THERE was more disappointment as North Wales Crusaders’ winless League One run continued.

It’s three defeats on the bounce for Crusaders, who lost out 22-14 at Hunslet.

North Wales held the lead for the majority of the encounter, but two tries in the last five minutes won it for Hunslet.

There was a brilliant start from the Crusaders, who found themselves 12-0 ahead inside the opening 20 minutes.

The visitors claimed the lead in the first minute as Owain Abel broke the line, raced through 50 metres and passed for Kieron Taylor to score.

Abel, a major injury doubt ahead of the match, kicked the conversion and he then helped North Wales to grab their next try in the 19th minute.

Once again Abel was the creator and he jinked his way through the defence before setting Thomas Whitehead up for the try. Abel was again on the money with the extras.

Back came Hunslet, though, and half back Matty Beharrell grabbed his side’s first try of the afternoon in the 24th minute, which he successfully converted.

The away side made a promising start to the second half and following a period of pressure, Abel slotted over a penalty six minutes after the restart to stretch his side’s advantage out to eight points.

It was by no means game over and a Harvey Hallas try, converted by Beharrell, made sure there was only two points between the teams midway through the second half.

In a blow for Crusaders, Abel was forced off through injury minutes later.

Then, with four minutes left, Hunslet took the lead for the first time via Mackenzie Scurr’s try.

In the last minute, Jack Render’s converted try sealed the deal.

Carl Forster has welcomed proposals to ensure League One and the Championship will each have 12 clubs from the 2026 season.

Following a detailed six-month review involving all tier two and three clubs alongside the RFL executive, the Championship will become a 13-team division for one season only next year, with League One expanding to contain at least 10 teams - and applications to be invited for an 11th.

From next season, a Super Eights style system will be introduced to determine promotion and relegation between the Championship and League One.

“I just think it gives you that security that League One’s actually going to be around for, I think, the next two, three years,” head coach Forster told CruCast.

“So, deep down, I really did think they might try and get rid of League One and combine it into one league and I think if it did do that, then a couple of clubs would be cut adrift.

“But it gives us that stability. It obviously makes life a bit harder this year in terms of trying to go up, but at least we know that League One’s here to stay and we can obviously focus on that in the next couple of years.”

Oldham returned to the top after making it five wins on the spin with a 44-16 victory at Midland Hurricanes.

Keighley Cougars regained top spot with a thrilling 42-30 win at Rochdale Hornets, while Anthony Murray’s Workington Town beat Cornwall 52-18.