Veteran half-back Brad Davis hung up his boots with his mission accomplished after guiding Castleford back into Super League.

The little Australian, at 37 the oldest player in the game, brought the curtain down on his career in style with a man-of-the-match display in the Tigers' 36-8 victory over Whitehaven in the LHF National League One Grand Final at Widnes yesterday.

The former Huddersfield, York and Wakefield stand-off scored two interception tries and had a hand in all four other scores as Cas condemned the League Leaders to a second successive Grand Final defeat.

"You couldn't have scripted it better," admitted Davis.

"I was really nervous beforehand, realising it was my last 80 minutes. I started the season with one goal in mind, which was to get Castleford back into Super League, so it's mission accomplished and I can ride off into the sunset. There is no better way to finish."

Davis, who has coached Castleford's Under-21s this year, hopes to join the club's full-time backroom staff while boss Dave Woods must also wait to discover if he has a future at the club.

"Nothing has been said so far," said Australian Woods.

Batley, like Whitehaven, will stay in NL1 next year but, unlike Haven, the Bulldogs were celebrating as they beat arch-rivals Dewsbury 28-26 in an NL1 Qualifying Grand Final thriller.

The match swung either way, until Batley-born John Gallagher scored the winning try 12 minutes from time, denying Dewsbury promotion alongside York City Knights.

Bradford Dudley Hill came from 18-10 down at half-time to beat Bramley Buffaloes 28-26 in the NL3 Grand Final.

Updated: 10:31 Monday, October 10, 2005