In terms of the middle eights the crucial game of the final round of matches in the Kingstone Press Championship was always going to be Bradford Bulls visit to Featherstone for a winner takes all clash between fourth and fifth. A draw would be enough for the Bulls with their superior points difference.

Should Batley Bulldogs slip up away at Swinton then a win for Halifax would have been enough to lift them into the top four.

We were in for a dramatic Sunday.

The first game of the round took place on Saturday with the Sheffield Eagles securing seventh place with a 32-14 win over Whitehaven in Cumbria. Two converted tries from Taylor and Gore answered by two from Laulu-Togagae and Worrincy, of which only the former was converted saw Whitehaven with a 12-10 lead at the interval. Whitehaven extended their lead to 14-10 with a forty-third minute penalty but it was then all Eagles with four tries from; Robin, Thorpe, Chappel and Lo securing a big win.

Sunday's game of the day was at Featherstone where the biggest prize was up for grabs. In a sensational eighty minutes Rovers managed to keep the visiting Bulls pointless as they scored three first half tries through Ellis, Thackeray and Briggs to open up an 18-0 half time lead. The only points of the second half came in the form of a Briggs penalty for a 20-0 home win to catapult Featherstone I to the middle eights at the expense of their opponents.

Batley Bulldogs made no mistake of securing their third spot with a 62-24 win over Swinton Lions. Robinson had opened the scoring for the home side but tries from Leak (2), Ulugia, Reitte and Squires saw the Bulldogs into a 30-6 lead before Barlow grabbed one back on the stroke for half time. Ulugia, Day, and Brown had already extended the Batley lead before Atkin and Beharrell scored for Swinton. Ainscough (2) and Brambani made sure for The Bulldogs and with Walker kicking nine goals it was a simple win to send Batley into the middle eights brimming with confidence.

As it turned out a win for Halifax wouldn't have been enough but they failed to achieve it anyway going down by 41-22 against second placed London Broncos. Johnston had opened the scoring for 'Fax but Battye (2) and Garside gave London a 16-6 lead. So ward extended the lead on forty five but tries from Sharp and Barber (2) levelled the scores at 22-22. But the London kicked on and tries from Ioane, Slyney and Adebiyi sealed a 41-22 win.

Leigh Centurions had a party at the LSV as they put Dewsbury Rams to the sword. First half tries from McNally (3), Maitua, Worthington gave Leigh a 28-0 lead at the interval but the Centurions would add another thirty in the second half. A Higson hat-trick, along with tries from Reynolds and Higham, sealed a comprehensive 58-0 victory which will have the bottom four Super League sides looking over their shoulders with some concern.

Workington Town lifted themselves off the bottom of the Championship with a close fought 32-30 win away at Oldham. First half tries from Sammut, Shackley and Walker, answered by Lepori and Owen gave Workington a 20-12 lead at the interval. Ward narrowed the margin to two points a minute into the second half but Walker and Hulme made it 32-18 going into the last ten minutes. Two tries in the dying minutes from Hughes reduced the arrears to 32-30 but Workington held on for the win which lifted them above Whitehaven on points difference to earn Cumbrian bragging rights.

Next weekend is for rest an recoups ration before Leigh, London, Batley and Featherstone join Huddersfield, Hull KR, Salford and Leeds in the middle eights.