It was a full set of Sunday afternoon kick-offs in the Kingstone Press Championship. Rochdale took their clean sheet against Dewsbury Rams in round one to Bradford, Toulouse made the long trip to Sheffield to take on the Eagles in the days late kick-off, and Hull KR were on the road in London.
Featherstone looked to back up their win last week with a home game against Oldham, Halifax were away at Batley Bulldogs in the days only Yorkshire derby and Dewsbury Rams entertained the Swinton Lions.
There were awful on-field conditions at Dewsbury where the Rams lost out in a low-scoring game over the Swinton Lions, in what can only be described as a mud bath. Atkin had given the visitors a two point lead through an eighteenth minute penalty, which they held until the fifty-sixth minute when Glover got a try converted by Sykes. With just two minutes remaining Forsyth got over the whitewash for Swinton and when Atkin converted he gave his side a hard fraught 8-6 victory.
Featherstone Rovers held on in the mud for their second win of the season, also by an 8-6 scoreline. A Turner try, converted by Leatherbarrow, as early as the eight minute gave Oldham the lead. But a brace from Ulugia, either side of half time and a massive defensive effort gave Fev' the two point win.
The Bradford Bulls are still seeking their first win of 2017 as Rochdale made it two from two with a 22-14 win at Odsal. Thomas had given the Bulls and early lead but when Greenwood scored and Palfrey added the conversion and a penalty the Hornets were 8-4 ahead. A Bentley try with a Thomas conversion and penalty put the home side back ahead and they took a 12-8 lead into the interval. Another Thomas penalty made it 14-8 but then Rochdale took control through two quick tries from Tahraoui and Bridge on fifty-two and fifty-seven, the first converted by Palfrey. The Rochdale stand-off added two more penalties on sixty-eight and seventy-nine to seal the win.
Batley Bulldogs recorded a terrific victory over Halifax as they dominated the opening hour of the game at Mount Pleasant. First half tries from Smeaton, Bretherton and Manning gave the Bulldogs an 18-0 lead at the interval and Chandler extended the lead to 24-0 after Walker kicked his fourth conversion of the afternoon. The only consolation for Halifax was a seventy-sixth minute Saltonstall try converted by Tryer.
Hull KR made the long trip down to London to take on the Broncos and snatched the two points despite a late scare. Sammut had given the home side an early lead with a try and conversion but Abdull, Ellis and Moss all scored four pointers in the first half for KR, the first two being converted by Ellis for a 16-6 lead. Sammut added a second try atbthe start of the second half for the Broncos but Hefernan and Shaw tries saw the visitors 26-12 clear on the hour mark. Dixon and Purtell grabbed tries within a three minute period just after the hour to get their side back within four points but the final scoring action of the game was a seventy-ninth minute penalty from Ellis to seal the 28-22 win.
The days late kick off was at Sheffield where the Eagles recorded a stunning victory over Toulouse Olympique XIII. Toulouse had taken the lead in the twelfth minute through Curran but tries from Burr, James and Fozard all converted by Brown and a Brown penalty saw the Eagles take a 20-4 lead into the interval. A Yere try, converted by Chisholm on fifty-three put Sheffield 26-4 ahead before the visitors scored through Ader and Leah. A converted try from Eagle Lo was the icing on the cake of a 32-14 win. |