Bradford pull away at top of the table

RUGBY LEAGUE: Danny Williams crossed twice as Bradford Bulls clinched top spot in the Championship Shield with a 36-26 win at Dewsbury Rams.

Jay Pitts, Ethan Ryan, Kris Welham, Dane Chisholm and Mitch Clark also scored tries for the Bulls, who led 18-14 at half-time, with Danny Addy and Joe Keyes both kicking two conversions.

Dewsbury, who remain in the final play-off spot, went over through Dale Morton (twice), Aaron Brown and Dom Speakman. James Glover kicked four goals and Shane Grady one.

Halifax strengthened their grip on second spot with a 30-10 win at struggling Whitehaven.

Chester Butler scored the visitors’ first try after just 11 minutes and Ryan Boyle and Nick Rawsthorne – who kicked five goals – also crossed before the break with Ed Chamberlain responding for the hosts.

Grant Gore’s try narrowed the deficit to 18-8 five minutes after the interval, but Jacob Fairbank restored Halifax’s advantage and Adam Tangata went over late on as the visitors ended a run of six straight defeats. Sheffield Eagles put their off-field problems to one side as they boosted their play-off hopes with a 54-24 victory at Oldham.

Kieran Gill ran the length of the field and loanee Dave Hewitt scored against his parent club as Oldham, who could have moved into the top four with a win, established a 12-0 lead.

Sheffield responded by running in nine unanswered tries through Menzie Yere (2), Quentin Laulu-Togagae, Ben Blackmore, Mark Mexico, Mike Knowles, Matty Fozard, Nathan Chappell and Elliot Minchella.

Oldham rallied as Gill and Hewitt both doubled their tally in the closing minutes, but there was still time for Steve Thorpe to take Sheffield past the 50-point barrier.