We’ve hit the halfway mark – and Sunday saw six Betfred Championship fixtures take place! Here’s what unfolded in Round 13…
Table toppers Toulouse continued their winning streak but were made to work hard by a valiant London Broncos side, who matched them in every department over in a scorching south of France.
At half-time the scores were locked in at 12-12 following two tries per team. Ethan Natoli and Huw Worthington were in for the Broncos, while the French side had scores from Reubenn Rennie and Olly Ashall-Bott.
It would take ten minutes into the second stanza for Toulouse to strike once more – this time through Thomas Lacans.
But a gutsy performance from Mike Eccles’ men saw Connor Barley cross on the 71st minute to reduce the deficit to just two points. Jack Smith was unable to convert in order to draw level.
There were nerves present all the way round Stade Ernest Wallon in the closing stages, but one minute from time the hosts' Benjamin Laguerre sealed the game after collecting a well-timed kick and finishing off in the corner.
Sheffield got back to winning ways after surviving a late Barrow scare. The Eagles had had complete control for large parts of the game and had led 6-22 in Cumbria.
The Raiders did stage a late comeback to close the gap to just six points, but time ultimately ran out. Andrew Bulman was the Eagles’ hat-trick hero of the afternoon.
Nine tries saw Doncaster take an emphatic victory on the road as they saw off Batley Bulldogs at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium.
Richard Horne's men dominated large parts of the first half, and tries from Edene Gebbie, Suaia Matagi, Reece Lyne and Luke Briscoe ensured a 16-point uphill lead at the break.
Further tries from Brad Hey, Gebbie, Craig Hall, Isaac Misky and Briscoe in the second half saw the Dons reach the 50-point mark and working wonders for their points difference as they look to push for the top six.
Over at Odsal, York extended their unbeaten run, while in turn ending Bradford’s.
The 2025 AB Sundecks 1895 Cup winners carried on their form and ensured no Wembley hangover was present on Sunday as they defeated the Bulls in an extremely tense encounter.
In a tight game which saw the lead change hands four times, a late try from the Knights’ Scott Galeano was what ultimately clinched the points for Mark Applegarth’s team.
There was a huge surprise in Featherstone as Hunslet almost caused a huge upset at the Millenium Stadium.
In a truly thrilling contest, the game swung from side to side. Although the Rovers initially led 12-0, Hunslet fought their way back into the match to make it 12-12.
It was then a game of to and fro, with Jimmy Beckett’s score for Fev proving to be the difference.
Billy Jowitt scored on 74th for the visitors to make it 26-24, but it ended in eventual heartbreak for the Parksiders, with the hosts coming away with the two points and quickly moving on from their devastating Wembley defeat.
Finally, there was tension at the DCBL Stadium as Widnes and Halifax’s meeting ended in a dramatic draw.
Neither side could produce a drop goal despite numerous attempts and then, as the hooter sounded, ‘Fax were penalised for a high tackle on Rhodri Lloyd.
The Vikings opted for two and Jack Owens had to chance to win the game for his side, but the kick fell agonisingly short, and the spoils had to be shared…
Betfred Championship Round 13 results:
Toulouse Olympique 24 London Broncos 16
Barrow Raiders 22 Sheffield Eagles 26
Batley Bulldogs 12 Doncaster 50
Bradford Bulls 18 York Knights 20
Featherstone Rovers 26 Hunslet 24
Widnes Vikings 24 Halifax Panthers 24
The full fixture list for the Betfred Championship can be found here.
Photo Credit: Craig Irvine Photography
