Stan Townsend previews this weekend's round of Northern Rail Cup matches (From Warrington Guardian)

Stan Townsend previews this weekend's round of Northern Rail Cup matches

SATURDAY: BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL v HEMEL HEMPSTEAD STAGS - Northern Rail Cup Group Six leaders Bradford Dudley Hill anticipate naming an unchanged side for the arrival of southerners Hemel.

Head coach Graeme Hallas will rely on the strengths of a handful of seasoned ex-professionals to guide his side through with former Hunslet centre Paul Gleadhill and ex-Doncaster winger Jason Lee among the main thrust.

Hemel coach Ken Roberts believes this will be the toughest game they will face in the division and could make one late change with utility forward Chris Caws dropping out and prop Vural Aglamaz named as his replacement.

SUNDAY

BATLEY BULLDOGS v SHEFFIELD EAGLES

EXPERIENCED prop Martin McLoughlin faces a long lay-off with a knee injury and misses Batley's Northern Rail Cup clash with Sheffield.

Ex-Oldham and Barrow forward McLoughlin damaged a knee in the defeat at Dewsbury and could be sidelined for some time, according to Coach Gary Thornton.

Hooker Kris Lythes is also a doubt after suffering a damaged mouth, while robust prop Joe Berry is only slightly less than certain to miss the game with stitches in a leg wound.

But free-scoring fullback Craig Lingard is on the verge of playing his first full game following a close-season shoulder operation, while prop David Rourke is expected to fill-in for McLoughlin. Paul Harrison could also return from injury.

"Defensively we were very poor against Dewsbury, but we are still trying to gel the new players together with our established ones and that is a little tricky as yet,'' said coach Thornton.

Sheffield should have ex-Batley forwards Andy Rice and Chris Molyneux to assist their cause, while Coach Mark Aston is ready to include diminutive scrum half Peter Moore in his plans. The former Cardiff Demons halfback could make his debut off the bench, while Liam Brentley, Greg Hurst and Aled James are also added to the squad.

Stats Spotlight

BARRY EATON of Batley Bulldogs has scored in every match for the club since joining them from Widnes Vikings for the start of the 2003 season. The scrum half's scoring sequence covers 67 matches and has brought him a total of 621 points from nine tries and 294 goals, including three drop goals.

Eaton is the only player to three times go through a season scoring in every one of his club's matches. He scored in every match for Dewsbury Rams in 1999-00 and repeated the feat with Batley in the last two seasons.

The only other player to achieve the feat in successive seasons was David Watkins for Salford in 1972-73 and 1973-74 when he set the record of scoring in 92 successive club matches.

BLACKPOOL PANTHERS v ROCHDALE HORNETS

PLAYMAKER Chris Hough is sidelined, along with ex-Oldham coach Steve Molloy as Blackpool prepare to take on Rochdale at Preston Grasshopper RUFC.

Hough needed eight stitches in a head wound after last week's Northern Rail Cup match against Swinton Lions and is extremely doubtful, while Molloy is still feeling the effects of some "heavy treatment'' against his former club in the opening game of the campaign.

"I don't feel it is worth risking either player under the circumstances,'' said coach Mark Lee, who will call on Mike Watts, Gary Rourke and the much-travelled Willie Swann, who has returned from his short stay in New Zealand.

"Willie should give the side the lift we need. Things haven't gone our way in the opening two games, but I feel that will change,'' said Lee.

Rochdale, who's postponed match against neighbours Oldham has been re-arranged for March 16th, are without standoff Radney Bowker, who successfully underwent surgery to remove damaged cartilage this week.

"He will be out of action for about three weeks,'' said Coach Bobbie Goulding.

Prop Andy Leathem is another casualty after it was diagnosed that he suffered a fractured shoulder in the game against Swinton.

"He has to see a specialist on Friday and may need surgery too,'' revealed Goulding, who is not expected to change his thinking, or indeed his squad, to face the Panthers.

BRAMLEY BUFFALOES v WARRINGTON WIZARDS

BUFFALOES boss Phil Hellewell will parade his two recent signings; stand off Paul Drake and loose forward Danny Ramshaw in the clash with Group Six rivals Warrington.

"Both have fitted in well despite our defeat at Hemel two weeks ago, so we are expecting big things from them,'' said Hellewell.

The Wizards may need to cast a spell on Bramley to get their first points and have named Lee Rushton, Shaun Geritas and Jon Cole in the squad to travel, while hooker Steve Smythe and prop Neil Smith will need later fitness tests.

"Hopefully we can bounce back from the disappointing defeat at Hemel,'' said Coach Eddie Harris.

CASTLEFORD TIGERS v HUNSLET HAWKS

A BROKEN thumb has ruled former Widnes utility player Deon Bird out of Castleford's planning for at least four weeks, thus he will miss Sunday's Northern Rail Cup home game with Hunslet.

Bird, who has also been added to the Tigers coaching staff, is joined on the injured list by back row forward Steve Crouch, who picked up a head wound that needed seven stitches.

"I have opted to rest Crouch, but had no option with Bird,'' said coach David Woods, who plans to push Byron Smith into the front row and bring in one of his promising Under-21 players to bolster the squad.

Hunslet will hopefully have Dave Gibbons returning for his first Northern Rail Cup game of the campaign, along with prop Steve Pryce.

Coach Roy Sampson has also made enquiries to take Chris Ross and Jeremy Dyson on loan from Batley in time to bolster his ailing squad.

"It's difficult to try and blend a new team together, while we are still incurring injuries. I haven't been able to name two regular centre, or a halfback pairing, which makes the trip to Castleford that mush tougher,'' said Coach Sampson.

DEWSBURY RAMS v DONCASTER DRAGONS

AUSSIE halfback Kurt Rudder will miss the Rams home game against Doncaster after tweaking a hamstring.

But Darren Rogers is expected to make his return from injury and fill in the gap left by Rudder, according to Coach Andy Kelly, who was well pleased with his team's win over Batley.

"It was a good performance all round, but Warren Jowitt made a huge difference,'' said Kelly who adds 21-year-old Anthony Henderson, the one-time Hunslet second rower, to his final selection for this Northern Rail Cup encounter with the Dragons.

Doncaster look set to name an unchanged side, with coach St John Ellis looking for back-to-back victories.

"I can't see any reason for changes after the way we performed against Sheffield. This may not yet be the best 17, but it's not far away from it,'' said Ellis, who sees the arrival of Latham Tawhai as possibly the final piece in his jigsaw.

Stats spotlight

Dewsbury's FRANCIS MALONEY reached a career century of tries with his first for his new club in the 32-22 Northern Rail Cup home defeat of Batley Bulldogs. He has scored 17 for Featherstone Rovers, four for Warrington, 21 for Oldham, two for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 26 for Salford City Reds, 26 for Castleford Tigers, one for Dewsbury and three in representative matches. He failed to score with his first senior club, Leeds.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

INJURIES have stripped Featherstone of four key players ahead of their home Northern Rail Cup clash with York.

Halfbacks Dean Ripley (ankle) and Richard Blakeway (knee), along with Neil Lowe (groin) and fullback Andy McNally (fractured elbow) are all added to the possible long-term list, leaving Coach Gary Price to rue his bad luck for the second successive season.

"It's a replica of last season's start when we lost several key players for a long spell,'' said Price, who will probably link Jon Presley with Jos Weedon at halfback and add James Houston, Andy Jarrett and James Ford to his squad list.

"I'm just hoping that the latest injuries will all clear up for the start of the League season,'' said Price.

York coach Mick Cook has fewer problems with only centre Dan Potter to worry about from last week's match.

Scott Rhodes is set to get the all clear from a mid-week trip to see a specialist, while Mark Cain has returned to full training following a back complaint.

The return signing of Neil Law prior to the clash with Hunslet was a big plus for Cook as Law scored a brace of tries on his first outing.

"The game at Featherstone is a benchmark for the team for it should give us an idea of how we are shaping up,'' said Cook.

HULL KR v HALIFAX

TALENTED youngster James Garmston could be handed another game off the bench as Hull KR take on Halifax in a top Northern Rail Cup confrontation.

The 17-year-old prop came through his first run-out with flying colours and looks a very good future prospect, according to Robins' Football director Phil Lowe.

"He's a good kid and deserves another chance, but Coach Harvey Howard will have the final say on that one. Halifax are a tough side and he may not want to risk playing a 17-year-old in what will be a high-octane game,'' said Lowe.

Halifax, one of many clubs who have recruited well, bring in young prop Chris Birchall, and that will be balanced out by experienced halfback Dean Lawford.

With Andy Hudson having undergone surgery on a fractured skull and Ryan MacDonald (arm) ruled out for some time, 'Fax Coach Anthony Farrell is light on reserve prop forwards.

John Simpson is another prop with a question mark against him. He has a virus and could be missing for several weeks, while club captain Jamie Bloem is still ruled out with a broken finger.

"This is a big game for us. Hull KR's ground is very narrow and with the forecast showing more snow so the pitch could get very heavy,'' said assistant coach Mick Scott.

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v LONDON SKOLARS

THE Cougars will flex their muscles in the hope of securing their first Northern Rail Cup points against Hunslet, with Coach Gary Moorby intent on fielding his strongest squad.

"It all depends on if certain players come through a mid-week Under-21s game at Salford,'' said Moorby.

Prop Danny Ekis, Andrew Jackson, Lewis Taylor and Chris Beevers are all hoping the stretch their limbs in the match and could be added to the Sunday plans if they do.

But 21-year-old Ben Archibald, on trial from Featherstone, may have to wait a little longer before he is in the frame.

The Skolars have Rubert Jonker, Austen Aggrey, Nathan Gee and Dean Callass all vying for a place in the squad to travel.

Winger Aggrey had a knee problem, but has recovered from that while Callass (hamstring) and Gee (head) have both been passed fit. Alan Baker and winger Joe Price could also retain their place in the squad after impressive first games.

Stats spotlight.

The Cougars have the current longest losing run of 16 matches. They lost their last 14 LHF National League One matches last season and both their Northern Rail Cup matches this year. Their last victory was 42-18 at home to Featherstone Rovers on 9 May 2004.

SWINTON LIONS v OLDHAM

TABLE toppers Swinton will continue to give amateur centre Ben Cramant his chance to impress in this Northern Rail Cup tie against Oldham.

The youngster from Eccles, whose father Terry played for both Swinton and Wigan, will be on the bench again as coach Paul Kidd sets his stall out for another tough test.

With ex-Oldham players Ian Watson, Lee Marsh and Paul Southern in Swinton's line-up, it should provide some fire and brimstone in the clash.

Oldham, whose game at Rochdale was postponed last week because of frost, will add Simon Haughton, Mark Roberts and Andrew Isherwood to their line-up as coach Gary Mercer decides on his final 17.

"Swinton are obviously playing very well and have recruited well too, so this will be no easy task for us,'' forecast Mercer.

WHITEHAVEN v GATESHEAD THUNDER

TRICKY hooker Aaron Lester and Aussie signing Aaron Summers are poised to pull on a Whitehaven shirt against Gateshead.

Lester's expertise round the rucks will be a big asset, while prop forward Summer will probably get his first taste of Northern Rail Cup rugby, if Coach Steve McCormack has him on the bench.

Long-serving centre David Seeds is also set to make his 300th appearance for Whitehaven in a career that has spanned 11 seasons and taken him to the clubs to the leading try scorer spot.

Gateshead have winger Nigel Arismendez unavailable for selection, so Graham Stephenson is set to take over as coach Dean Thomas prepares to lift the lid on another of his 'mystery team selections'.

WORKINGTON TOWN v BARROW RAIDERS

CAGEY Town coach Gerard Stokes is keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of Workington's Northern Rail Cup home game with Cumbrian neighbours Barrow.

"We have devised specific plans for each game and have decided to have two different sides out for the back-to-back clashes with Barrow. But I'm not prepared to say any more than that,'' said Stokes, who made five positional changes for the game against Gateshead, but that went against him when the match was postponed.

The Raiders need to raise their game to a much higher level and must welcome the return of Joel Osborn and Richard Colley.

With Simon Knox (neck) and Glen Osborn (elbow) both extremely doubtful, it leaves coach Peter Roe's selection plans stretched to the limit yet again.

"We turned in our worst ever performance at Whitehaven and were nothing like the side that won the title last season. That will have to change pretty quickly,'' said Roe, who is in the middle of contract talks with the Barrow board and needs an impressive run of games to back him.