All of the weekends rugby league was overshadowed by the tragic events unfolding in London and the later shocking and distressing confirmation of the death of Keighley Cougars Danny Jones from a suspected cardiac arrest. The thoughts of all of us are with Danny's wife and family, his friends and all of those involved with the Cougars.
Six games took place in the Kingstone Press Championship with intriguing looking ties at Bradford, where the Sheffield Eagles were the visitors, and Dewsbury who welcomed the Centurions.
Elsewhere Whitehaven were at Batley, Workington at Featherstone, London Broncos travelled to Hunslet, and Doncaster looked for their first win of the season at Halifax.
On paper, the tie of the round looked like it would be at Odsal and just under five thousand were in attendance for second versus third with the Eagles looking to get level with their hosts on points. But the game turned into Bulls masterclass as they demolished the Eagles, keeping them scoreless until the seventieth minute, while running in seven unanswered tries (Ferguson (2), Olbison, Uaisele, Williams, Sidlow and Henry). Leading 22-0 at half time James Lowes side extended the lead to 40-0 before Turner and Aston got on the score sheet for the Eagles. The Bulls rounded off a thoroughly professional performance with a Purtell converted try in the last few seconds for a 46-12 win.
Leigh Centurions came within a whisker of losing their unbeaten record at fourth placed Dewsbury and the Rams can count themselves as unlucky not to have picked up the two points on offer. Spicer had given the Rams the lead but Kay (2), McNally and Ridyard had given the visitors a 22-6 lead. Pryce scored for Dewsbury just before the interval and set the platform for an incredible second half fight-back. Grant and Adamson exchanged tries with Worthington and when Grant got his second of the afternoon on seventy-three he narrowed the margin to 28-32 to set up a grand stand finish. Leigh managed to hold on and maintain their unbeaten charge to the top spot.
With the teams above them failing, Featherstone Rovers lifted themselves to fourth spot with a 72-0 thrashing of Workington Town at Post Office Road. Tries from Hardman, Hitchcox, Cording (2), Chappell, Moore and Foster opened up a 44-0 half-time lead and while the scoring slowed in the second half, Hitchcox (2 more), Marginet, Bussey and Foster (his second), send the Cumbrians home humiliated after a 72-0 thrashing.
The Championships other Cumbrian side fared much better as Whitehaven snatched a victory over the Batley Bullsdogs thanks to a last minute Brooks try. Craven (2), and Leatherbarrow had registered first half scores for the home side with two responses from Hulme giving an interval score of 16-12. Batley extended the lead to 22-12 on forty-five but a Newton try for Whitehaven on sixty-eight narrowed the margin to 22-18. Batley just couldn't hold on and 'Havens last minute try sealed the points lifting Whitehaven above Workington to tenth spot.
Doncaster are still anchored to the bottom of the table and winless in 2015. Halifax were scoring at a point a minute early on with Saltonstall, Maneely, Heaton, Divorty and Potts stretching a 22-0 lead with twenty-two minutes on the clock. Murrell scored just before the interval for a 28-0 half-time lead and Doncasters only answer was a Dunn try on the hour mark. Saxon and Saltonstall added two more for 'Fax for a big 40-6 win.
The days remaining game was at Hunslet where London Broncos were in town. Minichella gave the visitors the lead but a Briscoe converted try put the home side ahead. They held the lead for ten minutes before a Broncos onslaught which saw tries from Gilmore, Naiqama, Garside and Williams extend a 26-6 lead. Brown grabbed a try for Hunslet on the hour mark but Williams sealed a 32-12 win with a couple of minutes remaining.
Next weeks intriguing game is the visit of Halifax to Leigh while the tenants play the landlords at the Keepmoat. Dewsbury are at home to Hunslet, London entertain Featherstone, Bradford travel to Whitehaven and Batley go Workington.
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