The game of the day in the fourth round of the Betfred Championship was at the Trailfinders Sports Ground where top placed London Broncos looked to continued their great start to the season against second placed Toronto Wolfpack.

Both sides came into the game knowing that this could be a crunch game for the season and with sunshine and a 4G pitch there would be no excuses for the millionaires from Toronto should they not pick up the win to go clear at the top. 

Both sides were giving the other the greatest of pre-kick-off respect but knew that once they entered the arena that the gloves would be off for this crucial contest.

The Broncos had the best of the early exchanges and on seven minutes Api Pewhairangi found his way to the line in heavy traffic off a short pass. Jarrod Sammut added a simple conversion for a 6-0 lead and the best of starts for the home team.

The second try came on sixteen when Matt Davis took a pass in front of the uprights to scamper over. When Sammut added the extras the home side had edged to a 12-0 lead. But on nineteen Richard Whiting was on hand to benefit from a McCrone ricochet kick into the London defence as he evaded the attempted tackle of Pewhairangi to go over. Ryan Brierley added the conversion to half the arrears.

Sammut kicked a penalty on twenty-four after he’d been tackled high, for a little more breathing space. Three minutes later and a sensational try from Reece Williams, going seventy metres down  the left wing and swatting away the attempted tackle from Brierley to round behind the sticks to score. Sammut added the goal for a 20-6 lead as the Broncos looked utterly dominant.

Andrew Dixon excellently held a short pass which had gone just behind him to spin in the tackle and take two tacklers over the line to ground on thirty-five. Brierley added the extras to edge his side back into the game.

With under thirty seconds left on the clock Sammut kicked a drop goal from ten metres out for a well deserved half time lead of 21-12.

Both sides had early opportunities in the second half. Toronto were forced to drop-out of fifty-one and three tackles into the six Jordan Johnson scooted from acting half back and despite appearing to be tackled he stretched for the line and grounded. Sammut added the goal for a commanding 27-12 lead.

A Liam Kay try of a Quentin Laula-Togaga’e pass revitalised the Toronto challenge but Brierley missed the conversion from the left touchline. But when Andrew Dixon was sin-binned for holding back a chasing Broncos player, seemingly a little harshly, it made the task even harder for the visitors as Sammut kicked the resulting penalty goal.

As Toronto tried to force the pass the error count increased. A great bust by Pitts on sixty-three allowed the second rower to find Alex Walker in space to accelerate over in the left corner for London’s fifth try of the afternoon. Sammut was unable to add the conversion bit his side were 33-16 ahead.

A sixty-ninth minute try from James Cunningham, spinning out of a poor tackle after London received a drop-out, made sure that the home side had the points in the bag. When Sammut added the extras it was 39-16.

Sammut added a seventy-seventy minute penalty goal for 41-16 and Alex Walker got his second of the afternoon as he outpaced Pownall with just ninety seconds left on the clock. Sammut kicked his ninth conversion from ten attempts to round off a brilliant game for the Broncos.

London were worth their victory as they executed the perfect game plan against the Wolfpack. Taking their early chances they never looked in any danger in allowing Toronto to hit their stride as they blitzed in attack and tackled strongly in defence. Danny Ward has a well drilled side who are playing brilliantly as a unit and who are now credible challengers for promotion from the end of season Middle Eights.  After coming close last year, the Londoners are now looking like the real deal.

Broncos Scorers: Walker (2T), Williams (T), Pewhairangi (T), Johnson (T), Cunningham (T), Davis (T). Sammut (9G, DG).

Wolfpack Scorers: Kay (T), Dixon (T), Whiting (T). Brierley (2G).

Half Time: 21-12.

Full Time: 47-16.

Referee: Matthew Rossleigh.

Attendance: .