Stan Townsend previews the opening round of the 2005 Northern Rail Cup competition as the new season (From Warrington Guardian)

Stan Townsend previews the opening round of the 2005 Northern Rail Cup competition as the new season

FRIDAY: SHEFFIELD EAGLES v DEWSBURY RAMS

THE Eagles are set to inject some new blood into their ranks for their opening Northern Rail Cup game against Dewsbury.

Former Halifax second row forward Jaymes Chapman and former Batley prop Chris Molyneux are among coach Mark Aston's new signings, along with promising young Australian John Crawford, who ironically emigrated "Down Under'' from Sheffield.

"We are always producing young quality players in the Sheffield area and John's return to play for his home club will be well received,'' said Aston, who has named prop Jack Howieson as team skipper for the season, with Gavin Brown as club captain.

Former Coventry Bears centre Adrian Veamatahau is also expected to make his bow in the Eagles shirt.

The Rams will have their top signings Ryan Sheridan and Francis Maloney from Castleford Tigers on duty, along with ex-Featherstone hooker Richard Chapman.

"All three, along with Warren Jowitt, are providing the right influence throughout, but the proof of the pudding will be the thing to look for,'' said cautious coach Andy Kelly, who has Paul Seal (knee), Darren Rogers (broken thumb) and Anthony Thewlis (dislocated elbow) sidelined for up to two months.

SUNDAY

BARROW RAIDERS v GATESHEAD THUNDER

NEWLY promoted Barrow have been hit by injuries in the pre-season build-up with Coach Peter Roe struggling to name a strong side to face Gateshead.

Aussie hooker Dave Clark, centre Nick Beech along with Paul Lupton and Andy McClure will miss most of the season after undergoing respective knee and shoulder operations, while ex-London Broncos Joel Osborn (hamstring), Richard Colley (ex-Bradford) and Chris Roe, on loan from Keighley Cougars are ruled out for Sunday's game.

"Colley picked up an ankle injury and Chris has eye trouble,'' revealed Roe, who has ex-Leigh and Widnes prop Simon Knox, along with former Dewsbury and Doncaster front rower Andy Fisher adding much-needed experience to the side.

"Gateshead are a bit of a mystery side, so we don't know what to expect,'' warned Roe.

Thunder will be without centre Ian Brown (groin) and utility player Craig Firth (hamstring), but new coach Dean Thomas anticipates naming his side from an otherwise healthy 22 players.

Thomas expects big things from New Zealand hooker John Toomes and local favourite Kevin Neighbour, both of whom have showed up well in the pre-season friendlies.

"Lots of the new signings have come highly recommended and we are still waiting on four more to arrive,'' said Thomas who, incidentally, came close to signing for Peter Roe, then at Keighley during his playing days with York.

"I'm looking forward to meeting up with Peter again, but under different circumstances. It should be interesting,'' quipped Thomas.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v DONCASTER DRAGONS

BULLDOGS boss Gary Thornton has reshaped his side in readiness for the season, but he may need a little more time to "bed in'' his new signings ahead of the home game with Doncaster.

Neil Roden forms a new halfback partnership with Barry Eaton, while Roden's former Oldham colleagues Martin McLoughlin, Dane Morgan and Iain Marsh will fill in the spaces in the second row and at centre.

Craig Wright, David Rourke and Joe Berry are vying for the two prop forward spots; while ex-Featherstone winger Jamie Stokes is expected get the nod ahead of Gary O'Regan from Chorley.

"Everyone is fit and raring to go,'' said Thornton.

The Dragons have also recruited well in the run-up to the new season and their latest signing is former Dewsbury, Rochdale and Hunslet scrum half Latham Tawhai.

"Latham was well received by all the players at training this week and I can see him forming a really good understanding with Graham Holroyd,'' forecast coach St John Ellis, who is in his sixth year in change at Doncaster.

With Martin Moana again figuring at loose forward and Chris Langley, Dean Andrews, Dale Cardoza, Andy Hay and Aaron Wood all added to Doncaster's books, coach Ellis has strengthened across the board.

CASTLEFORD TIGERS v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

Everybody will be looking for the result when rookie Tigers coach David Woods tests his mettle against York's new incumbent Mick Cook at The Jungle.

Castleford's demise as a Super League side was a blow to the West Yorkshire club, but they have the chance to rectify matters with the home fans in the coming months.

Little is known of new Aussie coach Woods, but he has gathered together a host of top signings among whom are former Barrow hooker Andrew Henderson, a lively player who has returned from Australia; ex-Dewsbury and Hull KR prop Frank Watene and Rochdale's attacking fullback Michael Platt.

"It's a good advantage to have a home start in the competition,'' said Woods, who starts without ex-Sheffield forward Jordan James, who picked up a couple of broken ribs in a friendly against his former club.

York are without Scott Rhodes (shoulder), Craig Forsyth (sternum), Mick Ramsden (foot) and Matt Blaymire (shoulder), while former Halifax prop David Bates is suspended after facing a doping con troll charge.

"We are down to 18 fit players at the moment, so things don't look to good going into a game against such strong opposition,'' said York coach Mick Cook, whose side are one of the hot favourites for promotion to National League One.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v HULL KR

COUGARS could be without prop Danny Ekis for the home Cup clash with Hull KR.

Ekis has a niggling shoulder injury, according to Coach Gary Moorby, who plans to hand trialists Jim Hendry, Sam Gardner and Craig Stanley an opportunity to clinch a club contract with Keighley.

"We are always on the look out for good young players and these three will be given their chance like all the rest,'' said Moorby, who has new signings Lewis Taylor and Jonny Wainhouse from Leeds, along with promising 22-year-old loose forward Danny Harvey from Canterbury Bulldogs set to make their full debuts.

The Robins have an influx of Cook Island players set to make their bow, the most recent of which is winger Byron Ford, who is due to arrive less than 48 hours before the clash with Keighley.

New coach Harvey Howard has the task of lifting Hull KR to the heights which the Humberside fans have come to expect, but his introduction of fresh talent will need to be carefully monitored.

Jason Netherton, Andy Raleigh and Dwayne Barker are the likely back three in the pack, while Kane Epati should start in the front row.

LONDON SKOLARS v HALIFAX

SKOLARS have moved swiftly to plug the gaps left by players who have moved to other clubs, but it last season's regular Gareth Honour who has been selected to navigate the side through the game against Halifax.

Honour will start at scrum half in place of Peter Hannan, who is busy planning his wedding in Australia.

Coaches Marcus Tobin and Alex Smits are set to hand the fullback role to Dean Callis, while Aussies Tim Gee and Brett Blaker could also make their first appearance for the club.

Troy O'Shea, who played for Manchester Knights last summer, is also in the squad.

"This is a tough start. We are not under any illusions that Halifax will come to London ill-prepared,'' they agreed.

Halifax are without regular Jamie Bloem, who picked up a broken a finger in a pre-season friendly, while prop Ryan MacDonald could miss the clash with a damaged arm.

But coach Anthony Farrell believes new signings Anthony Blackwood and Dave Larder (from Leigh), along with Dean Lawford and Andy Spink (ex-Batley) will have a major influence on his side's performances this season.

OLDHAM v BLACKPOOL PANTHERS

NEWLY entrenched Oldham boss Gary Mercer 'can't wait' to see his new club in action against Blackpool, although he feels the recently-formed Panthers side could prove a stiff test.

"I am really excited at the prospect of seeing how we perform. Blackpool will want to impress so we need to be on our guard,'' warned Mercer, who is keen to instil his ideas into the Oldham set-up.

"We have made a number of top class overseas signings,'' said Mercer, pointing the finger at such as Marty Turner, Carlos Mataoro and Tere Glassier, all of whom are new faces at Oldham.

But he also snapped up Damian Munro, Andrew Isherwood and Paul Norman from promoted Leigh, to balance things out.

The Panthers, who were re-constituted after moving from Chorley, will run fitness checks on ex-Oldham player-coach Steve Molloy, Gary Rourke and former Barrow winger Paul Salmon, while Samoan Willie Swann could make a late appearance, according to Coach Mark Lee.

"It's been a great move to link up with Blackpool. The players all train at Newton-le-Willows rugby union club and we take it from there,'' said Lee.

HUNSLET HAWKS v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

THE Hawks will run late checks on three players ahead of their home clash with Featherstone.

Coach Roy Sampson is hopeful that ex-Halifax scrum half Mark Moxon and Gibbons

brothers Anthony and Dave will come through, but ex-Castleford Academy player Craig Cawthrey is ruled out with a broken foot.

Germaine Wray (shoulder) and Sean Ibbetson are back in action as Sampson starts to whittle down his playing staff to a "working squad''.

Scott Walker has already been released along with another three trialists.

"We have got to make a better fist of it this season,'' warns Sampson.

Meanwhile, Featherstone hand debuts to former Hawks winger Bryn Powell, Danny Maun, Nathan Sykes and Carl Hughes as Coach Gary Price lifts the lid on his new-look side.

"We have improved in two of the three pre-season friendlies so far, which gives me the feeling that we should do very well this season,'' forecast Price, who sees the Maun/ Powell centre-wing combination as a major strike force for the Rovers.

SWINTON LIONS v ROCHDALE HORNETS

LIONS coach Paul Kidd is on tenterhooks ahead of their clash with Rochdale.

Two of his main strike players have picked up a virus and look doubtful, leaving Kidd to contemplate a number of changes.

Dave Llewellyn has already been ruled out until May. He is in need of a shoulder operation, but with new signings Ian Watson, Marlon Billy and Paul Southern set to play against one of their former clubs, Kidd must feel that he could have the edge.

"I see Rochdale as the favourites to win our section, so it will be nice to get the game out of the way early on,'' said Kidd.

Hornets have doubts with stand off Radney Bower and prop Rob Ball. Both will need fitness checks on their respective hamstring injuries as Coach Bobbie Goulding, who is expected to start the game, plans the downfall of Swinton.

Rochdale have also released much-travelled hooker Darren Robinson at his own request. He is set to join Wakefield-based amateurs Oulton Raiders.

WORKINGTON TOWN v WHITEHAVEN

TOWN'S latest signing Dean Vaughan is set to make his bow against his former club Whitehaven, as his lively halfback Lee Kiddie.

Vaughan agreed to the mid-week move, which delighted Coach Gerard Stokes as much as Kiddie's switch after serving Whitehaven for ten years.

"He will give us a good platform in the pack,'' agreed Stokes, who has also added Oldham's Jon Roper, grandson of former Workington favourite Sol Roper, to his team plans.

"Jon will be the third generation of Roper's to pull on a Workington shirt,'' said Stokes.

'Haven, last season's beaten Grand Finalists, will have a big reputation to live up to this summer and coach Steve McCormack expects the best from his players, which includes new signings Joel Penny and Aaron Summers from Australia.

But McCormack is minus the talented Mick Nanyn, who is out of action for at least four weeks with a broken thumb.

"It's a blow to lose Mick so early in the season, but we will get on with it,'' said McCormack.