The Co-operative Championship
By The Man

Halifax v Featherstone



24th September 19:30 BST
Sky Sports 2 (19:30-21:30)

The final eliminator and both these teams find themselves just eighty minutes away from the Grand Final where Barrow lie in wait for the showdown at the Halliwell Jones.

Featherstone have reached this stage by virtue of two superb performances in beating the third and fourth placed teams, Sheffield and Widnes, away from home.

By contrast Halifax are playing their get out of jail card after a comprehensive defeat at Barrow. It all seems to have gone wrong for Halifax.

Halifax coach Matt Calland

How coach Matt Calland must rue stating his team were the best in the division by a country mile following their heartbreaking defeat to Castleford in the cup. Since then the wheels have really fallen off. The week later Sheffield turned them over and maybe fatigue was a factor but the bubble had been burst and however hard they try they cannot get that early season panache back. Confidence is a funny thing.

It could be argued that Halifax's second half of the season form would have seen them relegated such was the competitive nature of the Championship this season and they have their early season form to thank for this second chance.

It is true that Fax still have the personnel to put in a big performance and the likes of Ben Black and Shad Royston certainly know their way to the line but it is in defence that I have concerns. They seem to leak a lot of soft tries and you simply can't do that in play-off football.

Featherstone, themselves, are a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde outfit. Brilliant one week and distinctly ordinary the next you can't be certain which will turn up. However, they have performed well in the play-offs and rather better than Fax in the latter half of the season. Included in that was a brilliant come from behind victory at Halifax and you would have to say they were a little more trustworthy. Tommy Haughey and Tim Spears will return to the squad after serving a one match ban that forced them to miss the Widnes fixture last week and Featherstone go in to this one full of confidence. With Lestyn Harris pulling the strings I expect them to put up a big show. It's a game where absolutely nothing would surprise me. It could be a close fought low scoring affair, both teams could trade tries in a tryathon and one team could blow the other away. However, the crucial factor for me is the handicap. Getting and 8pt start for a semi-final fixture like this is a real bonus. OK, home advantage has to be worth something but this is no fortress with Sheffield, Whitehaven, Widnes and Featherstone all coming away with the spoils.

My handicap was 4pts and whilst I fully accept Halifax could at last fire I'll take my chances.

Pick:  Featherstone +8 3pts @ 1.91 Bet365, Totesport, Vcbet, Bluesq, Paddy Power, Skybet, Coral

 
The Championship Grand Final
 
If you've read all that I've written above you will see that I rate both Halifax and Featherstone as two very inconsistent teams. Whoever gets through to the final will face Barrow and I feel Barrow will win. Barrow themselves have been a little inconsistent to a degree this season, as most teams in the Championship have, but the poor performances have really only occurred when the side has been light through injuries. They go in to the final with a week off, a fully fit squad and the knowledge that Halifax were battered in to submission last week and Featherstone have been comfortably disposed of three times this season.

The price on offer suggests that Barrow would only be 2pt favourites in the final and I suggest that is wrong. I would have them at least 6pts whoever they face. Perhaps Skybet are trying to balance their ante-post book and are prepared to offer the value for this reason. Whatever the reason, take the value.

Pick: Barrow 3pts @ 1.73 with Skybet to win the Championship Grand Final