ONLY two points separate the top four teams in the section.
Keighley Albion, Saddleworth, Myton and Bentley have only one fixture left, all on Saturday 30 August.
ALBION, who visit Myton that day, are clear of the rest, having recovered from 26-12 down early in the second half to beat LEIGH EAST 32-26.
Josh Tenniswood, Adam Gaunt and, on 78 minutes, Jack Kennedy grabbed the vital tries, with Ben Stead converting two efforts in that sizzling period and adding a penalty in a five-goal contribution; Sam Wild improved one score.
Gaunt and Stead had crossed in the opening quarter to help establish a 12-4 lead while East, who matched Albion’s five tries and had lost 28-26 in Leigh, missed out despite a Cai O’Brien brace, tries by Cameron Clark, Louis Else and Matty Aspinall, and three Hellam Jordan goals.
MYTON have nosed above BENTLEY on points’ difference, courtesy of a 16-14 away win earned through Nathan Slater’s second try, notched after a charge-down of the final kick of the game.
The Warriors, in gaining revenge for the 24-14 home defeat, had also posted a Ryan Walker touchdown and two Jack Sanderson goals. Bentley, who had led 10-0 at the interval – and who visit Beverley on the final day – notched tries by Jordan Middleton, Tom Flounders and Scott Smith, one of which Kieron Lewis converted.
SADDLEWORTH, who are at Milford in the last afternoon of the regular season, beat MILLOM 54-6. The Woolybacks, who had lost 32-18 in Cumbria, were 48-0 down before Daniel Hartley nipped over and Lee Postlethwaite improved. Evan Parry and Josh Brown both bagged a brace for Rangers, Connor Whitehead scored a try and seven goals, and the account was closed by Jay Taylor, Joe Taira, Sam Ogden, Jack Bradbury and Ben Sinfield.
DISTINGTON toppled MILFORD, who must now seek re-election, 26-18. Scott Rooke scored four tries as revenge was gained for the 34-0 defeat in Leeds, while Phil Lister and Jesse-Joe Parker also dotted down for the Cumbrians and Scott George kicked a goal.
Milford, who were level at 12-12 on 55 minutes, missed out despite tries by Ryan Pinder, Dwaine McRae and, in the closing seconds, Max Rooney, with McRae (2) and Tom Farragher adding the conversions.
FEATHERSTONE LIONS prevailed 28-8 at BEVERLEY to go above Leigh East into the play-off berths.
There was a brace apiece for Elliott Bell and Ash Allman, while Sam Millard raced in and Danny Johnson appended four goals.
Beverley, who had lost 40-22 in Featherstone, recovered from 16-0 down at the break to only 16-8 adrift, through a Calum Barfield brace, but Allman’s double-hit settled the issue.