Toronto Wolfpack wrapped up the Kingstone Press League 1 title and earned promotion to the Championship with Saturday’s 26-2 win over Barrow Raiders.
The result capped off a strong first season for the first Canadian side to play in the professional Rugby League ranks, as they have won 19 of their 21 league games.
Blake Wallace scored twice, with Quentin Laulu-Togagae and Richard Whiting getting one try apiece as Wolfpack lifted the League 1 winners’ shield after the game.
Kingstone Press League 1 winners 🆠@TOwolfpack pic.twitter.com/MQkYMlDOs6
— Championships-RL (@RLChampionships) September 10, 2017
Doncaster missed out on the chance to seal their spot in the League 1 promotion play-off after falling to a 24-28 defeat to Newcastle Thunder.
Paul Green, Jason, Muranka, Jason Tali and Kieran Cross crossed for the Dons but Thunder outscored the South Yorkshire side with Derrell Olpherts, Liam McAvoy, Vencent Rennie, Lewis Young and Evan Simons crossing.
Either Newcastle or Keighley Cougars could still claim the final play-off spot in the final Round of the League 1 Super 8s – the West Yorkshire side beat Workington Town 28-6 to keep those hopes alive.
James Feather, Matthew Bailey, Josh Lynam, Josh Tonks and Ritchie Hawkyard all crossed for Cougrars. Joe Hambley got Haven’s lone try.
League 1 #Super8s results@TOwolfpack clinch League 1 and gain promotion to the Championship pic.twitter.com/infHQHazz1
— Championships-RL (@RLChampionships) September 10, 2017
Whitehaven clinched a 26-16 win over York City Knights in Sunday’s other League 1 Super 8s game.
Elliott Miller scored twice for the Cumbrians, with Dion Aiye and Carl Forster also registering. York’s scorers were Ben Dent, Jonny Presley and David Foggin-Johnston.
Hunslet guaranteed their place in the League 1 Shield final thanks to a 60-16 victory at Hemel Stags.
Liam MacKay and Mufaro Mvududu both scored twice for the Leeds side, with Jack Coventry, Lewis Reed, Cameron Leeming, Jack Walton, Joshua Nathanel and George Flanagan also crossing.
League 1 Shield #Super8s @LondonSkolarsRL & @HunsletRLFC secure their League 1 Shield final spots pic.twitter.com/xQrhbSaSPg
— Championships-RL (@RLChampionships) September 10, 2017
Top placed London Skolars enjoyed a 16-6 home win against University of Gloucestershire All Golds, with Mike Bishay and Smokie Junior scoring for the hosts.
Jordan Gill got four tries as Oxford defeated Coventry Beards 28-24. Harvey Burnett and Casey Canterbury also crossed for the hosts.
Ryan Smith scored a hat-trick as North Wales Crusaders thrashed South Wales Ironmen 54-6 in the derby match. Crusaders’ other scorers were Earl Hurst, Ryan Millington, Lee Hudson, Tommy Johnson (2), Luke Warburton, Warren Thompson.
