Super League: Batley, Featherstone in Qualifiers

Image: Featherstone's Misi Taulapapa runs with the ball

Part-timers Batley and Featherstone have claimed the final two spots in the Super 8s Qualifiers on the final day of the regular season in the Kingstone Press Championship.

John Kear's Bulldogs will line up alongside Leigh and London Broncos in the play-offs to determine the make-up of the top flight in 2017 after clinching a third-place finish with a 62-24 win over Swinton at Heywood Road.

Featherstone were 20-0 winners over Bradford in their winner-takes-all clash at the BigFellas Stadium, which condemns the Bulls to a third successive season in the Championship. The four Championship clubs will be joined by current Super League clubs Leeds, Huddersfield, Salford and Hull KR in the Qualifiers.

Alistair Leak, Chris Ulugia and Shaun Ainscough all scored two tries apiece for Batley against Swinton, with others coming from Wayne Reittie, Shaun Squires, Brad Day, James Brown and Dominic Brambani, while Pat Walker kicked nine goals.

Swinton won at Batley earlier in the year and threatened to complete the double when a sixth-minute try from Shaun Robinson gave them the lead, but they trailed 30-6 by the time Josh Barlow went over for their second on the stroke of half-time and Matty Beharrell's effort three minutes from the end was nothing more than consolation.

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Kyle Briggs marked his 100th appearance for Featherstone with four goals as Rovers finished the season with a fourth successive victory in what was dubbed the half-a-million-pound match.

Steve Snitch, Andy Ellis and Anthony Thackeray scored tries as Featherstone led 18-0 at the break, with Briggs supplying the only points of the second half with a 64th-minute penalty.

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Image: Batley's Alistair Leak scored against Swinton to help his side secure a place in the Qualifiers

The outcome was a bitter blow for Bradford, who were in Super League only two years ago and were champions in 2005 but will now play out the rest of the season in the Championship Shield after finishing fifth.

Table-toppers Leigh will take a 22-match unbeaten run into the Qualifiers after ending the regular campaign with a 58-0 rout of Dewsbury.

Full-back Gregg McNally, making up for lost time in an injury-hit season, scored a first-half hat-trick of tries and winger Adam Higson repeated the feat after the break as the Centurions went on to complete an unbeaten home record for the third year in a row.

Reni Maitua, Greg Worthington, Ben Reynolds and captain Mickey Higham also scored tries for Leigh and Martyn Ridyard kicked nine goals.

Australian half-back Jamie Soward contributed 15 points with a try, five goals and a drop goal as London Broncos returned to winning ways with a 41-22 triumph over sixth-placed Halifax at The Shay. Eddie Battye scored two first-half tries for the Londoners, with others coming from Matt Garside, Mark Ioane, Nick Slyney and academy captain Sadiq Adebiyi.

Ed Barber scored two tries for Halifax, whose other touchdowns came from Ben Johnston and Will Sharp, with Gareth Moore kicking three goals.

Workington climbed off the bottom of the table at the expense of neighbours Whitehaven and gave their survival hopes a boost thanks to a 32-30 win over Oldham at Stalybridge.

Substitute Tom Walker scored a try in each half and others came from Jarrod Sammut, Marc Shackley and Dec Hulme, with Sammut kicking six goals.

Kenny Hughes scored two tries in the last four minutes, adding to earlier efforts from Richard Lepori, Gareth Owen and Michael Ward, as Oldham slipped into relegation trouble.

Super 8s

Image: Hull FC and Warrington will do battle in the Top 8

Top 8

Hull FC

Warrington Wolves

Wigan Warriors

St Helens

Catalans Dragons

Castleford Tigers

Widnes Vikings

Wakefield Wildcats

Qualifiers

Image: Leeds and Huddersfield turn their attention to the Qualifiers

Leeds Rhinos

Salford Red Devils

Hull KR

Huddersfield Giants

Leigh Centurions

London Broncos

Batley Bulldogs

Featherstone Rovers

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