EGREMONT RANGERS withstood a rousing rally from 20 points down by hosts WIGAN ST PATRICKS, holding out for a 20-18 victory which hoists the Cumbrians from seventh in DIVISION ONE to fifth – leaving Stanningley, who had been sixth after half-a-dozen six successive wins, missing out when the Top-Six Promotion Play-Offs begin on Saturday.
Rangers also leapfrogged Oulton Raiders, who made the cut as the lowest-placed of the hopefuls.
Egremont will travel to fourth-placed East Leeds in this week’s elimination semi-finals while Dewsbury Moor, who closed in third, entertain Oulton.
The top two (champions Dewsbury Celtic and runners-up Kells) have byes through to the qualifying semi-finals on Saturday week.
The final, which will form part of a double-header with the Premier Division Grand Final at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield, is on Saturday, October 24.
Rangers, who had beaten Pats 50-14 in Cumbria, owed much to a blistering start in which a 20-0 lead was established midway through the first half.
Connor Williams set the agenda in the fourth minute, Sam Williams crossed on ten, and it was lucky 13 (in terms of the timeline), when Aaron Turnbull dotted down. Kris Tyson converted that score and Cian Sharpe’s subsequent try.
From that point, however, Egremont’s points-scoring dried up – not helped by the sinbinning of Lachlan McDowell midway through the second period for a professional foul.
Pats, who would have gone above Shaw Cross Sharks into ninth had they won, opened their account when Reece Rowcroft nipped over on the half-hour, Jack Sproat adding the extras to reduce the arrears at the interval to 20-6.
Connor Webb darted over three minutes after the resumption, Isaac Wheatley shot in as the hour approached, and Cassius Turner-Walsh crossed with twelve minutes left.
None of those scores, however, were converted and Egremont kept Pats at bay in the increasingly tense closing stages.
The other match on the last day of the regular season went the way of WATH BROW HORNETS, who won 20-10 at YORK ACORN to complete a double after prevailing 50-14 in Cumbria.
The result had no bearing on the final standings. Hornets (who have won five and drawn the other of their closing six games) were already certain of sixth spot while Acorn (who had lost five of their last six) were assured of top-flight survival as the third-bottom side.
Wath Brow closed with tries by Karl Dixon, Cole Walker-Taylor and Ryan King, while Sam Curwen landed four goals.
Luke Swales and Callum Plant nipped over for Acorn and Matt Chilton improved one effort.
SCOREBOARD
Results
Saturday 3 October
NATIONAL LEAGUES
PREMIER DIVISION
York Acorn 10 Wath Brow Hornets 20
DIVISION ONE
Wigan St Patricks 18 Egremont Rangers 20
Fixtures
Saturday 10 October
NATIONAL LEAGUES
GRAND FINAL PLAY-OFFS
ELIMINATION TIES
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Siddal
Waterhead Warriors v Wath Brow Hornets
DIVISION ONE
PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS
Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Oulton Raiders
East Leeds v Egremont Rangers
CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES (SEMI-FINALS): Orrell St James v Blackbrook (noon); Featherstone Lions v Ince Rose Bridge (3.00pm).
Both at Victoria Park, Warrington.
SHIELD PLAY OFF SERIES (SEMI-FINALS): Ashton Bears v Kippax Welfare (noon); Milford v Myton Warriors (3.00pm).
Both at Pilkington Recs.