York Knights are the 2025 Betfred Championship League Leaders' Shield winners!
York Knights clinched the Betfred Championship League Leaders’ Shield on Sunday afternoon, with a comfortable victory over Batley Bulldogs at the LNER Community Stadium.
After sixteen straight league wins, the Knights made it seventeen in the final regular round, and claimed the trophy for the first time in front of their biggest home crowd of the season.
A first half hat-trick from Ben Jones-Bishop helped build a 24-point half time lead which was never threatened.
Four more tries in the second half then completed a memorable and historic afternoon for the York club.
Their focus will now turn to the Semi-Finals in two weeks’ time, for a place in the 2025 Championship Grand Final. Will Mark Applegarth’s men go on and complete the treble?
On Saturday, Hunslet’s season ended in defeat as Toulouse secured second place and a home Semi-Final.
A ruthless French side posted 68 points on the team at bottom of the table, with eight different try scorers over in South Leeds.
This included an Anthony Marion hat-trick and doubles from Olly Ashall-Bott and Thomas Lacans.
Like York, Toulouse will sit back and watch the Eliminators unfold this Friday, before they both prepare to take on the winners in their respective semis.
Bradford Bulls confirmed third place on Sunday, following a hard-fought victory over local rivals Featherstone.
It was a tryless first forty, before Fev took the lead through Connor Barley in the corner. This was soon short-lived, however, as a late blitz of Bradford tries saw the hosts fight back to seal the win.
Joe Keyes, Tom Holmes and Kieran Gill were the men of the hour.
This result means that the Rovers will return to Bartercard Odsal on Friday Night and face the same opponents in their Play-Off Eliminator fixture.
Will there be another blood and thunder battle between the two?
Halifax’s win over Doncaster in Round 26 sees them finish in fifth and means that they will make a trip down the M62 to play Oldham in Friday's Eliminators.
It was a tale of two halves on Sunday, with ‘Fax falling behind in the first forty as Edene Gebbie, Watson Boas and Sam Smeaton scored tries for Doncaster, who looked to be firmly in control at the break.
But the Panthers had a ‘never say die’ attitude about them and came out firing in the second half to score 24 unanswered points.
Ben Tibbs sparked the comeback on the 45th minute, before Maxime Jobe, Louis Joufrett and Charlie Graham ensured their side would enter the Play-Offs with some important momentum.
Finally, Sheffield concluded their 2025 season with a win against Barrow, while London were victorious on the road against Widnes in their last game.
Betfred Championship Round 26 results:
Hunslet 6 Toulouse Olympique 68
York Knights 52 Batley Bulldogs 12
Bradford Bulls 22 Featherstone Rovers 8
Doncaster 16 Halifax Panthers 24
Sheffield Eagles 26 Barrow Raiders 12
Widnes Vikings 10 London Broncos 20
Betfred Championship Play-Off Eliminators:
Friday 19 September
Bradford Bulls v Featherstone Rovers (3rd v 6th) – KO 8pm
Oldham v Halifax Panthers (4th v 5th) – KO 7.45pm
York Knights will then host the lowest ranked winner, and Toulouse Olympique will host the highest ranked winner in the Semi-Finals the following weekend.
