Rugby League: Vikings maintain challenge for title

Sep 3 2007 by Liverpool Daily Post

WIDNES Vikings beat Whitehaven 22-18 yesterday to keep up the pressure on Co-operative National League One leaders Castleford, who also won.

But Widnes still need a favour to finish top.

For Vikings, Gavin Dodd touched down twice.

Castleford remain one point clear at the top after a 62-10 thumping of Leigh.

The Tigers were unable to win the title because of second-placed Widnes’ victory but their destiny is in their own hands going into their final game against Rochdale after four tries from Anthony Thackeray helped them past the Centurions.

Batley ensured their League One status by beating Rochdale 30-16 at Mount Pleasant with two tries coming from Chris Langley.

The defeat for the Hornets means they will now go into the League Two play-offs to fight for survival against the promotion hopefuls from the second tier.

Doncaster are already condemned to the drop but are determined to go out in style, hammering Dewsbury 51-18 at the Keepmoat Stadium as they ran in eight tries to dent the Rams’ top-six hopes.

In League Two, Featherstone made sure of second place with a 40-34 victory over Workington.

Rovers were 24-12 behind at the interval but stormed back with Tommy Haughey scoring two of their tries. Shaun Lunt scored a hat-trick in vain for the Cumbrians.