Championship round-up: Featherstone bounce back, Sheffield beat York & Lilley drop goal
The early-season table is starting to take shape after two rounds of Championship action.
Featherstone bounced back from last weekend’s Challenge Cup defeat to Hull FC with a comprehensive 36-6 win away at Stuart Littler’s Swinton.
A Ben Blackmore brace made sure of both competition points after first half tries from Gareth Gale, Tom Holmes, Thomas Minns, Bradley Day and John Davies.
Toulouse were awarded a 24-0 win by forfeit after London confirmed earlier this month that they would not be travelling to France to fulfil the fixture.
Because the Broncos are a full-time side, the RFL board announced in March that the match would go ahead. Due to their failure to play, Danny Ward’s side will now be referred to the RFL’s compliance department for off-field misconduct.
Batley recorded their first win of the new season with a nine-try dismantling of Oldham.
Ben White and Johnny Campbell both crossed twice in the Bulldogs’ 48-10 triumph. There were further scores for Josh Tonks, Luke Hooley, Jodie Broughton, Jack Logan and Elliott Hall.
Widnes’ wait for a first win of the new season goes on after they were beaten 22-14 at home by Dewsbury.
Andy Gabriel crossed twice for the Rams as they made it two wins from two at the DCBL Stadium. Steve Tyrer’s late score proved to be just a consolation as the Vikings failed to recover from their Challenge Cup thrashing at the hands of Salford.
Whitehaven secured their first points of the season with a hard-fought 29-20 victory at home to Newcastle.
Thunder, having come from behind to rescue a point against Widnes in their round one opener, couldn’t replicate their fortunes, despite scoring three tries inside the final quarter. Instead, a first half Andrew Bulman double helped the hosts to their opening win of 2021.
A drop goal from Jordan Lilley sealed a 27-26 win for Bradford against Halifax on Sunday afternoon.
Lilley, Dan Fleming, Brandon Pickersgill and David Foggin-Johnston got on the scoresheet for the Bulls, with James Saltonstall, Scott Grix, Gadwin Springer and Greg Worthington scoring for the Panthers.
Sheffield produced a strong performance to beat York 20-14 at the LNER Community Stadium.
Anthony Thackeray bagged a brace, with former Huddersfield prop Tyler Dickinson also crossing for the Eagles.
Championship round two results:
Toulouse Olympique 24-0 London Broncos*
Widnes Vikings 14-22 Dewsbury Rams
Swinton Lions 6-36 Featherstone Rovers
Whitehaven 29-20 Newcastle Thunder
Bradford Bulls 27-26 Halifax Panthers
York City Knights 14-20 Sheffield Eagles
*Toulouse’s victory came via forfeit.
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