Rugby League Roundup: Shock Defeat for Bradford Bulls, Featherstone and Wakefield Triumph
In the latest round of the Rugby League Championship, the Bradford Bulls suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the lowly York Knights. Despite being tipped as the favorites, the Bulls were beaten 25-14 at the LNER Community Stadium, with York’s half-back Liam Harris stealing the show with two tries and a crucial field goal.
The match was a stark contrast to the early-season form of the Bradford side, who had won three out of their first four games. However, it was a day to remember for the North Yorkshire outfit, as former Super League players Jimmy Keinhorst and Jordan Thompson also crossed the line for the hosts.
Bradford did manage to fight back late on, with debutant Eliot Peposhi and Aidan McGowan scoring late tries, but it was not enough to overturn the Knights’ commanding lead. For York and head coach Andrew Henderson, this crucial first win of the campaign will provide a much-needed boost as they look to climb the table and push for playoff contention.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Wakefield picked up a tough 34-14 victory against Batley at Mount Pleasant, while Featherstone were made to work for their 32-24 success at home against previously unbeaten Widnes Vikings.
High-flying Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, and Doncaster were also among the day’s other winners, all recording emphatic victories to bolster their league campaigns. Doncaster secured a superb 38-6 triumph in Cumbria against Barrow, Sheffield put the cleaners past Halifax with a resounding 46-0 win, and Swinton made light work of Dewsbury, smashing the Rams 50-22.
After five games, Wakefield and Sheffield are the only two teams with a 100 per cent record, with the Eagles boosting their points difference considerably after their 46-0 triumph. Widnes occupy third place, with Featherstone and Bradford rounding out the top five, all on six points. The table is closely contested, with six teams on four points, while Batley, Dewsbury, and York are currently propping up the table on two points each.
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