League 1 round-up: Whitehaven edge closer to title

Whitehaven edged a step closer to the League One title with a 48-19 win at Keighley on Sunday.

The Cougars made them work for the win though, and they led 15-6 at half-time.

A hat-trick from full-back Sam Forrester, plus two tries apiece for Dion Aiye and Callum Phillips earned the Cumbrians the two points, to keep them two clear of Oldham at the top of the table with two rounds to play.

Whitehaven’s last two games means they are heavy favourites for the title. They host bottom club West Wales Raiders on September 1 before finishing off with a trip to Coventry.

Oldham were victorious again as they kept up the pressure on the leaders with a 40-14 win over Doncaster.

After turning over Newcastle last weekend to take over second spot, the Roughyeds followed that up with another impressive display against a Dons side that they could face in the play-offs.

Tries by Liam Bent, Ritchie Hawkyard, Danny Langtree, Paul Crook, Cameron Leeming, Matty Wilkinson and club skipper Gareth Owen, plus six conversions by Crook enabled Oldham to avenge the two defeats they suffered to Doncaster earlier this season.

A point further back at the top are Newcastle Thunder, who demolished Coventry Bears 88-6 at Kingston Park.

Lewis Young scored four tries, while Quentin Laulu-Togagae was also on the scoresheet for Simon Finnigan’s men.

Hunslet can move within a point of Thunder on Friday, when they take on London Skolars.

North Wales Crusaders kept their outside play-off hopes alive, as they won 56-16 at West Wales Raiders.

Dave Eccleston and Rob Massam scored two tries apiece, as Crusaders ran in 11 tries in total.

That moves them within three points of Workington, who currently occupy the final play-off spot, with two games to play.

Whitehaven, 28 points (+159)

West Wales (H)

Coventry (A)

Oldham, 26 points (+256)

Coventry (A)

Hunslet (A)

Newcastle, 25 points (+343)

North Wales (H)

Keighley (A)