Round twenty of the Kingstone Press Championship witnessed a points bonanza with at least one team scoring more than thirty points in every game played on Sunday afternoon.

League high-flyers Bradford Bulls and Leigh Centurions were both away, at Hunslet and Workington respectively while third placed Sheffield Eagles travelled to fourth placed Halifax. Batley hosted bottom of the table Doncaster while Whitehaven made the long journey to London to take on the Broncos. The final fixture was an all West Yorkshire derby between Featherstone and Dewsbury.

After losing heavily to Featherstone in mid-week, Bradford Bulls made no mistake in getting back to winning ways against Hunslet Hawks at the South Leeds Stadium. It was a thirteen try demolition with four from Mullaney, a Williams hat-trick, and singles from O'Brien, Blythe, Mendeika, Shaw, Usaile and Ferguson. Shaw kicked eight goals and the only response from Hunslet was a converted try by Lee. A final scoreline of 68-6 did the Bulls points difference the power of good.

Leigh Centurions weren't far behind as they scored fifty in defeating Workington Town. The Championships second placed side were 32-0 up by half-time through tries from Brierley (2), Spencer, Ridyard, Pownall, and Higson. Stack scored the first try of the second half for Workington but three more second half tries from Haggerty, Higham and Emmitt were answered by just one more from Tierney for a final score of 50-12.

Both Bradford and Leigh are now guaranteed Middle Eights for the second part of the season, but the race for the remaining places is hotting up.

Third placed Sheffield Eagles suffered a crushing defeat at fourth placed Halifax which has seen them pull back towards the chasing pack. Halifax led 14-6 at half time through tries from Saxton, Heaton and Manning with a solitary response by Briggs and it got worse for the Eagles in the second half. Manning , Kaye, and Robinson with a brace took the home sides score up to thirty-eight but there was just one further Sheffield try through Stringer to leave the Eagles on ten. Halifax are now just two points behind the Eagles.

Featherstone Rovers missed the chance to go third as they lost out by two points in a monumental tussle with Dewsbury Rams, who themselves kept alive their very slim hopes of a top four finish. Rovers had established a commanding 20-8 first half lead through Blackmore, Miatua, Sykes and Milner with Dewsbury only registering scores through an Adamson try and two Seymour goals. Thackeray reduced the arrears to 20-14 before Grady and Brown made it 26-20 to the Rams. With six minutes left a Thackeray try took Dewsbury out to a 32-24 lead but a converted try from Marginet on seventy-six set up a frantic finish. The Rams held on for a 32-30 win and if they can win their game in hand (away at Leigh) then they could be back in contention for the four.

London Broncos kept their push for the top four alive but didn't have it all their own way against Whitehaven. Walton, Thomas, Garside and Macani all scored converted first half tries for the home side with Hulme and Taylor responding for 'Haven. After the interval two more from Hulme and a try from Newton got Whitehaven back on level terms at 24-24 and gave the Broncos a real fright but in the last quarter of an hour, tries for Thackray, Walton and Thomas sealed the Broncos win by 40-24.

In the final game it was a straightforward win for the Batley Bulldogs over winless Doncaster. Tries from Brown, Squires, Lillycrop and Rettie (2) had given the home side a 24-0 half time lead and second half scores from Southernwood and Squires extended the lead to 34-0 before Doncaster got their first and only of the game through Mennell with seven minutes remaining. A 34-6 win for the Bulldogs, their fifth of the season.

Round twenty-one looks like a belter and should give us a better indication for the final standings when; Featherstone travel to Leigh, Sheffield entertain Bradford, and Dewsbury host London. It should be a great championship Sunday next weekend.