Pre-season round-up: Henderson’s strong start & Wakefield win for Lyne
Photo: Simon Whitehead/News Images
There were seven pre-season friendlies this weekend, with Andrew Henderson getting off to a winning start as York coach.
Championship side Widnes got their first 80 minutes of 2023 under their belt with a comfortable 46-6 win over League 1 opposition Rochdale.
Joe Edge racked up a tally of 22 points, having scored a hat-trick and kicking five goals for John Kear’s side.
Whitehaven got their hands on the Ike Southward Memorial trophy following a hard-fought 22-6 win over Cumbrian rivals Workington at the Recreation Ground.
New signing Lachlan Lanskey scored in his first appearance for Whitehaven since making the move from Australia.
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Reece Lyne couldn’t have wished for a better testimonial. He picked up the man of the match award by helping Wakefield beat Championship side Halifax 28-16 at Belle Vue.
The former England international scored a testimonial try whilst Jay Pitts, Morgan Smith (2) and Eddie Battye also got on the scoresheet for Trinity.
Henderson’s strong start
Andrew Henderson got off to a winning start as York coach as the Knights won 28-12 in Doncaster.
The Knights scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to start the year with a solid victory over their League 1 opposition.
Championship club Bradford scooped the Jeff Grayshon Trophy as they defeated League 1 neighbours Dewsbury 34-16 at the FLAIR Stadium.
Former Castleford, Hull and Wakefield centre Joe Arundel scored his first try for Bradford following his move from Halifax.
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Barrow cruised to victory in Nathan Mossop’s testimonial with a 52-24 win over North Wales at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium.
Ellis Archer and Rio-Osayomwanbo Corkill both bagged braces for their hometown club Barrow following their arrivals from Super League champions St Helens.
Silky Swinton
Newly-promoted Championship club Swinton eased past League 1 side Midlands Hurricanes 44-10 at Heywood Road.
Joe Lowe, Josh Eaves, Anthony Dyne, Andrew Badrock, Mitch Cox and Calum Hughes all scored for the Lions.
Keighley kicked off the year with a win as they ran out 24-12 victors against Newcastle at Kingston Park.
Former Leigh prop Mark Ioane scored in his first appearance for Keighley since making the move in the off-season.
Pre-season results:
Whitehaven 22-6 Workington
Widnes 46-6 Rochdale
Reece Lyne testimonial: Wakefield 28-16 Halifax
Doncaster 12-28 York
Dewsbury 16-34 Bradford
Nathan Mossop testimonial: Barrow 52-24 North Wales
Swinton 44-10 Midlands Hurricanes
Newcastle 12-24 Keighley