Round nine of the Kingstone Press Championship kicked off on Saturday evening as Oldham made the long trip to Toulouse.
The remaining five games were all Sunday afternoon kick-offs with Hull KR looking to continue their unbeaten record at Swinton, Bradford Bulls were at home to the Sheffield Eagles, Featherstone Rovers hosted Batley Bulldogs, Halifax took on Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs were hosts to Rochdale Hornets.
After Robin opened the Toulouse scoring in the first minute the outcome of this game was never in doubt. White, Ford (2), Robin with his second and Kheirallah all scored for the home side before the interval and with all six tries converted it was 30-0 at the interval. Gill and Burke saved Oldham blushes with scores early in the second half before Macron and White scored for Toulouse to take them 46-12 ahead. Lepori scored another for Oldham on the hour mark but Toulouse finished as they had started with tries for Boyer and Canet sealing the 58-18 win.
Despite making heavy weather of the opening exchanges Hull KR soon found their game and recorded a big win away at the Swinton Lions to continue their one hundred percent record. Hodgson and Abdull had put KR 10-0 ahead but two tries from White edged the home side into a 12-10 lead after twenty-one. Ellis edged the Robins into a 14-12 lead before two late tries from Docker-Kaye and Donaldson made it 26-12 at the break. The second half was a KR procession as Donaldson completed his hat-trick, Oakes, Scruton and Shaw all scored for 52-12 before a late bate consolation for a final score of 52-18 to the home side.
Featherstone Rovers maintained the pressure on the top two, and put daylight between themselves and fourth, with a win over the chasing London Broncos. The visitors had taken the lead through a Sammut try, which he converted himself but first half four-pointers from Davies, Ulugia and Aston gave them an 18-6 interval lead. Roqica opened the second half scoring for London but Bostock soon struck back for 26-12. Bostock extended the Fev' lead on fifty-one before Cunningham got one for The Broncos. The final try of the afternoon went to Briscoe to seal a 38-18 win.
Halifax lifted themselves into the all-important top four with a comprehensive win over the Dewsbury Rams. Dewsbury had got off to a stunning start with a Sykes converted try on five and they held a 6-0 lead until the last seconds of the half when Saltonstall levelled the scores. The second half was one-way traffic with Halifax scoring unanswered tries through; Grix, Worrincy, Tyrer (2) and Tangata for a 34-6 win.
A sensational fightback from an off-colour Batley Bulldogs enabled them to overcome the challenge of Rochdale Hornets. It was a real game of nip and tuck at the Fox's Biscuit Stadium. Rochdale were 16-0 up through Massam, Livett and Jullien before Hallet pegged the scoreline back to 16-4. Galbraith then extended the Rochdale lead but a Smeaton try on the half hour mark along with a second from Hallett sent the sides into the interval at 22-12. Tries from Hadden and Johnson extended the Hornets lead to 36-12 but then came the superb Batley fightback. Five tries in nineteen minutes from; Smeaton, Maher, Ainscough (2) and Lilycrop levelled the scores at 36-36 and despite only previously kicking two conversions in the game Brambani slotted over the all important final attempt to seal a two point victory.
Bradford Bulls edged themselves closer to zero points with a big win over the Sheffield Eagles at Odsal. Ryan and Bentley scored converted tries for the Bulls before Hope opened the Eagles account with a try converted by Brown. Oakes scored on half an hour and within two minutes Bentley added his second to send the Bulls into the break at 24-6. Murray extended the home lead early in the second half but two tries from Blackmore for the Eagles made it 30-16. Any Bradford nervousness was eased through three tries in a four minute period. Two for Bentley gave him four on the day and Campbell scored the last of the game for a 48-16 win.
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