CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP | London leapfrog Halifax, Leigh stay in touch

There were some big games with serious ramifications for the top four of the Championship this weekend. Find out what went down right here…

Cory Paterson reaches out to score for Toronto Wolfpack against Batley. Photo Credit: Mathew Tsang (RiverSpiral Photography)

At the top of the Betfred Championship, Toronto Wolfpack maintained their eight-point cushion at the helm with a commanding 64-18 win over the Batley Bulldogs.

Paul Rowley’s side recorded their 17th consecutive win and were out of sight after less than 30 minutes, having racing into a 32-0 lead.

They ran out comfortable winners in the end, with star half-back Blake Wallace notching a hat-trick and Andy Ackers bagging a brace.

Below the Wolfpack, Toulouse kept their hopes of a top-four finish alive with a high-scoring win over the Barrow Raiders.

Toulouse players celebrate scoring a try. Photo Credit: Toulouse Olympique official

The French side ran out 72-6 winners as they inflicted Barrow’s worst home defeat in 13 years and avoided what could’ve been a potential banana skin against the 8th-placed side.

Centre Bastien Ader scored four tries, while there were doubles for winger Chris Centrone and Paul Seguier, who arrived on loan from Catalans for the rest of the season earlier in the week.

In perhaps the biggest game of the weekend, London Broncos secured a massive 20-18 win over Halifax and went above their Yorkshire opponents to occupy the final top-four spot, albeit on points difference.

Danny Ward’s side had a solid start and raced into a 10-0 lead at the interval and, despite three second half tries for the visitors, former Warrington duo Rhys Williams and Ben Evans made sure of the points late on in the nation’s capital.

London Broncos in action against Halifax. Photo Credit: Halifax RLFC Official

Elsewhere, Featherstone maintained their grip on third spot with a 60-4 win away at the Swinton Lions. 

There were braces for Leeds Rhinos loanee Luke Briscoe, full-back Ian Hardman and the mercurial Misi Taulapapa, while Hardman was also in fine form from the tee, kicking 10 from 10.

Leigh Centurions secured a 54-32 win over bottom of the league Rochdale Hornets to ensure that they remained in the mix for a Qualifiers spot.

Leigh stretch out over the line against Rochdale. Photo Credit: Leigh Centurions Official

The two sides went into the break at 22-apiece, but the fitness of the full-time side eventually told, with Keiron Purtill’s side running in 10 tries at the Crown Oil Arena.

Away from the race for the top four, the only other game in the weekend’s fixtures, saw Sheffield Eagles overcome Dewsbury Rams to leapfrog them into ninth place in the league ladder.

Michael Knowles scored for the Rams in the final seconds to make it 30-28 with a kick to come, but Paul Sykes could not add the extras, giving the Eagles a huge win.

With just two rounds of the regular season to go, things are really starting to hot up in the Betfred Championship. Who will make it into the top four? Let us know down below, and don’t forget to like us on facebook and follow us on twitter for more Championship news!