Round six of the Betfred Championship boasted a full Sunday afternoon of action with six eagerly anticipated encounters as the season continued with three sides looking to continue their quest for the top spot.
The unbeaten London Broncos had a home game against the Batley Bulldogs while fellow eight pointers Toulouse were at Dewsbury and Halifax entertained the beleaguered Leigh Centurions. Toronto Wolfpack, tucked in a point behind the join leaders had a trip to Sheffield to take on the Eagles.
The final two games of the round saw Featherstone Rovers at home to Swinton Lions and Rochdale facing an impressive Barrow Raiders side who are making a good fist of their first season back in the Championship.
It was the simplest of win for the London Broncos who are increasingly looking like the real deal under Danny Ward. A Dixon hat-trick, along with tries from Lovell and Cunningham had put the Broncos 30-0 ahead before a Brown try, converted by Walker, just before the interval gave the visitors some first half consolation. Pewhairangi and Dixon both scored within five minutes of the restart before Brown got his second for the Bulldogs, their last of the afternoon, for 40-12. Williams grabbed himself a brace before tries for Pewhairangi, Davis and Gee in the dying minutes gave London a very impressive 68-12 win.
Toulouse Olympique XIII continued their quest for the middle eights with a 40-20 away victory at the Dewsbury Rams. Ward had given the home side a 6-0 lead but first half tries from Curran, Robin, and a brace from Hepi gave the visitors a 22-6 lead at the interval. Spicer got the first try of the second half for Dewsbury before Maurel got Toulouse’s fifth of the afternoon. Knowles rounded off the Rams scoring for the afternoon but a second for Curran and a last minute try for Kheirallah ended a good trip for Toulouse.
Featherstone Rovers established a 12-0 lead through Briscoe and Carlile in the opening twenty-two before Sarsfield opened the Lions account. Mariano added a fourth for Rovers for an 18-6 interval lead. Ridyard extended the lead early in the second before two tries from Tyson got the visitors within a dozen points at 24-12. Two Robinson tries for Rovers were interrupted by a Sarsfield effort for a final Featherstone victory of 32-18, marred only by a red card for Misi Taulapapa eight minutes from time.
Toronto have maintained their fourth place with an easy victory over the Sheffield Eagles, who remain pointless. It took twenty-one minutes to get the scoreboard moving but then Kay, Whiting and Sidlow gave the Wolfpack a 16-0 lead. James grabbed one back for Sheffield just before the break for 16-6 at the interval. The second half was almost all one-way traffic with Rawsthorne, Wallance, Pownall (2) and Whiting all scoring tries for 44-6 before Macani got a late consolation in the dying minutes.
Leigh’s nightmare continued with yet another defeat, this time at Halifax where they were a clear second best. A Grady hat-trick, and tries from Moore and Heaton gave ‘Fax a 28-0 half time lead. Leigh found their feet in the second half with a brace from Hall and a try from Evans gave them some consolation but Tyrer grabbed a brace for the home side for a 38-18 win.
Rochdale and Barrow played a topsy turvy game at Spotland with the visitors racing to a 12-0 lead through converted tries from Cresswell and Hulme but after Jarrad Stack was sent off for the visitors on twenty-eight the momentum switched to Rochdale who them dominated the second half. Palfrey, Moran, Cross, Mitchell and Massam all scored in a twenty minute period for a 24-12 win.
