It’s been another outstanding weekend of Rugby League action, with shocks, twists and surprises all across the country to seriously shake up the top three divisions.
In Super League, the play-off race is well and truly alive after another defeat for Widnes – this time against one of their big rivals for the eight. And the Championship is hotting up too after some surprise results – with Championship One looking equally as thrilling. But which five teams caught the eye the most this weekend? Here’s this week’s Fab Five, as suggested by you on social media!
And don’t forget that full reports of EVERY game this weekend is in tomorrow’s edition of League Express – which is available online TONIGHT, or in paper format tomorrow, as per usual.
Doncaster RLFC
Where else could we start? We’re delving into the Kingstone Press Championship for the first member of our Fab Five this week – and it has to go to Doncaster. The Dons – without player/coach Paul Cooke in their side – ended the unbeaten streak of Leigh Centurions with a win at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Many believe the race for the top two in the Championship is between Leigh, Halifax and Featherstone – but the Dons are now breathing down the necks of Halifax, trailing them on points difference alone. Could Cooke’s men be lifting the Championship trophy come the end of the season?
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
What a run it has been for James Webster as Wakefield head coach. He’s now five games unbeaten – with just one point dropped since he took charge of the club. Their incredible run towards the play-offs continued at pace on Thursday after they inflicted another defeat on Widnes Vikings. With the Wildcats now just two points from the top eight, could they be about to repeat their heroics of two years ago? One thing is certain, the Wildcats are mathematically safe from the drop – which is some effort from all involved at the club.
Workington Town
Another Championship side that make our Fab Five this week are Phil Veivers’ Workington Town. After a tricky start to the season, Town have sensationally turned their season around with four wins in succession – the latest coming on Sunday at Keighley Cougars. Town now have 32 points, and are only inside the relegation zone on points difference.
Amazingly, Keighley are also on 32 points, as are Sheffield – with last seasons champions in real danger of an incredible drop into Championship One next season. But hats off to Phil Veivers, who has really got Town ticking at just the right time.
Wigan Warriors
Our Fab Five is dominated by the “W’s” this week, as Wigan Warriors also make the cut! The Warriors are building up form ahead of the business end of the season nicely, but few expected them to win in the South of France as comfortably as they did. Home defeats for Catalan Dragons are few and far between in 2014 – with the Warriors becoming just the second side to come back to England with points this season. They were inspired by a superb performance from Matty Bowen, who like the Warriors, is approaching top speed at just the right time. Are the Warriors the team to beat as we approach the play-offs?
York City Knights
Quite a few suggestions for inclusion in our Fab Five included the York City Knights this week. As we were reminded on Twitter, the Knights have just finished their horrific run of four away games in succession – against Oxford, London Skolars, Hemel Stags and South Wales Scorpions. That’s well over 1000 miles of traveling for the Knights, but they’ve come out of it with four wins out of four. They sit top of the Championship One, and are in pole position to get back up at the first attempt for 2015.
