Championship round-up: Pewhairangi hat-trick, Swift inspires Sheffield, Leigh win in France

There were a couple of brilliant individual performances in the Championship on the weekend.

Api Pewhairangi scored a hat-trick to inspire London Broncos to a thrilling 68-0 win over Rochdale Hornets at Ealing Trailfinders. Jay Pitts, Kieran Dixon, James Cunningham and Alex Walker all scored two tries each. Warrington trio Ben Pomeroy, Pat Moran and George King featured for Rochdale on dual-registration.

Halifax returned to winning ways with a very comfortable 46-4 win over Swinton Lions at Heywood Road. Kieren Moss and Ben Johnston scored two tries each for Fax. Wigan youngsters Craig Mullen and Josh Ganson featured for Swinton on dual-registration.

Toronto Wolfpack put in another dominating performance at their Lamport Stadium home, running in 13 tries to beat Dewsbury Rams 64-12 on Saturday. Scotland international Matty Russell crossed the whitewash twice. Dewsbury only had 16 players available, while Lewis Heckford was on loan from Wigan as well as Shannon Wakeman and Jordan Crowther from Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity.

Leigh Centurions pulled off a massive and crucial 18-16 win over Toulouse Olympique in France. Kevin Larroyer, Ricky Bailey and Jamie Acton scored all three of Leigh’s tries in the first half.

Featherstone Rovers ran-out 52-4 winners against an injury-hit Barrow Raiders at the LD Nutrition Stadium. Luke Cooper scored two tries for John Duffy’s side, while Richard Moore and Ryan Duffy were sin-binned for fighting in the second half.

St Helens ace Adam Swift put in a man of the match display for Sheffield Eagles as they beat Batley Bulldogs 38-20 at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium. Swift got on the scoresheet, while Jake Spedding and Jack Ashworth also featured on dual-registration from Saints. Cory Aston also performed well for the Eagles on loan from Castleford Tigers.

Toronto, Toulouse, Featherstone and Halifax are currently in the top four, but London and Leigh are just a point away from fourth-placed Halifax. Swinton and Rochdale are equal on points at the bottom of the table.

Championship round 17 results:

Batley Bulldogs 20-38 Sheffield Eagles

Featherstone Rovers 52-4 Barrow Raiders

London Broncos 68-0 Rochdale Hornets

Swinton Lions 4-46 Halifax

Toronto Wolfpack 64-12 Dewsbury Rams

Toulouse Olympique 16-18 Leigh Centurions