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Sat 5th-Sun 6th Sept: The Betfred Championship Match Thread

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League Express

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Sat 5th-Sun 6th Sept: The Betfred Championship Match Thread

Discuss the games here.

Please don't accuse match officials of deliberate bias or cheating, or your posts will be removed and your account may be banned without further warning.

SATURDAY 5th SEPTEMBER
London Broncos v Swinton Lions KO 14:00 (at Richmond Athletic Ground)

SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
Qualifying Semi-Finals
Oldham v Widnes Vikings KO 15:00
Doncaster v Barrow Raiders KO 15:00
The Eliminators
Sheffield Eagles v Batley Bulldogs KO 15:00
Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven KO 15:00

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Archie Gordon
Archie Gordon

Having watched the melee again, I can only think that a few Swinton players got off because it's quite possible that all their punches landed on fellow Swinton players. They weren't much good at rugby

Yorks Tim
Yorks Tim

WEEK 2 13.09.26 QF1 London v Doncaster QF2 Newcastle v Widnes EF1 Oldham v Hurricanes EF2 Barrow v Sheffield  

Click
Click

Kelly-Duffy(sp) also should have gone for Swinton, he dropped his elbow onto the back of a players head and then pushed his head into the ground.

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Blind side johnny

Blind side johnny

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All home wins.

Sport, amongst other things, is a dream-world offering escape from harsh reality and the disturbing prospect of change.

doc

doc

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, League Express said:

Sat 5th-Sun 6th Sept: The Betfred Championship Match 

SATURDAY 5th SEPTEMBER
London Broncos v Swinton Lions KO 14:00 (at Richmond Athletic Ground)

SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
Qualifying Semi-Finals
Oldham v Widnes Vikings KO 15:00
Doncaster v Barrow Raiders KO 15:00
The Eliminators
Sheffield Eagles v Batley Bulldogs KO 15:00
Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven KO 15:00

 

Angelus

Angelus

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Posted

Almost certain to be all home wins imo.

Widnes have an outside chance, but I think the 1895 final would have taken a lot out of them and Oldham will be fresh.

London will be resting the majority of starters though. 3 London lads from outside the squad have been training full-time in preparation for this game apparently. 

Yorks Tim

Yorks Tim

Posted
Posted

London Broncos v Swinton Lions
Oldham v Widnes Vikings
Doncaster v Barrow Raiders
Sheffield Eagles v Batley Bulldogs
Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven

  • Like 1
Widnes1989

Widnes1989

Posted
Posted

SATURDAY 5th SEPTEMBER
London Broncos v Swinton Lions KO 14:00 (at Richmond Athletic Ground)

SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
Qualifying Semi-Finals
Oldham v Widnes Vikings KO 15:00
Doncaster v Barrow Raiders KO 15:00
The Eliminators
Sheffield Eagles v Batley Bulldogs KO 15:00
Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven KO 15:00

The Art of Hand and Foot

The Art of Hand and Foot

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Posted (edited)

There has been much discussion on the Oldham thread about the result of the upcoming game against Widnes. Win and we would have to beat London twice in order to lift the Championship trophy. Lose and we'd only have to play them once, in the final. 

For me its win every game, no matter what. But it just shows the uneveness and absurdity of these play offs. That and the fact that Newcastle haven't played a team from the top tier of the championship. 

Edited by The Art of Hand and Foot
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Griff

Griff

Posted
Posted (edited)
19 minutes ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

There has been much discussion on the Oldham thread about the result of the upcoming game against Widnes. Win and we would have to beat London twice in order to lift the Championship trophy. Lose and we'd only have to play them once, in the final. 

For me its win every game, no matter what. But it just shows the uneveness and absurdity of these play offs. That and the fact that Newcastle haven't played a team from the top tier of the championship. 

Would you ?   Or would you play London in Week 2, when you have a second chance and then play Newcastle in Week 4, when, if you lose, you're out.

Much of that prediction depends on every game going according to league form, of course.  Which it probably won't.

But you definitely don't have to beat London twice.

Edited by Griff
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"We'll sell you a seat .... but you'll only need the edge of it!"

Jemmo

Jemmo

Posted
Posted
7 minutes ago, Griff said:

Would you ?   Or would you play London in Week 2, when you have a second chance and then play Newcastle in Week 4, when, if you lose, you're out.

Much of that prediction depends on every game going according to league form, of course.  Which it probably won't.

But you definitely don't have to beat London twice.

I agree with this. The system is designed to keep Oldham and London apart in a game that matters until the final, whilst also giving Oldham chance to be at home in the final if they beat London early

Jemmo

Jemmo

Posted
Posted

All those play off games will have the home team as favourite, but I would in now way be surprised for any of Widnes, Barrow or Batley to win. Only Whitehaven winning would probably be a shock, in lower case

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Griff

Griff

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Jemmo said:

I agree with this. The system is designed to keep Oldham and London apart in a game that matters until the final, whilst also giving Oldham chance to be at home in the final if they beat London early

Home against London?   No, London will be higher ranked than Oldham at whatever stage they meet.

"We'll sell you a seat .... but you'll only need the edge of it!"

Jemmo

Jemmo

Posted
Posted
7 minutes ago, Griff said:

Home against London?   No, London will be higher ranked than Oldham at whatever stage they meet.

Normally in play offs if you beat a team on the way you replace them in the rankings. That's how Donny finished below Hunslet but had home advantage in the final a few years ago.

They brought that rule in to stop a team going to a place, winning but having to go back to the same place anyway

Griff

Griff

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Jemmo said:

Normally in play offs if you beat a team on the way you replace them in the rankings. That's how Donny finished below Hunslet but had home advantage in the final a few years ago.

They brought that rule in to stop a team going to a place, winning but having to go back to the same place anyway

Well, we'll see if that's still in place.  But, if so, I'm wondering what the point of this higher and lower business is about. Why not just say that the winner of Oldham v Widnes will play London?  Whoever wins would be ranked 3.

"We'll sell you a seat .... but you'll only need the edge of it!"

Jemmo

Jemmo

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Griff said:

Well, we'll see if that's still in place.  But, if so, I'm wondering what the point of this higher and lower business is about. Why not just say that the winner of Oldham v Widnes will play London?  Whoever wins would be ranked 3.

It was only ever relative to those teams in question...it was never easy!

It might not be like that now, I can't find anything that says it's either been changed or stayed like that

Moominman

Moominman

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, Jemmo said:

Only Whitehaven winning would probably be a shock, in lower case

Not really given that Haven defeated and drew with Midlands in the regular season.

Jemmo

Jemmo

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Moominman said:

Not really given that Haven defeated and drew with Midlands in the regular season.

Fair

Yorks Tim

Yorks Tim

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Moominman said:

Not really given that Haven defeated and drew with Midlands in the regular season.

I was about to say the same.

Hurricanes have improved since those games but then again so have Haven.

Should be a cracker. 

  • Like 1
Angelus

Angelus

Posted
Posted (edited)
32 minutes ago, Click said:

Swinton should definitely be looking at getting a win this weekend after looking at the 21 man squad from London -

 

 

If the first 13 in that list play then I'd still have London as favourites. 

And what team are Swinton going to field? Some of their players may not be involved due to the fairly late change of date.

It will be good to see some of the young London talent though. 

Edited by Angelus
Joe Aitcheson

Joe Aitcheson

Posted
Posted
On 03/09/2026 at 07:40, Yorks Tim said:

London Broncos v Swinton Lions
Oldham v Widnes Vikings
Doncaster v Barrow Raiders
Sheffield Eagles v Batley Bulldogs
Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven

Should definitely be all home wins.

Moominman

Moominman

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, Prince said:

I think Haven could win this, have built steadily throughout the season and a strong team spirit.  

A fair comment. We've not had money to bring in new players as the season has gone on. Instead the club has focused on developing the local lads we do have, who are mainly second or first year pros. When you're regularly fielding a team with 14+ locals, team spirit will be strong.

  • Like 1
Griff

Griff

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 03/09/2026 at 11:58, Jemmo said:

Normally in play offs if you beat a team on the way you replace them in the rankings. That's how Donny finished below Hunslet but had home advantage in the final a few years ago.

They brought that rule in to stop a team going to a place, winning but having to go back to the same place anyway

I had a look at 2023, out of curiosity.

Doncaster (3rd) were at home to Oldham (4th) in round 1.

They were away to Hunslet (2nd) in round 2.

They were at home to NWC (6th) in the Final.

Higher placed team at home in all three cases.

Of course, that doesn't tell us where the final would have been played if NWC hadn't beaten Hunslet in the prelim final.

Edited by Griff

"We'll sell you a seat .... but you'll only need the edge of it!"

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