Championship Talk: The race heats up

CHAMPIONSHIP TALK

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Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.

Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.

The race heats up

AFTER a thrilling opening weekend of play-off rugby in Betfred Championship and League One, eight teams remain standing.

       

The third tier hosted two shock results- at least in the eyes of the bookies - as Doncaster won at Newcastle and Workington triumphed at Hunslet.

       

The Town win in South Leeds shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise, given it was their fourth straight win over Gary Thornton’s side.

       

But Chris Thorman’s team again did it tough - having won on the same ground with 14 men in the 1895 Cup, then 15 men at home, they again effectively played two players short again on Sunday.

       

Tyler Lancaster and Blain Marwood were named on the bench but not used, as the Cumbrians overturned a 24-18 half-time deficit with 14 unanswered second half points, veteran hooker Sean Penkywicz again outstanding.

       

Meanwhile in the north east Doncaster were marking themselves down as genuine promotion candidates with a superb 20-6 win at Newcastle Thunder.

       

Scrum-half Matty Beharrell was their key man, and his partnership with Rangi Chase is one no opposition team will relish facing.

       

Richard Horne’s Dons now travel to Oldham for a place in the Grand Fnal, while Simon Finnigan’s Thunder must regroup quickly at home to a buoyant Workington.

       

There was a third away win of the weekend in the Championship on Sunday night as Featherstone Rovers stunned Leigh 34-18 in front of the Sky cameras.

       

Ryan Carr’s team led from the moment Alex Sutcliffe touched down in the eighth minute, with halfback Callum McLelland capping a superb performance with a solo second half try.

       

Despite significant investment in recent weeks the Centurions fell some way short, while Ryan Carr’s Rovers now travel to York.

       

The City Knights - who have exceeded all expectations in finishing third the season after promotion - couldn’t handle a red hot Toulouse on Saturday, with the French side running out 44-6 winners.

       

Fullback Mark Kheirallah was in typically superb form in racking up 20 points, and Sylvain Houles’ charges now travel to Toronto for their semi-final.

       

York meanwhile host Featherstone on Saturday in what is a fascinating clash given their recent meetings and last weekend’s results.

       

Eight teams will be down to six come Sunday evening and we will have a clearer view of the best promotion candidates in both competitions.