Championship weekend review

Barrow defeated Toulouse to warm up for the Northern Rail Cup Final on Thursday. Two James Nixon tries helped the Raiders to a 30-22 win.

On Friday, Halifax returned to winning ways with a 48-16 defeat of relegation-threatened Leigh. Shad Royston and James Haley both crossed for braces.

Also on Friday, Sheffield saw off plucky Batley 30-4. Mitchell Stringer scored a hat-trick for the Eagles.

Widnes hammered depleted Doncaster 78-4 on Saturday. Kevin Penny scored three tries while Craig Hall bagged 20 points as the Vikings head into next week’s clash with Barrow at Blackpool in their best form of the season.

On Sunday, Featherstone outscored Gateshead 56-40 in a remarkable game. Kyle Briggs scored twice for Rovers.

In the Championship One, Blackpool defeated York 49-36. Munroe, Thompson and Royle all scored twice for the Panthers, while the absence of six suspended stars for the Knights probably cost them a win.

Dewsbury marched on with a 36-8 dispatch of Swinton. Spurr and Finn both scored two tries.

Three tries for Scott Law were the highlight of Keighley’s 60-28 win over London Skolars, while braces from Tommy Gallagher and Adam Thomas aided Rochdale beat Hunslet 41-22.

Oldham won 60-6 at Workington. O’Connor, Sykes and Goulden all scored two tries in the rout.