Championship weekend review

Correspondent

Saturday’s sole Championship fixture took place in the south of France, as outsiders Featherstone scored a strong win at Toulouse. Tries from Hardman, Smeaton, Briggs (2) and Spears gave Rovers a 32-16 win.

Sheffield recorded a 78-8 win at crisis club Doncaster on Sunday. Menzie Yere scored four tries, Damien Gibson three and Tangi Ropati two in the rout.

Batley continued their impressive form of upsetting the odds as they beat Northern Rail Cup finalists Barrow Raiders 46-16. Smith, Lindsay (2), Mennell, Cardiss, Potter, Lythes and Maun scored the tries for the Bulldogs.

Gateshead beat league leaders Halifax 34-28. A Dylan Nash hat-trick was the highlight as the Thunder raced to a 32-0 interval lead, which proved too-big a deficit for Fax to claw back despite a second half revival. 

Whitehaven saw off Leigh 36-22. Craig Calvert scored four tries, while Ade Adebisi added the other two for the hosts. Leigh’s latest defeat certainly plunges them into a relegation dogfight.

In the Championship One, York defeated Oldham 20-18 in a magnificent encounter in front of the TV cameras on Thursday.  Oakes, Clayton, Haberecht and Hughes scored the tries.

On Sunday, Blackpool beat Workington 46-18 as Damian Munroe scored a hat-trick.

Keighley beat Rochdale 44-16, scoring eight tries.

Promotion favourites Dewsbury defeated London Skolars 64-0 in the capital. Bryn Powell scored a hat-trick, while debutant Loz Wildbore scored twice.

Swinton defeated Hunslet 42-16, scoring seven tries and Carl Sneyd landing 18 points.