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League One

5 Sep 2022

Betfred League One Round-Up | Round 22

Betfred League One Round-Up | Round 22

Betfred League 1 champions Keighley Cougars completed a perfect season with a thumping 56-24 win over Rochdale Hornets at the Crown Oil Arena.

Cougars scored 10 tries, including two each for Charlie Graham and Junior Sa'u, as they pulled away in the second half to clinch their 20th and final win of a stunning campaign.

Graham scored both his tries before the break with Billy Gaylor and Alix Stephenson also crossing, before Ben Killan responded to make it 20-6 at the interval.

Hornets, who were already guaranteed a place in the play-offs, could only name a 14-man squad due to injuries, and were made to pay as Keighley crossed six more times after the break.

Swinton Lions snatched second place - and home advantage in the play-offs - after beating North Wales Crusaders 38-12 on Saturday.

Crusaders, who hosted the game in Warrington, raced into a 12-0 lead but trailed by eight at half-time, and a brilliant effort from Mike Butt early in the second half saw the eight-try Lions leapfrog their rivals in the table.

Crusaders were fortunate to cling onto third place as Doncaster came within two points of an improbable mathematical turnaround at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Needing to beat London Skolars by 51 points to edge above their rivals on points difference, the hosts came up agonisingly short after a 70-22 victory that sees them settle for fourth.

Sam Smeaton and Ben Johnston scored two tries apiece for the hosts, while battling Skolars responded with four tries of their own.

Oldham edged into the final play-off slot with a 30-18 victory over Hunslet, who had occupied the position for much of the campaign.

Owen Restall led the way with two long-distance tries as the Roughyeds hit back from an early 10-0 deficit to set up a post-season trip to the Hornets.

Midlands Hurricanes wrapped up their season with a seven-try, 42-26 win over Cornwall, for whom Jamie Prisk crossed twice.

 

Betfred League One Round 22 Results:

  • Midlands Hurricanes 42 Cornwall 26
  • Doncaster 70 London Skolars 22
  • Oldham 30 Hunslet 18
  • Rochdale Hornets 24 Keighley Cougars 56
  • NW Crusaders 12 Swinton Lions 38