The race for the top four of the Kingstone Press Championship is still no clearer after an exciting round nine, and with just four points separating fourth spot from ninth there are plenty of twists and turns to come. Even the two Cumbrian sides in tenth and eleventh are not totally out of it.

Leigh and Bradford both marched on with victories but Sheffield Eagles offered the former a more thorough test than others have in recent weeks. Salford Red Devils will not be relishing the thought of their Ladbrokes Challenge Cup visit to Leigh Sports Village next Saturday afternoon.

The round nine games kicked off early at Doncaster, as is becoming the tradition, as the ground sharing bottom of the table team tried to find their first win of the season. Dewsbury Rams took an early lead through Farrell and Morton but Doherty and Emmett got the home side into a 12-10 lead before an unconverted try from Brown eased the Rams back in front. But the second half was forty-minutes too far for Doncaster who remained pointless as Hale and Crookes both scored tries to secure a 24-12 and keep the Rams in fifth spot.

Bradford made short work of a London Broncos side who have been resurgent in recent weeks. Four thousand were at Odsal to see the Bulls warm up for their Challenge Cup encounter with Hull KR next Sunday with a 28-2 win through tries from Pitts, O'Brien, Gaskell, Ulugia and Uaisele. All the visitors had to show for their efforts was a Naiqama penalty on the half time hooter. The Bulls are still one win behind the Centurions at the top of the pile.

Halifax kept their charge for the top four alive with a comprehensive win over Workington Town. First half tries from Ambler, Sheriffe, Heaton, Saltonstall and Manning put 'Fax 28-0 ahead at half-time. Workington grabbed one back through Whiteley ten minutes from the end but that just stung Halifax back into life as they scored two more through Brown and Kaye for 38-6.

The remaining three games were much closer encounters.

Batley Bulldogs hosted Featherstone Rovers at Mount Pleasant and the home side had a fourteen-nil lead at half time through tries from Fozzard, Scott and Ainscough. But as Batley had dominated the first half, Featherstone were in charge on the second. Blackmore scored twice within five minutes, and Maitua and Sharp added two more while Moore kicked three conversions and a drop goal to grab a 23-16 win for Andy Hays team.

Hunslet and Whitehaven had a battle royal at the South Leeds Stadium. Lepori got the visitors an early lead but Lee and Duckworth put Hunslet into a 10-6 lead after twenty minutes. Lloyd scored a converted try for Whitehaven on twenty-five an 'Haven had a 12-10 half-time lead. Hepi extended the visitors lead to 18-10 early in the second half but tries from Mvududu, Watson and Flanagan sealed a 26-18 home win.

The final game of the day saw the Sheffield Eagles try, and fail, to topple the unbeaten Leigh Centurions. Aston opened the scoring for the Eagles but Barlow levelled for Leigh. The Eagles were in-front again through Togagae but Goulden and McNally gave the Centurions a 16-10 half-time lead. Turner and a second for Togagae saw Sheffield take a 22-16 lead after an hour. Leigh were not going the let their one-hundred percent record slip easily and Brierley (2) and Emmitt scored tries in the last ten minutes to win 36-22.

Next weekend is a week off from Championship action as the Challenge Cup takes centre stage. Leigh, Bradford, Halifax and Sheffield, our current top four, will all get a taste of what it is like to take on Super League opposition as they play Salford, Hull KR, Wakefield and Hull FC respectively. It should be an exciting weekend.