow Raiders v Whitehaven – 3PM
- Newcastle Thunder v Sheffield Eagles – 3PM
- Swinton Lions v Widnes Vikings – 3PM
- Batley Bulldogs v Featherstone Rovers – 3PM
- Toulouse v London Broncos – 5PM
- York Knights v Keighley Cougars – 7:30PM
Monday
- Halifax Panthers v Bradford Bulls – 7:45PM – Live on Viaplay Sports
