With the regular season drawing to a close, the race for final league positions is heating up across the Betfred Championship.
London Broncos remain on course to secure the League Leaders' Shield despite suffering their first league defeat of the campaign last weekend, while the battle between teams for the best placed finish as possible continues to intensify.
The top ten will progress to the Play-Offs, with Batley Bulldogs currently holding tenth place and their old foes Dewsbury Rams the only side still capable of catching them, although their hopes are hanging by a thread.
The standout fixture of Round 25 sees Dewsbury host Batley in a huge Heavy Woollen Derby on Sunday.
There is plenty riding on this contest, with Batley occupying the final Play-Off spot and Dewsbury needing the two points to keep their mathematical hopes alive.
The Bulldogs strengthened their position last weekend with a dramatic 22-18 victory over Keighley Cougars, while the Rams suffered a damaging 34-12 defeat at Whitehaven.
Batley also edged the previous meeting between the sides this season 21-20, courtesy of a dramatic Josh Woods drop goal, and have won eight of the last ten encounters between their local rivals in all competitions.
If the Bulldogs beat their nearest and dearest, they will officially confirm their place in the Play-Offs.
At the top of the table, London Broncos welcome Halifax Panthers to the capital knowing victory could finally secure the League Leaders' Shield.
The Broncos saw their unbeaten league record ended by Oldham last weekend but remain in complete control of the race at the top.
London were comfortable 4-42 winners when the sides met earlier this season and have won four of the last six Championship meetings between the clubs.
The Panthers, meanwhile, will be aiming to recover from their narrow 11-10 home defeat to Widnes Vikings and delay the Broncos’ celebrations for another week.
Fresh from recording one of the results of the season, Oldham host Salford at Boundary Park.
The Roughyeds became the first side to defeat London Broncos in the Championship in 2026 with an impressive 34-24 success last weekend, and they will also be confident of completing a league double over Salford after comfortably beating them 0-44 back in Round 1.
A top two finish isn’t out of the question for Oldham if other results go their way…
There is another highly anticipated derby taking place in South Yorkshire as Doncaster entertain Sheffield Eagles.
The Dons are one of the competition’s in-form teams, having followed up a remarkable 120-point victory with wins over Barrow Raiders and Midlands Hurricanes. Doncaster were also dominant 0-46 winners when they visited Sheffield earlier this season and have won the last three league meetings between the clubs.
The Eagles, however, strengthened their own league position with a hard-fought 28-26 victory over Hunslet last weekend and will arrive looking to continue their momentum ahead of the Play-Offs commencing.
A local rivalry is then renewed in Cumbria when Barrow Raiders face Whitehaven.
Haven enhanced their Play-Off credentials with a convincing win over Dewsbury in Round 24, but Barrow have historically enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture. The Raiders were 30-0 winners when made the trip to Whitehaven earlier this season.
Widnes Vikings host Workington Town with their eyes on a fourth and fifth place finish.
The Vikings claimed a hard-earned 11-10 victory at Halifax last weekend and possess an outstanding home record against Town. Widnes are undefeated in their last 14 home meetings with this Cumbrian side, winning 13 and drawing one, with Workington's last victory away at Widnes coming all the way back in April 1977. The Vikings also ran out 22-10 winners when the sides met in Round 3 this year.
Elsewhere, Hunslet host Rochdale Hornets after narrowly missing out against Sheffield last weekend, and North Wales Crusaders play Keighley Cougars with both teams keen to halt disappointing runs of form.
Before all of the above, on Saturday, second-placed Newcastle Thunder take on Midlands Hurricanes on home soil, and will be hoping to maintain their spot in the top two.
Completing the schedule, Goole Vikings welcome Swinton Lions, also on the Saturday.
Betfred Championship Round 25 fixtures:
Saturday 22nd August
Goole Vikings v Swinton Lions (K.O. 3pm)
Newcastle Thunder v Midlands Hurricanes (K.O. 4pm)
Sunday 23rd August
All 3pm KO
Barrow Raiders v Whitehaven RLFC
Dewsbury Rams v Batley Bulldogs
Doncaster RLFC v Sheffield Eagles
Hunslet RLFC v Rochdale Hornets
London Broncos v Halifax Panthers
North Wales Crusaders v Keighley Cougars
Oldham RLFC v Salford Red Devils
Widnes Vikings v Workington Town
Photo Credit: Batley Bulldogs
