Championship Talk: Contrasting Fortunes

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Contrasting fortunes

THE four non-Super League clubs in the last 16 of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup certainly had varying experiences last weekend.

          It’s impossible not to start with Leigh, who passed their test against top flight Salford with flying colours in a 22-10 win.

          The opening stages apart - when the Centurions fell 0-10 behind - Kieron Purtill’s improving side dominated the match, both in the forwards and in terms of ball control and cutting edge.

          Halfbacks Ben Reynolds and Drew Hutchison completely outplayed their opposite numbers, Harrison Hansen rolled back the years with an outstanding performance in the pack, and full-back Peter Mata’utia was a joy to watch throughout.

          The performance bodes well both for Purtill’s permanent job hopes (still unconfirmed at the time of writing) and the Centurions’ prospects if they can make this year’s Qualifiers.

          Leigh have been drawn away at Leeds in the quarter-finals, but with the game being staged at Featherstone, they could cause the Rhinos some genuine problems.

          On Thursday night, Featherstone themselves were involved in a remarkable clash that finished with Hull FC having just nine men.

          John Duffy’s team looked set for a stern lesson when they trailed 0-18 after just 13 minutes, but the remainder of the game finished 20-20 and Rovers certainly showed their prowess with the ball at times.

          On Saturday, the last remaining League One club Whitehaven gave Catalans an early scare before succumbing to a 56-10 defeat in Perpignan.

          Tries to Jessie Joe Parker and Dave Thompson in the space of four first half minutes saw them trail their Super League opponents just 12-10 well inside the second quarter.

          But the French side’s quality eventually shone through, although Haven player coach Carl Forster will take much out of the experience.

          Finally - and most dramatically - Toronto Wolfpack took on Warrington on BBC2 on Sunday.

          The Championship leaders were 10-6 ahead when Andrew Dixon was dismissed for punching Harvey Livett, having already had Liam Kay sin binned for a dangerous tackle.

          In the remaining 41 minutes they conceded 60 points, including a spell with 10 men when captain Josh McCrone and prop Darcy Lussick were yellow carded for dissent.

          Coach Paul Rowley later used the words “shambolic” and “nightmare” to describe the second half, although the first showed the potential in the side if they can keep their discipline.

          The Wolfpack get another chance on the big stage at Magic Weekend against Toulouse and will be keen to make amends quickly.