Promotion boost for Roughyeds in RFL shake-up

THREE teams will be promoted from National League Two this season, the Rugby Football League has confirmed.

Two sides — currently leaders Barrow and second-placed Gateshead — will go up automatically to National League One at the end of the season, with the winner of the play-off Grand Final following suit.

One team will be demoted to equalise the divisions at 10 sides each. Dewsbury are heavy favourites to drop down from NL1, seven points adrift of nearest rivals Batley with only five games left in the season.

While such an outcome was anticipated, it nonetheless hands third-placed Roughyeds a big boost in terms of their promotion chances.

“There is still a long way to go in the season and there are plenty of twists and turns left, but it is not a bad outcome at all for us,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

Oldham will look to keep up the pressure on the current top two by beating Keighley at Boundary Park this weekend.

The squad trains together tonight, by which time forwards pair Jason Boults and Adam Robinson will both have had scans on their respective knee injuries.

Last night’s sole fixture in NL2 saw Hunslet thumped at home by London Skolars, 50-16.

The result sees the two sides swap places in the table, with the South Leeds side — who beat Barrow only three weeks ago — now propping up the rest.