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4 May 2023

Betfred Championship Preview | Round 10

Betfred Championship Preview | Round 10

The Betfred Championship returns after a two-week absence due to the Challenge Cup and Mid-Season Internationals. Here is a look at what is set to take place in Round 10.

Swinton Lions kick the weekend off, as they welcome Toulouse to Heywood Road.

The Lions made a great start to the season, however, they have struggled since on their return to the Championship.

Swinton sit 12th in the table with two wins and seven defeats from their nine matches.

Nick Gregson could make his 100th career appearance. Gregson has made 57 appearances for Swinton.

Toulouse will be looking to close the gap on Featherstone when they travel on Saturday. The French side are unbeaten at home but have suffered away defeats at Bradford and Sheffield.

Toulouse have had a good record in recent times against the Lions. In the previous six meetings, they have won five, with the only defeat coming in 2019.

Newcastle Thunder will welcome Halifax Panthers to Kingston Park.

Thunder will be looking to move off the foot of the table. Chris Thorman’s side have picked up three points this season.

Newcastle are yet to pick up any points at home this season, but they have made it difficult for sides travelling to the North East.

Halifax are one of four Championship sides, who are still in the Challenge Cup after an impressive home victory over local rivals Bradford Bulls.

Simon Grix’s side sit fifth in the table and will be looking to progress up the ladder. 

The Panthers will be searching for their first away win in the Betfred Championship in 2023.

Half-back, Joe Keyes, could make his 150th career appearance. The Irish international has made 39 appearances for Halifax.

Lachlan Walmsley and Zack McComb both have impressive scoring records against Newcastle. Walmsley has scored eight tries in his last four meetings, while McComb has scored on each of his last three appearances.

Barrow Raiders completed the double over Bradford last year, Paul Crarey’s side will be looking for a third consecutive victory against the West Yorkshire club.

The Raiders are 13th in the table, but their one win was an impressive home win against Halifax Panthers in Round Seven. A Jarrod Sammut try was the difference between the two sides.

Bradford will be looking to find more consistency, but Mark Dunning’s side have impressed this season.

The Bulls are sixth in the table with victories coming against Halifax, Sheffield and Toulouse, who all sit above Bradford in the league table.

In their last away match in the Championship, Bradford produced a strong performance to beat Halifax.

Featherstone will be looking to keep their 100% record as they face high-flying Sheffield Eagles.

Sean Long’s side have stood out as the strong contenders for the season. In their opening nine matches, Rovers have won all nine scoring 400 points. Defensively, Featherstone have conceded 82 points, which is less than any other side in the league.

Gareth Gale and Connor Jones have posed as attacking threats this season. The pair have scored 11 and nine tries respectively.

Featherstone have won the previous 11 meetings between the two sides.

Mark Aston’s Sheffield Eagles have won seven of their nine league matches this season, with defeats against Halifax and Bradford being the only blemishes on their record.

The Eagles have won their last three matches and a victory would close the gap to two points.

Joel Farrell and Blake Broadbent could reach milestones at the weekend. Farrell could make his 200thappearance, meanwhile Broadbent could reach the century mark.

Whitehaven have been on a good run of form and will be looking for it to continue.

Haven have won three of their last four Championship matches. Their one defeat was a 18-16 closely fought contest against Batley Bulldogs. The run has seen Whitehaven move up to ninth in the table.

Whitehaven have won the previous seven meetings with Keighley.

Keighley Cougars will be looking to push towards the play-offs as they travel to Cumbria.

The Cougars will be without Luke Gale, who has left the club to join Super League side, Wakefield Trinity.

In their last Championship game, Keighley lost to Toulouse, however, this had followed impressive wins against Bradford and York.

Keighley will be looking for their first win against Whitehaven since the opening round of the 2014 Championship season.

The final game of Sunday sees York Knights facing London Broncos. The Knights have won their previous three meetings with the capital club.

York have lost their last four league matches; however, they have won Challenge Cup matches since.

London Broncos have faced arguably two of the toughest sides in the league, but will be looking to bounce back.

Both sides have won three games in the Championship this season.

London will be looking for their first win against York since their 50-22 win in 2021.

The final game of Round 10 sees Batley Bulldogs face Widnes Vikings like on Viaplay Sports.

Craig Lingard’s side have won five of their matches, which sees them sit seventh in the Championship.

The 2022 grand finalists have won three of their last four matches, with the one defeat coming against Featherstone.

Alistair Leak has scored in his previous three meetings with Widnes.

John Kear’s Widnes are looking for a fourth league win in a row when they travel to West Yorkshire.

The good run has seen the Vikings climb to fourth in the table. Widnes will be looking to move into the top three.

A win in the last meeting for Widnes brought to the end a three game losing streak against the Bulldogs.

 

Round 10 Fixtures:

Saturday

  • Swinton Lions v Toulouse – 3PM
  • Newcastle Thunder v Halifax Panthers – 2PM
  • Barrow Raiders v Bradford Bulls -3PM
  • Featherstone Rovers v Sheffield Eagles – 3PM
  • Whitehaven v Keighley Cougars – 3PM
  • York Knights v London Broncos – 3PM

Sunday

Monday

  • Batley Bulldogs v Widnes Vikings – 7:45PM – Live on Viaplay Sports