HALIFAX kept up the pressure on Kingstone Press Championship leaders Sheffield Eagles as they scored a 31-24 win at Hunslet Hawks.

The first half proved a tight affair with second in the table Halifax just 18-12 ahead at the interval.

Tries from Ross Divorty, Anthony Thackeray, who later added a second touchdown, and Wayne Reittie ensured they stayed in front against a Hawks side who replied with tries from Andrew Yates and Thomas Coyle – both converted by David March.

A Scott Murrell try and a Ste Tyrer conversion, his fifth goal of the contest, ensured Halifax had the cushion they needed in the second half as the home side added tries through Stuart Kain and Liam Welham, plus two more March goals.

Just for good measure Murrell tacked on a drop goal.

Hunslet: J Watson; Mapals, Oakes, Welham, Kain; T Coyle, J Coyle; Haley, Hood, Moore, Houston, Haughey, March. Replacements: Yates, Haigh, Menzies, Clarkson.

Halifax: Paterson; Worrincy, Tyrer, Heaton, Reittie; Murrell, Thackery; Tonks, Handforth, Ambler, Manning, Divorty, C Ashall. Replacements: Bracek, K Ashall, Barlow, Casey.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton

Doncaster pulled off one of the shock results of the Championship season with a 36-24 win at Featherstone Rovers to ease their relegation fears.

The visitors led 12-0 after 11 minutes thanks to tries from Lee Waterman and Carl Hughes, both goaled by Stewart Sanderson, but Rovers struck back with quickfire tries from Will Sharp and Andrew Bostock to tie the scores.

Even when Doncaster edged back in front with further tries through Paul Cooke and Liam Kay, each time the home side drew level through Matty Dale and James Lockwood.

The game was still finely balanced when Sanderson went over for two tries in four minutes and Brett Waller added a sixth try a minute from the end to seal the win.

Results: Dewsbury Rams 22 Barrow Raiders 12, Featherstone Rovers 24 Doncaster 36, Hunslet Hawks 24 Halifax 31, Sheffield Eagles 56 Whitehaven 18, Swinton Lions 10 Batley Bulldogs 46, Workington Town 26 Leigh Centurions 22, York City Knights 32 Keighley Cougars 12