The League One (third tier) league struggles financially and casualties are mounting. For this season the West Wales Club pulled out of the competition at short notice and now the London Skolars are voluntarily dropping to a regional division for the 2024 season. At least the longer notice of this allows more time for planning.
Dewsbury and Workington dropped from the division above (Championship) and ten sides battled for success, especially the two places allocated for promotion. Dewsbury secured one with immediate promotion back up.
The teams placed from second to sixth went into a playoff scenario for the other berth. Hunsel was granted a bye round as they came second. Third played fourth and fifth sixth.
Doncaster were comfortable winners over Oldham while in the elimination match North Wales upset last year's Championship side Workington.
Hunslet returned to the fray but the week off did them no good, going down to Doncaster. In the elimination second round match, underdogs North Wales just made it past Oldham.
The solitary third round tie pitted second placed Hunslet against sixth placed North Wales. Yet again the team based in the Principality won a sudden death match to defy the odds for a crack at promotion.
This time North Wales had to concede defeat and Doncaster make their way to the Championship (see picture after winning try). North Wales have had a tough year over access to their home ground so the disruptions of that must have galvanised to side.
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