Six games over three days in the Betfred Championship same some big scoring, some close games and a shrinking of the gap at the top of the table into what is looking increasingly like a seven horse race for the top four places.

Rochdale and London played on Friday night, Batley Bulldogs entertained Toulouse on Saturday afternoon while the remaining games were played out on Sunday.

Leigh went on the road to Sheffield, Halifax were at home to Swinton, Toronto were at Dewsbury as they get close to the end of their ‘on  the road’ games while Featherstone had the trip up to Barrow.

Rochdale took the lead against London Broncos through a Moores converted try. Dixon, converted by Sammut levelled the scores on thirty-four  but a Livett penalty goal and Patton drop goal just before the break put Rochdale 9-6 ahead. Four tries in twenty minutes from Dixon (2) and Adebiyi (2) gave the Broncos a 28-9 lead before Kay scored a consolation for the Hornets. The final action of the game was a Dixon penalty goal for a 30-15 win which kept London fourth at the end of the weekend.

Batley Bulldogs sprang a big surprise on Toulouse by taking the points with a 46-22 win on Saturday afternoon. Ader scored first for the visitors but Crookes and Leak put Batley 10-6 ahead. Ader got a second to level the scores but a second try from Crookes and one from Ainscough put Batley 20-10 ahead at the interval. Ward made it 26-10 before Ford again cut the margin to ten points. Day, for Batley and Barthau, for Toulouse, exchanged tries for 34-16. Barthau scored on seventy before Crookes and Day put the icing on the Batley cake and kept them in the hunt for the top four.

Leigh Centurions romped to a thirteen try victory over Sheffield Eagles in a high scoring game. Leigh raced to a big 50-4 half time lead. Dawson, Mata’utia (2), Hall (3), Lovett, Owens and Hood were all on the score sheet with seven goals from Reynolds. The Eagles only reply was through Millar. Bentley and Thomas scored the first two tries of the second half to narrow the arrears to 50-14 before Hall scored his fourth, and Hutchinson his first. The Eagles last try came from Broadbent but Leigh weren’t finished as Owens added his second and Larroyer his only try of the game for a final score of 72-20.

The Dewsbury Rams and Toronto Wolfpack had a battle but the Wolfpack emerged as 23-12 victors.

Swinton Lions came within five minutes of their first win of the season, against an under par Halifax. Thornley scored the Lions opener and they led 6-4 at the interval after Butler scored for ‘Fax. A Hankinson penalty goal and Webb try on fifty-one extended the visitors lead to 12-4 before a converted Tyrer try on the hour reduced the lead to 12-10. Four minutes from time McGrath scored for Halifax to edge them two points clear and Lions hearts were broken a minute later when Tyrer got his second to seal the points and the 18-12 victory.

Barrow pushed Featherstone all the way but ended up on the receiving end of a 38-26 defeat. Tries from Farrell, Briscoe and Newman all scored first half tries for Rovers answered just by a Smith try for Barrow. Duffy and Parata scored early in the second half for a 20-16 home lead before Newman added his second for a 22-20 Featherstone lead. The scores were level again on the hour after a Dallimore penalty goal but three tries in nine minutes from Hardman, Ridyard and Carlile pushed the lead to 36-22. Ormsby scored two minutes from time for Barrow but a Ridyard penalty on the final hooter sealed the away win which saw Rovers into second, one point behind the Wolfpack.