Keighley Cougars to face Hunslet in final as Rochdale out

Cougars booked their place in the final by beating Rochdale Hornets 26-22 last weekend.

But Rochdale had a second opportunity to make that final by winning at home to Hunslet yesterday, as they had done two weeks earlier in the pair’s qualifying play-off.

Rochdale's narrow defeat to Cougars last weekend meant they had to beat Hunslet yesterday to remain in the promotion hunt. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

Hunslet turned the tables this time, emphatically winning 46-26 this weekend’s preliminary play-off at the Crown Oil Arena.

The two sides were locked together at 18-18 after 40 minutes, before the visitors ran away with victory in the second half.

Former Bulls prospect George Flanagan Jr is on loan from Super League side Huddersfield Giants, and he scored two tries in Hunslet’s victory.

If both are selected, it means he will go up against his father, Cougars hooker George Flanagan Sr, in this Sunday’s play-off final.

Whoever comes out on top at Cougar Park will still have one more game to win if they want to get promoted.

That side will travel to Swinton Lions on Sunday, October 13 for the Championship promotion play-off final.

Swinton finished third-bottom of the Championship and will be relegated alongside Whitehaven and Dewsbury Rams if they lose to Keighley or Hunslet.

But if Keighley or Hunslet lose that game, they will not be promoted and will remain in League 1, with Swinton keeping their spot in the Championship instead.