UK National League Playoffs

The Sky Sports TV cameras will descend on The Shay for the first round of The Co-operative National League One playoffs to cover the match between Halifax and Widnes Vikings on Thursday 4 September.

After finishing third in the league and having defeated sixth-placed Widnes back in June, Halifax will start the game as slight favourites. However, when the two sides last met at The Shay in July it finished in a 26 all draw.

In the other tie fourth-placed Leigh Centurions will host fifth-placed Whitehaven at Hilton Park, kick off at 3pm on Sunday 7 September. (Source: www.therfl.co.uk)

Only the winners of these two games will progress to semi finals a week later, with league champions Salford City Reds and second-placed Celtic Crusaders earning a bye weekend, and scheduled to battle it out in the second week of the play-offs for a place in the Grand Final.

In Co-operative National League Two, this weekend sees two deferred games before final playoff places can be settled. London Skolars host Keighley Cougars on Friday night kicking off a big Challenge Cup weekend in London, and on Sunday Doncaster host Hunslet Hawks. These results will determine which of Doncatser and Keighley take fourth place on the table and earn the home play-off against the other.

Gateshead Thunder have finished on top of the League Two table, and Barrow Raiders have claimed second place based on points differential. The one play-off match that has already been set will see third-placed Oldham host sixth placed York City Knights.

The Co-operative National League Finals Day will take place at Warrington