Read what happened in Round 24 of the Betfred Championship...
There were fireworks on Saturday Night at Bartercard Odsal as Betfred Championship heavyweights Bradford and Toulouse locked horns.
Second place was at stake, as well as the opportunity to close in on league leaders York Knights with a game in hand, and it was the French side who clinched the spoils after a huge blood and thunder battle.
Both sides scored one try each – Jayden Okunbor for the Bulls and Olly Ashall-Bott for Olympique.
The rest of the points came via penalties and final minute of the match proved to be the most dramatic.
With the scores level at 10-10, Toulouse were awarded a penalty one minute from time and opted for goal. Jake Shorrocks successfully converted, and the game looked to be done and dusted, but a quick restart led to the Bulls getting a penalty on the halfway line on the hooter.
There was a last-ditch opportunity to snatch a draw, but Luke Hooley’s effort went agonisingly wide – and the visitors held on to claim a crucial two points in the race for the title.
The second game on Saturday saw London Broncos victorious against Batley at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.
Oldham produced another resilient performance to down a determined Doncaster in a Boundary Park thriller to ensure a top four finish heading into the Play-Offs.
Just 12 months after clinching the Betfred League One title, Sean Long's men will wrap up their regular season at Featherstone next weekend in the knowledge that there will then be a home Eliminator, after a gutsy victory thanks to tries from Phoenix Laulu-Togagae and Josh Drinkwater, plus a decisive Ryan Brierley drop goal.
Edene Gebbie and Craig Hall were the try scorers for the Dons.
Meanwhile, Featherstone continued to consolidate fifth place as they overturned Sheffield at Olympic Legacy Park.
The Rovers ran in five tries, including a Clay Webb brace.
Paul Cooke’s men have an extremely tough run-in in their remaining two fixtures, as they face Oldham and Bradford. Will they maintain their place in the six?
Then, a revived Widnes side kept their Play-Offs hopes alive with a comfortable victory over Hunslet.
The Vikings are just one point behind sixth-placed Halifax and boosted their chances of a top six finish following Sunday’s impressive performance, which is also their fifth win in a row.
Adam Lawton and Jake Maizen completed doubles, while Jon Bennison, Jack Owens and Matty Fozard also got on the scoresheet.
Finally, there was an important encounter between Barrow and Halifax and their Play-Off aspirations.
Nine-try Panthers kept hold of sixth spot with a massive win in Cumbria, and in turn put the Raiders firmly out of the Play-Off race.
There are just two regular rounds left to play...
Betfred Championship Round 24 results:
Batley Bulldogs 16 London Broncos 30
Bradford Bulls 10 Toulouse Olympique 12
Oldham 13 Doncaster 12
Sheffield Eagles 10 Featherstone Rovers 30
Widnes Vikings 40 Hunslet 12
Barrow Raiders 10 Halifax Panthers 48
The full fixture list for the Betfred Championship can be found here.
Photo Credit: Oldham
