Friday, April 12

Buddies National League Cup

SHEFFIELD EAGLES v GATESHEAD THUNDER

EAGLES' disgruntled fans can expect to see wholesale changes to the side for Friday night's Buddies National League Cup (East) clash with Gateshead at the Don Valley Stadium (7.30).

Coach Mark Aston promises to shake the team to the core after watching their latest defeat, a 40-18 drubbing at the hands of Hull KR.

"There will definitely be some major changes to the side after that. I was disgusted and embarrassed with the first 30 minutes, which was all down to individual errors and poor decision making. I won't tolerate another performance like that,'' stormed Aston, who may even risk playing himself if he feels that it could drum up a better performance.

Definitely out of the reckoning is prop Jack Howieson, who may have damaged a cartilage in the previous game, while new signing Mick Doherty, Neil Kite and Andy Poynter face late fitness tests.

Gateshead have little option but to name the same 17 that lined up against Featherstone as caretaker coach Paul Fletcher tries to formulate a winning side from his young set up.

"We are a very young side and all our players are basically under 20. This is a sticky time for the club and the fans, but we shall concentrate on trying to play entertaining rugby with a view to gaining experience from every match,'' said Fletcher, who recently unveiled ex-Great Britain student prospects Rob Keegan and Sam Tunnell as two players who could have a bright future.

Sunday, April 14

Northern Ford Premiership

DONCASTER DRAGONS v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

TOUGH centre Anton Garcia is Doncaster's main doubt for Sunday's re-arranged Northern Ford Premiership match with Featherstone.

Garcia is carrying an injury from the win at Rochdale two weeks ago and is a big doubt. But Gareth Handforth should pass a late fitness test as coach St John Ellis seeks to improve the Dragons' league position at Rovers' expense.

Doncaster are just outside the top section with 13 points from 10 games, while Featherstone are comfortably placed in fifth spot.

"It's a game we need to win to get back in touch with the top sides,'' said coach Ellis, who, having lost the impressive Martin Moana to Tetley's Super League club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, could switch Paul

Mansson from loose forward to try and defuse the threat of Featherstone's key points maker Jamie Rooney.

The Rovers scrum half notched eight goals and a try at Gateshead last week to take him past the 1,000-points mark and match a feat only achieved by nine previous Featherstone players.

With ex-Castleford prop Ian Tonks back from a one-match suspension, coach Ian Fairhurst's main concerns lie with the fitness of Danny Seal and Stuart Dickens, who both picked up neck injuries at Gateshead.

Chris Spurr is still on the injured list, so Steve Dooler will probably continue in the centre role.

Buddies National League Cup

SWINTON LIONS v CHORLEY LYNX

TROUBLE-TORN Swinton, who sacked their coach Tony Humphries in the wake of another heavy defeat, will be without stand off Craig Dean and second rower Phil Cushion for their Buddies National League Cup (West) game against Chorley Lynx.

Dean has damaged ribs and Cushion a fractured thumb, while Dale Holdstock and Mike Loughlin are battling against shoulder injuries and a chest infection respectively.

Acting coach Tony Barrow, who is job-sharing with Mark Shields until the new man is in position, will have their work cut out to steady the Lions although two new signings could plug a couple of gaps for the club.

Former hooker Peter Cannon has re-signed for the club as has 23-year-old stand off Dave Gibbons.

Both have been in outstanding form for National Conference League Division Two leaders Crosfields and have signed until the end of the Northern Ford Premiership season.

"Peter played for about four years for us before he went back to the amateur game. But he has had an outstanding season with Crosfields and I believe he is in line for a BARLA award,'' said Barrow, who plans to advertise the coaching post at Swinton.

"We are not rushing to fill the job, but we will have someone in place before the NFP season resumes at the end of May,'' added Barrow, who could consider offers from a possible player-coach.

"Our mind open. If we consider a player is good enough to do both jobs then we could be swayed in that direction,'' he revealed.

But opponents Chorley will be licking their lips in anticipation as they seek their first away win of the 21st century.

Excellent performances against some of the league's top sides have yet to bring their rewards for coach Graeme West, who could bring back ex-Warrington and Leigh forward Chris Causey to bolster his otherwise unchanged side.

WHITEHAVEN v LEIGH CENTURIONS

FULLBACK Wesley Wilson is Whitehaven's latest casualty in the run-up to their Buddies National League Cup (West) encounter with Leigh.

The match was given a new date in order that both clubs could have some respite over Easter, but it seems to have rebounded on Whitehaven with Wilson set to miss the match with a dislocated shoulder. Ironically, the injury occurred in Wilson's return following a nine-week lay off with a damaged Achilles tendon.

Disillusioned coach Paul Cullen, who lost forward Chris McKinney and centre Spencer Miller with broken bones from the Good Friday clash with old rivals Workington, is wondering when the run of injuries will stop.

"It's happening almost every week. We just get someone back from injury, when another player goes down,'' said Cullen, who was lifted slightly by the return of props David Fatialofa and Mark Cox for last week's win at Chorley.

Leigh are still minus the experience of Jon Roper and Vila Matautia, while key fullback Neil Turley is finding it difficult to shake off an ankle injury.

Prop Gareth Price still has another match of his two-game suspension to sit out, while Chris Morley has been added to the injured list with a damaged thigh.

But coach Paul Terzis is expected to welcome back busy hooker Paul Rowley and halfback John Hamilton, while 18-year-old forward Anthony Blackwood, who made his first team bow and scored a debut try against Workington last week, could well keep his place in the squad.

"We have a fair record against the Cumbrian teams, so I am quietly confident,'' said Terzis.

ROCHDALE HORNETS v HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

REJUVENATED Rochdale face a tough prospect as hosts to the almost unstoppable Huddersfield Giants in their Buddies National League Cup (Central) clash at Spotland.

And coach Martin Hall feels it may be necessary to make some changes to his side, even though they have won their last two games against Oldham and Dewsbury.

"There are a few injury problems to sort out with such as Damian Ball, Latham Tawhai, David Stephenson, Joe Berry and Dave Watson, so I can't just say what my line-up will be,'' commented Hall.

But with Andy Ireland and Darren Robinson due for a first team game now that they are fit again and Matt Calland, Paul Smith and Wes Rogers able to come into the equation, Hall is not short on experience.

"This will be a tough game for sure,'' warned Hall, who is still hurt by the 58-4 lashing Hornets had from the Giants at the McAlpine Stadium last month.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield will be without centre Ben Cooper, injured in the win at Batley, but team boss Tony Smith can repair that damage by switching his side about to accommodate the irrepressible Stanley Gene, who was not on duty against the Bulldogs.

As for Heath Cruckshank and Rob Roberts, the two players involved in a recent motorway incident, which led to criminal charges, they will be considered for selection despite facing possible club discipline for their actions.

"We haven't decided what further action to take, but I don't think it will involve being suspended from playing,'' said Smith.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v HUNSLET HAWKS

THE shock of losing key halfback Glen Tomlinson to a six-match suspension for dissent, hangs like a black cloud over coach Paul Storey's selection for Batley's Buddies National League Cup (Central) game against Hunslet.

"I'm still shock by the severity,'' said Storey, who won't have the mercurial Tomlinson back in his side until possibly mid-June.

Storey has some excellent back-up players in Chris Hough, Dean Lawford, Craig Stephens and Richard Gibson, but even they would agree that it would be difficult to fill Tomlinson's boots for that length of time.

The return of ex-Castleford forward Craig Wright could lighten some of the burden for Storey, provided his passes a fitness test.

"We will have to be very careful against Hunslet. They may lack size up front, but they look a very handy side in the loose,'' warned Storey.

And Hawks boss Roy Sampson could well have one of his better sides on view, now that Andy Wray, Lee Bargate, Scott Dyson and Craig Ibbotson have been declared fit.

His only missing face is fullback Kieran Allen, but Bargate filled that role quite competently against Huddersfield two weeks ago.