Championship – most competitive league ever
RFL Director of Development Gary Tasker has described this year’s Co-operative Championship competition as one of the most competitive leagues in the history of sport.
With only three weeks to go until the Co-operative Championship Play-offs commence, excitement is mounting for what promises to be the most exhilarating and closely-fought climax to the season ever.
Gary Tasker, RFL Director of Development said: “This season’s Co-operative Championship must be one of the most competitive leagues in sporting history.
“The top six teams occupying the play-off spots in the Championship are currently separated by just three points with Barrow Raiders and Whitehaven locked at the top on 39 points and the next four teams all square on 36 points.
“At the other end of the table just four points separate Toulouse in seventh place and Gateshead Thunder in 10th meaning that with the season coming to a close never has such a small number of matches held so much significance for so many teams.
“Thursday night’s Sky Sports televised clash between Batley Bulldogs and Halifax must be one of the most important games in both clubs’ histories as Batley battle to avoid relegation and Fax look to cement the highest possible position going into the play-offs.
“In Co-operative Championship One, after Dewsbury gained automatic promotion by finishing first only two points separate Keighley Cougars who are currently second and York City Knights in fourth with competition amongst the top six red hot.
“I’m confident that after the great season we’ve enjoyed thus far this will be the most entertaining play-off series yet and supporters will be able to look forward to a spectacular finals day in Warrington on October 4.”
Following on from what has been an extraordinarily competitive year the first round of Co-operative Championship play-off games will take place on the weekend of September 12-13 with one fixture scheduled for Thursday September 10 to be shown live on Sky Sports.
For the victors in the Championship and Championship 1 Play-off series all roads then lead to The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington for the Co-operative Championship Finals Day which will take place at on Sunday October 4.
Tickets for the Co-operative Championship Finals Day at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday October 4 are now available by calling the RFL Ticket Hotline on 0844 856 11 13 or visitingwww.cooperativechampionship.co.uk.