Championship & League 1 play-off picture: Halifax secure third place
Photo: Simon Hall
Halifax secured a third place finish in the Championship for the second successive season with a 32-4 win over Widnes on Monday night.
The result means the Panthers cannot be caught on the final weekend of the season and they will host the side that finishes sixth in the play-offs.
That will be one of Barrow or York, owing to Batley’s superior points difference.
Barrow will still have designs on leapfrogging Batley in to fourth position and securing a home play-off tie.
The Raiders have enjoyed a fine first season back in the Championship, exceeding expectations to comfortably secure a play-off spot.
They travel to London Broncos at the weekend knowing a win would require Batley to win at League Leaders’ Shield winners Leigh.
If Barrow lose in the capital, York can jump above them to fifth with a win at home to relegated Workington.
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Elsewhere on the final day, Halifax entertain Featherstone at The Shay in what could be a potential semi-final dress rehearsal, while Bradford and Widnes complete disappointing seasons against each other at Odsal.
Sheffield and Dewsbury finish their season with a clash on Friday and on Saturday Newcastle travel to Whitehaven.
Thunder can jump above Whitehaven in to 11th with a win.
The Championship play-offs begin next weekend, with Halifax hosting the sixth place team and fourth hosting fifth in the eliminators.
The highest placed winner will travel to Featherstone in the semi-finals, with the other going to Leigh, who have won 25 of their 26 league games this term.
Dewsbury and Workington have already had their relegations confirmed, with League 1 champions Keighley coming the other way along with the League 1 play-off winner.
The League 1 play-offs start this weekend with Rochdale welcoming Oldham in a do or die clash.
The winner of that match will play the loser of this weekend’s game between North Wales and Doncaster.
Awaiting the winner of North Wales v Doncaster in the qualifying semi-final is Swinton, who receive a bye in the first week. The winner of the qualifying semi-final goes straight to the promotion play-off final, while the loser will get another chance.
Championship play-off format
- 1 – Leigh – 50pts – PD +1040
- 2 – Featherstone – 45 – +590
- 3 – Halifax – 40 – +397
- 4 – Batley – 36 – +245
- 5 – Barrow – 35 – +162
- 6 – York – 19 – +34
Match A: 3rd v 6th
Match B: 4th v 5th
Match C: 1st v lowest ranked winner Match A/B
Match D: 2nd v highest ranked winner Match A/B
Grand Final: Winner Match C v Winner Match D
League 1 play-off format
Match A (Elimination play-off): Rochdale v Oldham
Match B (Qualifying play-off): North Wales v Doncaster
Match C (Qualifying semi-final): Swinton v Match B
Match D (Elimination semi-final): Loser Match B v Winner Match A
Match E (Qualifying semi-final): Loser Match C v Winner Match D
Match F (Promotion final): Winner Match C v Winner Match E
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