Who’s ready for more nail-biting action in Round 16 of the Betfred Championship? With 11 rounds of the regular season left to play, the league standings are more exciting and tighter than ever…
Prepare for a blistering battle in the south of France on Saturday night, as Toulouse welcome Wakefield to Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Wakefield may be unbeaten in 2024 and eight points clear at the top of the table, but the formidable French side are also unbeaten in their last nine matches. Could Sylvain Houles’ men finally be the team to beat the current league leaders
Toulouse did come close against Trinity in Round 6 but were unable to match their opponents in the closing stages. With home advantage this time around, could it be a different story?
Also on Saturday, there’s an enticing encounter between Featherstone and Doncaster at the Millenium Stadium.
The Dons are just three points away from that desired sixth spot – a spot which the Rovers will have to continue working hard for if they want to maintain it.
Likewise, York Knights are chasing down a Play-Off place after their remarkable resurgence under head coach Mark Applegarth. The Knights have an extremely tough test when they travel to face Bradford in Round 16, but will no doubt be up for the challenge having won four from five under Applegarth’s tenure.
It is expected to be a blockbuster clash, with York having already claimed a win over the Bulls this year – a superb 25-14 victory back in April.
Barrow and Sheffield will meet this weekend and are two teams looking to bounce back from defeat.
There’s plenty at stake for both parties – Sheffield can ill-afford to let second place slip with Toulouse breathing down their necks, while Barrow are desperately in need of the two points, as they find themselves potentially staring at a relegation battle.
Then, can Swinton make it three wins on the spin, or will Whitehaven end their three-game losing streak? It was a close contest in Round 1 when the sides last met, with Whitehaven pipping an 18-6 win. Who will come out on top in Round 16?
The excitement never gets old for a Batley v Dewsbury derby, and there will be no love lost when these two neighbours go head-to-head.
The Bulldogs currently sit mid-table and are right in the mix to challenge for a Play-Off spot, whereas the Rams are still seeking their second win of the season. Interestingly, however, their only win comes from a game against Batley back in Round 2…
Finally, Halifax and Widnes play each another. Widnes ended their losing streak last weekend but were pushed all the way by a spirited Dewsbury, so there could still be a few nerves heading into this one.
Halifax, on the other hand, only just lost out to Featherstone in Round 15, so will be determined to right their wrongs in Sunday’s match at The Shay.
Betfred Championship Round 16 fixtures:
Toulouse Olympique v Wakefield Trinity
Featherstone Rovers v Doncaster RLFC
Bradford Bulls v York Knights
Swinton Lions v Whitehaven RLFC
Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles
Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams
Halifax Panthers v Widnes Vikings
The full fixture list for the Betfred Championship and all of the relevant information and kick-off times can be found here.
Photo Credit: Widnes Vikings
