Championship and C1 Round Up

Thursday’s televised Championship fixture pitted Leigh against Featherstone at the Centurions’ new Sporting Village facility. It was the Rovers who took the spoils back to Yorkshire however, as tries from Hardman, Dickens, Haughey, Kain and Tonks wrapped up a 30-16 win, largely thanks to a strong second half performance.

The surprise package of 2009 has come from Cumbria and the newly-promoted Barrow Raiders kept up their impressive early-season form with a 52-0 thumping of Batley. Chris Larkin and James Nixon both scored try hat tricks.

The huge upturn in form from Toulouse continued with a 48-18 hammering of Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium. Martin Mitchell, Nathan Wynn and Rory Bromley all crossed the whitewash twice for the Championship‘s ‘franchise’ club.

Halifax responded to Barrow’s big win on Saturday with a 72-28 mauling of Gateshead the following day. Shad Royston scored three of 12 tries for Matt Calland’s side.

It was a case of deja vu for Widnes at Sheffield, as the Vikings almost blew a massive half-time lead and were made to hang on for a close win. All points for the Vikings came in the first half as they forged a 22-4 interval advantage, but were pinned back in the second period to sneak a 22-20 victory.

Rochdale defeated London Skolars 46-8 on a full programme of Championship One action on Sunday. Martin Ainscough and John Gillam both scored two tries each.

Workington lost 36-6 at home to York, as veteran half-back Paul March scored three tries.

Dewsbury beat near-neighbours Hunslet 30-10 as winger Bryn Powell scored twice, while Oldham beat their local rivals Swinton 52-36, the Roughyeds scoring nine tries.

Keighley beat Blackpool 42-22, as Jon Presley and Daley Williams crossed for braces.