Championship RL Results: One side reduced to 10 men in bizarre battle as Bradford battered

Before a battle between Batley Bulldogs and Widnes Vikings conclude another brilliant round of Championship action tomorrow night on Bank Holiday Monday on Viaplay TV, today saw five games as the season continues to take shape.

Yesterday, the action started in Swinton as the Lions ended a seven game losing run to stun Toulouse Olympique.

They stormed 19-0 ahead, Toulouse battled back with former Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils Sitaleki Akauola scoring.

Today, in the early kick-off Joe Keyes’ brace and tally of 20 points helped Halifax Panthers to a win away at Newcastle Thunder with Lachlan Walmsley continuing to keep his try scoring rate high.

Bradford Bulls meanwhile were well beaten away at Barrow Raiders. There was a brace from Broadbent and a Cresswell hat-trick as the Raiders scored 34 points in the second half.

Meanwhile, a Towse hat-trick against London helped York edge the side from the capital.

It was a similar case at Whitehaven where Keighley Cougars began their post Luke Gale era by racking up 28 points in the first half and holding on for a 32-24 win away.

In the weekend’s big game league leaders Featherstone Rovers hosted promotion pushers Sheffield Eagles.

The Eagles were hoping to end the Rovers’ unbeaten start to the season.

In the dying stages it was a tale of two ex-Leeds Rhinos wingers as Luke Briscoe scored to make it 22-16 to the Rovers only for Ben Jones-Bishop to cancel it out but crucially the conversion was missed.

Remarkably the Eagles had held on earlier in the game when down to just 10 men as three stars were given yellow cards whilst Featherstone themselves were reduced to 12.

Their valiant effort was in vein when Featherstone scored a late try to break Sheffield hearts.

Results:
Swinton Lions 19-12 Toulouse Olympique
Newcastle Thunder 16-36 Halifax Panthers
Barrow Raiders 46-12 Bradford Bulls
Whitehaven 24-32 Keighley Cougars
York RLFC 30-28 London Broncos
Featherstone Rovers 28-20 Sheffield Eagles