CROSFIELDS’ hopes of securing a home play-off semi-final suffered a blow on Saturday.

Following their 32-12 defeat at Wigan St Patrick’s, they can no longer finish third in the National Conference League table and are reliant on other slipping up to finish fourth.

However, their spot in the play-offs themselves is secure despite both St Pats and Oulton Raiders below them being able to catch them as those two sides play each other in the final round.

Crosfields welcome Hull Dockers to Hood Lane on Saturday and in order to finish fourth and gain home advantage in the play-offs, they must win and hope Dewsbury Moor Maroons, who leapfrogged them on Saturday, lose to third-placed Ince Rose Bridge.

Ben Steele and Brad Stanway were Soap’s only try-scorers on Saturday, with the latter also kicking two goals.

Meanwhile, Woolston Rovers’ slim hopes of a play-off place were extinguished on Saturday as they lost 48-28 at Ince Rose Bridge in a game that saw them spend a period with just 10 men.

The game was tight during the second half after quickfire tries from Adam Files and Ben Dixon, who converted both, saw them trail by just two points with 13 minutes to go.

However, they then lost Jake Proudlove to the sin bin for dissent with Ince scoring from the resulting penalty and within five minutes, they then had Ryan Palin yellow-carded for a high tackle and Ben Roberts sent off for dissent.

The hosts took full advantage, scoring twice more to seal victory and end Rovers’ chances of finishing in the top seven.

Dixon’s second-half score was his second try of the game, with Roberts and Harry Files also touching down in the first half for the Green and Golds.

“We started very slowly and allowed Ince to build up a healthy lead within the opening seven minutes but once we got switched on, we came back into the game and looked as though we may get the win,” head coach Liam Lawton said.

“Our attack was causing all sorts of problems and we scored some great tries.

“We got back to within two points with 12 minutes left and were on top, but then we had two players sin binned and one sent off within five minutes that meant we only had ten players on the field.

“That allowed Bridge to score some late tries and give the final scoreline a lop-sided look that didn’t do justice to the effort that we had put in.

“We will dust ourselves down and get ready for our final game of the season next weekend.”

That final game sees Rovers welcome newly-crowned champions Waterhead Warriors to Monk Sports Club on Saturday.