Championships Review – Round 2
Widnes Vikings, Halifax and Featherstone Rovers are the early pace-setters in the Championship after securing their second wins of the season.
In a 12 try thriller at Don Valley, Widnes Vikings clinched a 44-30 victory over Sheffield Eagles. Matt Gardner and Jim Gannon both claimed a brace of tries for Paul Cullen’s men who also saw Anthony Thackeray, James Webster and Gareth Haggerty cross the whitewash. Shane Grady added eight conversions.
Having not lost a game last year on their way to promotion, Dewsbury are still searching for their first Championship win after a 40-10 home loss to Featherstone Rovers. Daryl Powell’s team ran in seven tries including a hat-trick for Andy Kain. Ian Hardman, Jesse Joe Parker, Liam Finn and Liam Welham also scored for the visitors.
Ian Millward’s Leigh Centurions side followed up their confidence boosting Round 1 draw with champions Barrow Raiders with a comfortable 34-12 victory away at Keighley Cougars.
Scottish international Mick Nanyn scored 18 points for the away side while Steve Maden, Martyn Ridyard, James Taylor and Robbie Paul also scored tries. George Raynor and Ryan Benjafield scored for the Cougars.
Having received a bye in Round 1 of the competition, Whitehaven scored 24 unanswered second half points at The Recreation Ground on Saturday to beat Toulouse 34-20. Loose forward Carl Rudd scored one try and kicked five goals.
On Thursday Halifax overcame a second-half Batley fightback to claim a 34-24 triumph over Batley Bulldogs at Mount Pleasant. Tries from Luke Branighan (2), Dominic Maloney (2), Shad Royston and David Wrench, plus Lee Patterson’s five goals, earned Halifax a 34-6 lead. But Ashley Lindsay‘s try and full-back Johnny Campbell‘s two in two minutes earned Batley a losing bonus point.
In Co-operative Championship 1 South Wales Scorpions made it two wins out of two with a 18-8 victory away at Doncaster. Andrew Gay, Steve Parry and David James all touched down for the Neath based side with Aled James kicking three goals.
Swinton claimed their first win scoring 10 tries in a 52-16 win at London Skolars. Sam Reay bagged a hat-tirck whilst team mate Gavin Dodd scored two.
Workington Town put last week’s heavy cup defeat to Featherstone behind them as they beat York City Knights 32-22. Scott Kaighan scored a try and kicked six goals for the home side.
On Friday night Oldham maintained their 100 per cent record with a 29-16 win at Hunslet while Blackpool started their season with a 36-14 win over Rochdale Hornets.