Watch York v Halifax's semi-final tie live on The Sportsman this Saturday!
The Betfred Championship Semi-Finals get underway this weekend, with the final four ready to fight it out for a place in the 2025 Grand Final.
The action kickstarts with league leaders York Knights hosting Halifax Panthers live on The Sportsman on Saturday (K.O. 6pm), with Mark Applegarth’s men edging ever closer to the treble.
The Knights earned home advantage in Saturday’s semi, after finishing top of the competition tree and securing their first ever League Leaders’ Shield in the modern era just a fortnight ago.
York enter this game on the back of seventeen straight league wins and will now be looking to go one step further in 2025 after falling short to Wakefield Trinity in last year’s semi-final (22-13).
Standing in their way, however, are a determined Halifax Panthers side, who stunned favourites Oldham in the Eliminators last Friday.
The Panthers put in a ruthless performance at Boundary Park, running in seven tries against the Roughyeds to secure their place in the final four.
It’s one apiece in the league when York and Halifax have recently locked horns, and Kyle Eastmond’s men will have to keep believing that no team is unbeatable when they come up against the Knights this weekend.
‘Fax were 10-18 victors back in Round 3, before York ran out 12-19 winners in Round 25.
Both encounters have been extremely close, but will York prove too strong this time round? Find out live on The Sportsman.
On Sunday, Bradford Bulls make a trip to face Toulouse in the south of France (K.O. 5pm, 4pm BST).
It will be the third year running that these two sides have met in the semi-finals, with the Olympique coming out on top both times.
The French side have reached back-to-back Grand Finals in 2023 and 2024, before being beaten by London Broncos and Wakefield Trinity respectively.
Will it be third time lucky for Toulouse?
Sunday's hosts have already completed a league double over Bradford this season - 36-4 in Round 3 and 10-12 in Round 24.
Last year’s semi-final also saw a gripping affair where Toulouse pipped a truly dramatic contest, 21-20.
Is history going to repeat itself or will this be the year Brian Noble reinstates glory at the Bulls?
Betfred Championship Semi-Finals:
York Knights v Halifax Panthers – Saturday 27 September (K.O. 6pm)
Bradford Bulls v Toulouse Olympique – Sunday 28 September (K.O. 5pm, 4pm BST)
The Betfred Championship Grand Final will be played across the weekend of 3-5 October.
Photo Credit: Bradford Bulls
