Championship: Bradford lose to local rivals, as Barrow record first win
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Keighley claimed local bragging rights over Bradford with a 34-6 win at Cougar Park in front of a 4,793 crowd.
The Cougars led 24-0 at half time in a rare meeting between the two sides who share the same postcode district.
The last time Bradford had tasted defeat against Keighley was back in 1975, while it was also a surprise result in the context of a Championship season that Bradford have started well in.
Barrow recorded their first league win of the season as they held off Halifax to win 16-12.
The Raiders had an excellent 2022 to finish in the play-off places, but have endured a frustrating start to this campaign.
But Jarrod Sammut added to tries from Jarrad Stack and new loan signing Iain Thorney to guide them to victory at Craven Park.
They kept Halifax tryless in the second half, with recent signing from Featherstone Brandon Pickersgill on the score sheet for the visitors.
League leaders Featherstone maintained their perfect start with a 46-4 demolition of York.
Gareth Gale scored a hat-trick of tries, while Joey Leilua and Wales winger Kyle Evans also went over for four-pointers.
Widnes are up to fourth after a 24-16 win over Newcastle, despite conceding three late tries.
It was a relatively comfortable afternoon for the Vikings, who scored tries through Jack Owens, Kieran Dixon, Sam Wilde and Joe Lyons.
But a crazy last five minutes, triggered by a sin-bin for Danny Craven – his third in as many league matches – had them almost clinging on at the end.
Jay Chapelhow, Nikau Williams and Alex Foster all crashed over for tries, but Williams crucially missed the third conversion which spared Widnes a frantic final minute.
Batley held off a fightback from Whitehaven to win 18-16, while London Broncos secured their third win of the season by beating Swinton 16-14.
Jarred Bassett squeezed in at the corner for the Broncos to give them just enough of a cushion to see off the Lions.
On Saturday, Sheffield continued their fine start to the season with a 32-4 humbling of Toulouse.
Championship round seven results
- Barrow 16-12 Halifax
- Featherstone 46-4 York
- Keighley 34-6 Bradford
- London 16-14 Swinton
- Whitehaven 16-18 Batley
- Widnes 24-16 Newcastle
