by James Nalton

A SINGLE point separates the top four in the Super League Super 8s, as the battle for the League Leaders’ Shield goes down to the last weekend of the league season.

Leeds fell to a third straight defeat when they were beaten by Castleford at Headingley on Thursday. An excellent performance from Tigers scrum-half Luke Gale, who scored two tries, set up two more, and kicked four goals, saw the visiting side pick up a 29-22 win.

The Rhinos remain at the top of the table on points difference due to second-placed Wigan’s 18-14 loss at St Helens. Saints centre Josh Jones scored the winning try with only minutes remaining in the game, leaving his side just one point behind Wigan and Leeds.

Huddersfield kept themselves in the mix with a 34-20 win away to Hull FC, and will head into their game against Leeds on Friday looking to overtake their local rivals in the table.

The final round of games begin on Thursday, in what promises to be a dramatic finish to the league season. Saints face a Warrington side who, despite their season being all but over, always have something to play for in that particular fixture, while Wigan face a Castleford side who could be on a roll following their victory at Leeds.

Meanwhile, the teams looking to secure a place in next season’s Super League are also coming to their seventh and last round of games, with Hull KR and Salford having hung on to their top-flight status for next season.

Hull KR have dominated the qualifiers section of the Super 8s, having won all six of their games, but Salford only managed to secure their place this weekend with a 24-10 win at Widnes on Sunday.

Widnes, in third place, are only two points ahead of Bradford and Wakefield, but should also be present in next season’s top division thanks to their far greater points difference.

This means that Championship side Bradford will be looking to take a Super League place from Wakefield in the first-ever Million Pound Game.

Leigh, Halifax and Sheffield will remain in the Championship, and will have to wait until next season to have another stab at challenging for promotion to Super League.