Featherstone Rovers continued their one hundred percent record in the 2023 Betfred Championship after earning a hard fought 26-18 victory against last season’s Championship Grand Finalists Batley Bulldogs.
Josh Hardcastle’s brace, plus further scores from Luke Briscoe, Joseph Leilua, and Connor Jones secured Rovers’ eighth straight league victory.
Josh Hodson, Adam Gledhill, and Aiden McGowen all crossed for the Bulldogs, but Sean Long’s side hung on to secure maximum points.
The biggest win of the weekend was recorded by second-placed Toulouse Olympique who dispatched London Broncos 52-0.
Josh Ralph, Guy Armitage, Reubenn Rennie, and Eloi Pelissier all claimed braces, whilst Robin Brochon also got on the scoresheet for Olympique.
Elsewhere, it was victory for Whitehaven in the Cumbrian derby after tries from Ryan King, Curtis Teare, and Dion Aiye paved the way for Jonty Gorley’s side to triumph 16-14 at nearby Barrow Raiders.
Sheffield Eagles continued their strong start to the Championship campaign with a convincing 44-20 win against Newcastle Thunder. Anthony Thackeray crossed for a hat-trick for the Eagles, who remain third in the table and level on points with Toulouse.
Widnes Vikings are just two points adrift of Toulouse and Sheffield after recording an impressive victory over Swinton Lions at Heywood Road.
Tries from Zach Eckersley (x3), Adam Lawton (x2), Matthew Fleming, Jack Owens, Danny Craven, and Kieran Dixon helped the Vikings secure two massive points.
On Friday evening, Keighley Cougars defeated York Knights 22-10 at the LNER Community Stadium.
Dane Chisholm, Ben Crooks, Jimmy Keinhorst, and Mark Ioane were on the scoresheet for the Cougars.
Finally, the tie of the round took place on Monday evening as Bradford Bulls survived a Halifax Panthers comeback to emerge as 26-22 winners at the Shay.
Halifax struck through Jake Maizen (x2), Brandon Moore, and Lachlan Walmsley, but scores from Sam Walters, Jordan Baldwinson, Kieran Gill, and Tom Holmes, plus the boot of Dec Patton secured two crucial points for the Bulls.
Round 8 Results
Mon 10th April 2023
- Halifax Panthers 22-26 Bradford Bulls
Fri 7th April 2023
- York Knights 10-22 Keighley Cougars
- Toulouse Olympique 52-0 London Broncos
- Batley Bulldogs 18-26 Featherstone Rovers
- Newcastle Thunder 20-44 Sheffield Eagles
- Swinton Lions 16-48 Widnes Vikings
- Barrow Raiders 14-16 Whitehaven RLFC
