Casteford's Super League match against Catalans in doubt after heavy snowfall

www.guardian.co.uk - Catalans have advised Castleford and fans to delay travel Volunteers working to clear 40cm of snow from pitchHeavy snowfall in the south of France has put Castleford Tigers' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday in doubt.The Perpignan club have advised Castleford and their supporters not to travel until attempts to clear around 40cm of snow from the pitch at the Gilbert Brutus stadium have been completed."It's crazy," said the Catalans general manager, Christophe Levy. "It snowed for the whole day and everything is closed."The players and volunteers are trying to clear the pitch but it's going really slowly. The snow is not melting because it's only one degree."We will see at the end of the day how far we get but we probably won't make a decision until tomorrow."The clubs considered reversing the fixture but time is against them and the Dragons are keen to play a second home match of the season, having arranged to play four of their opening five games away from home because of refurbishment to their ground."It's making it a bit difficult," said the Catalans coach, Kevin Walters, who was forced to cancel training yesterday due to the conditions. "We haven't been able to do a field session yet but we're hoping to get a pitch this afternoon."Castleford, who held their pre-season training camp in Perpignan, are due to fly out on Friday, and have signed Mike Cooper, a 21-year-old prop who was a Challenge Cup winner with Warrington at Wembley last August, on a month's loan after losing Brett Ferres, Paul Jackson, Richie Owen and Dean Widders to injury. Cooper has yet to play for the Wolves first team this season.The BBC has confirmed that it will show Hull's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds on 17 April (kick-off 2.30pm), and Huddersfield v Hull KR (kick-off 1.45pm) the following day.Salford have claimed that a local government decision yesterday to form a joint venture company with Peel Holdings is final confirmation that their £26m, 15,000-capacity stadium will finally be built. "Other clubs may have stadium plans on paper, but we will have building work as proof of our intention," said their chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We're expecting a minimum 12-month build, with everything completed by the end of 2011."Catalans DragonsCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Heavy snow puts Castleford's Super League game against Catalans in doubt

www.guardian.co.uk - Catalans have advised Castleford and fans to delay travel Volunteers working to clear 40cm of snow from pitchHeavy snowfall in the south of France has put Castleford Tigers' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday in doubt.The Perpignan club have advised Castleford and their supporters not to travel until attempts to clear around 40cm of snow from the pitch at the Gilbert Brutus stadium have been completed."It's crazy," said the Catalans general manager, Christophe Levy. "It snowed for the whole day and everything is closed."The players and volunteers are trying to clear the pitch but it's going really slowly. The snow is not melting because it's only one degree."We will see at the end of the day how far we get but we probably won't make a decision until tomorrow."The clubs considered reversing the fixture but time is against them and the Dragons are keen to play a second home match of the season, having arranged to play four of their opening five games away from home because of refurbishment to their ground."It's making it a bit difficult," said the Catalans coach, Kevin Walters, who was forced to cancel training yesterday due to the conditions. "We haven't been able to do a field session yet but we're hoping to get a pitch this afternoon."Castleford, who held their pre-season training camp in Perpignan, are due to fly out, and have signed Mike Cooper, a 21-year-old prop who was a Challenge Cup winner with Warrington at Wembley last August, on a month's loan after losing Brett Ferres, Paul Jackson, Richie Owen and Dean Widders to injury. Cooper has yet to play for the Wolves first team this season.The BBC has confirmed that it will show Hull's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds on 17 April (kick-off 2.30pm) and Huddersfield v Hull KR (kick-off 1.45pm) the following day.Salford have claimed that a local government decision to form a joint venture company with Peel Holdings is final confirmation that their £26m, 15,000-capacity stadium will finally be built. "Other clubs may have stadium plans on paper, but we will have building work as proof of our intention," said their chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We're expecting a minimum 12-month build, with everything completed by the end of 2011."Catalans DragonsCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Heavy snow puts Casteford's Super League game against Catalans in doubt

www.guardian.co.uk - Catalans have advised Castleford and fans to delay travel Volunteers working to clear 40cm of snow from pitchHeavy snowfall in the south of France has put Castleford Tigers' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday in doubt.The Perpignan club have advised Castleford and their supporters not to travel until attempts to clear around 40cm of snow from the pitch at the Gilbert Brutus stadium have been completed."It's crazy," said the Catalans general manager, Christophe Levy. "It snowed for the whole day and everything is closed."The players and volunteers are trying to clear the pitch but it's going really slowly. The snow is not melting because it's only one degree."We will see at the end of the day how far we get but we probably won't make a decision until tomorrow."The clubs considered reversing the fixture but time is against them and the Dragons are keen to play a second home match of the season, having arranged to play four of their opening five games away from home because of refurbishment to their ground."It's making it a bit difficult," said the Catalans coach, Kevin Walters, who was forced to cancel training yesterday due to the conditions. "We haven't been able to do a field session yet but we're hoping to get a pitch this afternoon."Castleford, who held their pre-season training camp in Perpignan, are due to fly out, and have signed Mike Cooper, a 21-year-old prop who was a Challenge Cup winner with Warrington at Wembley last August, on a month's loan after losing Brett Ferres, Paul Jackson, Richie Owen and Dean Widders to injury. Cooper has yet to play for the Wolves first team this season.The BBC has confirmed that it will show Hull's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds on 17 April (kick-off 2.30pm) and Huddersfield v Hull KR (kick-off 1.45pm) the following day.Salford have claimed that a local government decision to form a joint venture company with Peel Holdings is final confirmation that their £26m, 15,000-capacity stadium will finally be built. "Other clubs may have stadium plans on paper, but we will have building work as proof of our intention," said their chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We're expecting a minimum 12-month build, with everything completed by the end of 2011."Catalans DragonsCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wakefield Trinity poised to sign Hull KR's Paul Cooke on loan

www.guardian.co.uk - Out-of-favour stand-off set for season-long deal Cooke to be reunited with former coach John KearWakefield Trinity Wildcats are closing in on a season-long loan move for the out-of-favour Hull Kingston Rovers stand-off Paul Cooke. The two clubs are in talks over the proposed deal, which would reunite Cooke with his former Hull FC coach John Kear.Reports have suggested that Cooke, who has been left out of Rovers' last two matches, has agreed to the deal, but it is understood that the terms of the move have not yet been finalised between the clubs. One issue could be the Super League match between the two at Craven Park on Friday, which would present Cooke with an immediate return to Rovers if he were permitted to play by his current employers.The 28-year-old made a controversial cross-city move from Hull FC to Hull KR in April 2007, a switch that eventually cost him a six-month ban when the Rugby Football League found him guilty of approaching Rovers while still under contract at the KC Stadium.He was a key figure of the Robins side that finished fourth last season, but has fallen out of favour this year, and was omitted from the recent wins against Castleford and St Helens in favour of the promising youngster Chaz I'Anson. Cooke has one year remaining on his Rovers contract and was briefly linked with a move to Welsh club the Crusaders earlier this season.Richard Silverwood, the referee at the centre of controversy during the recent World Club Challenge between Leeds and Melbourne Storm, will take charge of the Rhinos' Super League match at Huddersfield Giants on Sunday. The Leeds centre Keith Senior labelled Silverwood "arrogant" in the immediate aftermath of the game before later apologising for his comments, but will still face an RFL investigation over the matter.Wakefield TrinityHull KRSuper LeagueRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Gareth Thomas given tough rugby league training baptism by Crusaders

www.guardian.co.uk - Former Wales union captain has a 'tough session' Thomas put through his paces by Iestyn HarrisGareth Thomas was given a tough introduction to Super League training in Wrexham today, and warned that there was plenty more punishment to come.Iestyn Harris, who is more than two years younger than Thomas but retired at the end of last season, put his former Wales rugby union captain through the mill in a conditioning session for the young Welsh players in the Crusaders' development squad."It was a tough session, and we intentionally made it that way," said Harris. "League is a different style of fitness to union, with a lot of up and down. We've got to get him used to that in a short space of time, but he handled it exceptionally well."Physically he looked great. But he's got a bit of work to do on the play-the-ball stuff. He was a bit scratchy on that - as you'd expect because he's never played the ball before - and also on understanding the terminology of the game."There is a lot for him to take in, and not much time to do it. People are going to have to show him a fair bit of patience."Thomas will link up for the first time on Tuesday with the Crusaders' first team squad, who were in recovery today after Sunday's defeat at Warrington. "He's with us full-time now, so we'll drop him in and out of the first-team session," Harris added. "He's going to be watching and learning all the time, and then he'll do some individual stuff with me at the end of the session, with a bit of extra video work as well. He's going to have to spend some time on his feet this week because it's the only way he's going to learn. He's going to have get down and get dirty."Thomas will not play in Friday's game at St Helens, but the Crusaders intend to give him his league debut in their next home game against Catalans Dragons on Friday week.He has been seeking advice through his Twitter account from Lote Tuqiri, the former Wallaby who left Leicester at the weekend to return to league in Sydney with the Wests Tigers. The Tigers are hoping to include Tuqiri for their opening game of the National Rugby League season against Manly next Monday, 24 hours after the England forward Sam Burgess makes his eagerly awaited competitive debut for Russell Crowe's South Sydney against the Sydney Roosters.St Helens hope to have Chris Flannery and Jon Wilkin back from injury against the Crusaders, and Paul Wellens is also expected to be fit despite suffering a dead leg in Sunday's defeat at Hull KR. But they will still be missing their first-choice centres Matt Gidley and Sia Soliola, although Gidley is hoping to return for the derby against Warrington on Friday week.The Crusaders, meanwhile, struck lucky in tonight's draw for the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup, with an away tie at York of Championship One. Hull will play Leeds in a repeat of the 2005 final in the pick of four all-Super League ties, with Harlequins facing Wakefield, Salford travelling to the Catalans Dragons, and last year's runners-up Huddersfield at home to Hull KR.The holders, Warrington, are at home to Featherstone Rovers in a repeat of the 1974 final and Wigan's trip to Sheffield will stir memories of the Eagles' famous Wembley win of 1998.Siddal, the Halifax amateur club who knocked out Doncaster in the third round, have a home derby against Batley and Wigan St Judes, the other amateur survivors whose third-round tie at Widnes was postponed until tomorrow night because of the weekend frost, will be playing for a home game against Lezignan.Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round draw: York v Crusaders, Hunslet v Oldham, Swinton v Halifax, Limoux v Leigh, Harlequins v Wakefield Trinity, St Helens v Toulouse, Widnes or Wigan St Judes v Lezignan, Catalans Dragons v Salford, Sheffield Eagles v Wigan, Siddal v Batley, Hull v Leeds, Castleford v Barrow, Warrington v Featherstone, Blackpool v Whitehaven, Huddersfield v Hull KR, Dewsbury v Bradford.Ties to be played 16-18 AprilGareth ThomasThe CrusadersSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Hull KR 28-24 St Helens | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Hull KR 28-24 St HelensAfter a somewhat sluggish start the season, last year's big achievers Hull Kingston Rovers are starting to find some form. Their Australian hooker Ben Fisher sealed a gripping contest with a dramatic late try to help his side to consecutive victories.Rovers' coach, Justin Morgan, had been left disappointed by one-sided defeats against Wigan and Huddersfield, but this win followed a hard-fought victory at Castleford and has hinted at better times ahead. "We rallied really hard to keep going at them and it was a nice decisive play from 'Fish' there to win it," Morgan said. "I thought in the first 25 minutes we looked very solid and thoroughly deserved our lead. We were our own worst enemies for a while and allowed Saints back into the game, but then came back at them again."Already missing key centre Matt Gidley, the visitors were not helped by the early withdrawal of the full-back Paul Wellens with a severe dead leg and his replacement Johnny Lomax due to a cut, forcing the forward James Roby to spend much of the time at centre. But their coach Mick Potter refused to use the enforced reshuffle as an excuse for his side's second defeat of the season."We've been unfortunate recently and we seem to have been down to 15 players every week, but injuries are part of the game," Potter said. "They had 40-odd tackles on our line near the end and no one can hold a team our for that long. That was partly down to how well Hull KR played, but the responsibility comes back on to keep them away from our line."The first two tries of a hat-trick for Rovers' Liam Colbon - both created by the excellent Michael Dobson and Kris Welham - had seen the home side recover from Gary Wheeler's opening try for the visitors. The returning Australian back rower Ben Galea also touched down to make it 16-4, before Saints hit back with three tries in the space of 11 minutes.Their blossoming half-back partnership of Leon Pryce and Kyle Eastmond had a hand in each, with Eastmond grabbing the first by sprinting half the length of the field after a Rovers mistake. Pryce then created tries for Francis Meli and Scott Moore to give his side a narrow half-time lead, before Colbon crossed for his third shortly after the restart. Pryce and Eastmond combined again just before the hour mark to send the youngster Chris Dean over, and they held their advantage for 21 minutes before Rovers' pressure told when Fisher forced his way over from dummy half.Hull Kingston Rovers Briscoe; Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon; I'Anson, Dobson; Vella, Murrell, Clinton, Newton, Lovegrove, Galea. Interchange Netherton, Fisher, Watts. CockayneTries Galea, Colbon 3, Fisher. Goals Dobson 4St Helens Wellens; Lomax, Dean, Wheeler, Meli; Pryce, Eastmond; Graham, Moore, Fozzard, Puletua, Clough, Roby. Interchange Fa'asavalu, Cunningham, Hargreaves, DixonTries Wheeler, Meli, Eastmond, Moore, Dean. Goals Eastmond 2.Referee I Smith (Oldham). Attendance 8,202.Super LeagueHull KRSt HelensRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Warrington 46-12 Crusaders | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Warrington 46-12 CrusadersGareth Thomas stayed away as his new club failed to stop Warrington surging to second spot in the Super League. Thomas, the former Wales and British Lions captain, will start training with Crusaders this week and is set to make his debut against Catalans at Wrexham on Friday week.Thomas, 35, was expected to watch Crusaders in action for the first time but remained in South Wales. But he would have been impressed as Crusaders raced into an early 12-6 lead.However, Warrington, without first-choice half-backs Lee Briers and Richie Myler, rallied to record their fourth win in five matches this season with another top show from Matt King.King followed his outstanding performance at Huddersfield last week with two tries here as well as setting up another couple, with Ben Westwood also scoring two.It was Crusaders who took the early lead, though, when their prop Mark Bryant took a return pass from Peter Lupton to register his first try since arriving from Manly two years ago. Warrington levelled with Bridge's burst setting up the platform for Ryan Atkins to put King over.However Crusaders, spurred on by a vociferous following, regained the advantage with Lincoln Withers quickest to react to Michael Witt's kick after 16 minutes.Warrington finally clicked into gear with Simon Grix forcing his way over to make it 12-12 before two tries in two minutes before the break gave the Wolves a 24-12 lead with King, moved back into his familiar centre role, the inspiration.King burst on to Bridge's pass to give Warrington the lead for the first time before the Australian set up Westwood's touchdown. Westwood powered over soon after the restart virtually to end the Crusaders' hopes of a third successive win.Michael Monaghan's 40-20 set up the platform for his own try to extend the lead to 34-12.Crusaders were penalised after a couple of skirmishes before King put Chris Hicks in at the corner with Bridge booting the touchline conversion. David Solomona also crossed to complete the rout.Super LeagueWarringtonRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wakefield 0-52 Huddersfield | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Wakefield 0-52 HuddersfieldHuddersfield got back to winning ways with stunning victory over a Wakefield side who had started the season with three straight wins before losing narrowly at St Helens last week. They were completely outplayed by a Giants side who made light of the absence of captain Brett Hodgson to run in 10 tries without reply.The Wildcats were blown away by a scintillating first-half display from the Giants. The home defence crumbled before the power, pace and handling skills of a resurgent Huddersfield outfit.David Fa'alogo opened the scoring after only five minutes when he blasted over from a pass by dummy-half Shaun Lunt. Wakefield barely had time to draw breath before Paul Whatuira crossed for another down the left and then Luke Robinson put Martin Aspinwall in.With Leroy Cudjoe converting all three, Huddersfield had rattled up 18 points in the first 11 minutes. Cudjoe then touched down himself after Richard Moore had thrown the ball away in a rare Wakefield foray upfield.Danny Brough tried to get his side back into the game with some trademark spiralling bombs, but his shell-shocked team mates were unable to take advantage. A scorching break by Larne Patrick from his own 20 set up a try for Scott Grix and even when Brough seized on a loose ball and raced 60 metres upfield, the Wildcats failed to capitalise on a very promising attacking position and went in at half-time trailing by 26 points.The home side needed to get on the scoreboard early in the second half to have any chance of rescuing the game but it was the Giants who struck first when Whatuira broke down the left and Lee Gilmour finished off another flowing move.Going into the final quarter David Hodgson squeezed over in the corner with Grix Patrick and Lunt all crossing before the final whistle, three of which Cudjoe converted.Super LeagueWakefield TrinityHuddersfield GiantsRugby leagueDavid Lawrensonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds score 12 tries to heap misery on Harlequins

www.guardian.co.uk - Leeds 62-4 Harlequins Wins for Hull and Catalans DragonsLeeds scored 58 unanswered points including 12 tries as they humbled Harlequins 62-4 at Headingley. Brent Webb, Ryan Hall, Danny Buderus and Ali Lautiiti scored two tries apiece and Rob Burrow made seven conversions to leave the visitors reeling. "It's good to see the players enjoying themselves and expressing themselves and I thought we were able to pass the ball a bit and scored some nice tries," said the Leeds coach, Brian McClennan.Attempting to explain his side's slow start, he added: "We tried too hard, we made a lot of line breaks but we just didn't execute well. We got a bit impetuous and tried one pass too many. I think that's what we did better in the second half. When we made splits, we didn't think we had to score, we made better decisions with the football."Harlequins, who have won only one of their five outings this season, currently have seven players out through injury. Their coach, Brian McDermott, said: "There's no anger from me. The scoreline and the nature of the tries was tough. When we get players back, we'll have our run but it's not nice at the moment while it's happening."Hull FC ran in five second-half tries to ease to a 42-22 victory over Castleford, who have now lost their last four games. The Tigers twice came from behind to go in 12-12 at the interval but Hull eased clear afterwards with Richard Horne going over twice.Hull's coach, Richard Agar, praised the way his side improved after the interval. "At half-time we felt we needed to lift our intensity a little bit, especially defensively," he said. "We were not quite where we needed to be and we needed to get more of a mojo, and we did that."At half-time we thought that Castleford were lacking a little bit in the middle and we took advantage and made inroads at the middle of the park. I thought they had a right dig at us and they might be a little bit disappointed that the scoreboard blew up the way it did. I'm not worrying about the table too much at the moment because our performances are consistent and we are showing we have the capability to score tries from different areas."The Castleford coach, Terry Matterson, was left to reflect on a fourth defeat of the season. "It was a tough night at the office," he said. "We lost Joe Westerman on the morning of the game with an infected knee and it didn't start well."We hung in there in the first half but lost Paul Jackson after five minutes and have plenty of others with blood all over them. We're battered and got battered into submission in the second half. But I'm proud of my guys. They were too strong for us and we are just running out of bodies. It's not a good-looking room in there at the moment. But I'm proud of them."The Salford coach, Shaun McRae, expressed sympathy with the club's fans as his side slumped to a fifth straight defeat. Catalans Dragons ended their winless run this season by fighting back from a half-time deficit to post a 24-12 victory.The Dragons bounced back from a humiliating 58-0 hammering at Wigan last week with a vastly improved show thanks to tries from Chris Walker (two), Clint Greenshields, Setaimata Sa and Sébastien Raguin.McRae said: "The fans are entitled to be frustrated and agitated but we are the same. The players are all down in the dressing room. We tried hard and thought we could build on the last two weeks but we were never in it in the second half."I didn't think we were playing particularly well even when we led 12-8 at half-time. We were off the pace and needed an intensity lift which we didn't get. We came up with too many errors and all their tries came off our mistakes. We defended well in the first half and that took its toll but we did not put Catalans under enough pressure. They are a pretty complete unit even with a couple of key players missing."Dragons' coach, Kevin Walters, singled out the New Zealand Test player Sa for special praise. He said: "Setaimata played some good football at five-eighth. He has been down a little bit recently but showed what he can do."It was a much better performance. Last week at Wigan was a very difficult occasion. They say a week is a long time in football but our guys were pumping to get over that embarrassment. We weren't great but this was more like a Dragons team. We reacted well after the Wigan defeat."Leeds RhinosHarlequins rugby leagueHull FCCastlefordCatalans DragonsSalford City RedsSuper LeagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds and Hull enjoy crushing wins

www.guardian.co.uk - Harlequins and Castleford suffer heavy defeats Catalans Dragons seal victory at SalfordLeeds scored 58 unanswered points and ran in 12 tries as they humbled Harlequins 62-4 at Headingley. Brent Webb, Ryan Hall, Danny Buderus and Ali Lautiiti all scored two tries apiece and Rob Burrow made seven conversions to further leave the visitors reeling. The Super League champions had lost three of their previous four matches. Hull FC ran in five second-half tries to ease to a 42-22 victory over Castleford, who have now lost their last four games. The Tigers twice came from behind to go in 12-12 at the break but eased clear afterwards with Richard Horne twice going over. Elsewhere Catalans Dragons won 24-12 Salford, who remain pointless at the bottom of the table.Leeds RhinosHarlequins rugby leagueSalford City RedsCatalans DragonsHull FCCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Bradford 22-20 Wigan | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Bradford 22-20 WiganBradford staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in Super League history to end Wigan's 100% start to the season. The Bulls were booed off at half-time after conceding a 20-0 lead but their Australian scrum-half Matt Orford led an astonishing turnaround that ended with his compatriot Glenn Hall surging over for the winning try with less than a minute remaining. Orford scored 14 of his team's points with two tries and three goals, as Bradford closed to within two points of the leaders with the sort of performance that the club has desperately needed to reverse several years of decline.It was all the more shocking given the poverty of their first-half effort, when Wigan were outstanding. They still did enough in the second half to show that they are playing with resilience as well as brilliance following the appointment of the former Melbourne Storm assistant coach Michael Maguire to succeed Brian Noble. But Orford, who had endured a personal nightmare in the first half, simply would not accept defeat.Bradford came into the game on the back of consecutive victories but from the kick-off Wigan were operating on a different level. They were helped by the defensive deficiencies of the Bulls wings, with Stuart Reardon caught badly out of position by Amos Roberts' long pass for Darrell Goulding to open the scoring inside four minutes, and Jason Crookes enduring a nightmare on the other flank.Crookes is usually a centre and was therefore a surprising selection to replace the injured Rikki Sheriffe, especially as he had to mark Pat Richards, Wigan's tall Australian who had plundered 38 points in their 58-0 romp against Catalans last week. It was Crookes' inability to deal with a high kick that led to that opening score for Goulding, and at the end of the first half his horrendous missed tackle allowed Richards to give Wigan a 20-0 lead.In between times the Bulls had been carved to pieces by the brilliance of Roberts and Sam Tomkins. Roberts, an Australian wing who made little impact in his first season at Wigan, continued his impressive switch to full-back with a number of graceful kick returns, one of which set up the position for Tomkins to send Harrison Hansen over for Wigan's second try. Then Roberts combined with Sean O'Loughlin for Tomkins, the young half-back who made his England debut in last autumn's Four Nations series, to scamper over himself.Orford's arrival at Bradford was much heralded and from the restart he finally started to show what the fuss is about. It was his short ball to Craig Kopczak on halfway that set up a sweeping move that ended with his half-back partner Brett Kearney racing clear. Within three minutes Orford went for the line himself on the sixth tackle and showed great strength and determination to struggle over. He converted both tries and Bradford were back in the game at 12-20.There were no further scores for 23 minutes but, just as Wigan could see the winning post, Orford struck again. It was another terrific individual effort that justified his nickname of Ox, as he shrugged off two attempted tackles to plunge over from close range. This time his conversion attempt faded wide but an error from Roberts handed the Bulls one last attacking chance - and Hall snatched the most dramatic of wins.Bradford: Halley; Crookes, Sykes, Nero, Reardon; Kearney, Orford; Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch (capt), Langley, Whitehead, Menzies. Interchange: Hall, Godwin, Worrincy, Kopczak.Tries: Kearney, Orford 2, Hall. Goals: Orford 3.Wigan: Roberts; Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards; S Tomkins, Leuluai; Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hansen, J Tomkins, O'Loughlin (capt). Interchange: Bailey, Paleaaesina, Deacon, O'Carroll. Tries: Goulding, Hansen, S Tomkins, Richards. Goals: Richards 2. Referee: P Bentham (Warrington)Bradford BullsWigan WarriorsSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Crusaders ready to throw Gareth Thomas in at the deep end

www.guardian.co.uk - Former union man to take two-week course in league 35-year-old ready to 'run through brick walls'Gareth Thomas will be given a crash course in rugby league lasting less than a fortnight before being thrown in at the deep end for his Super League debut. Brian Noble, the former Great Britain coach who has persuaded Thomas to become the highest profile rugby union player to switch codes since the game went openly professional in 1995, revealed at a press conference to confirm the signing in Wrexham that he plans to use the 35-year-old for the first time in the Crusaders' next home game against the Catalans Dragons on 19 March."I fully anticipate him playing sooner rather than later," said Noble. "He's got a couple of decent hard weeks in front of him. But he's got good speed, strength and athleticism. And most of all he wants to play - that's essential, otherwise it's too tough."Thomas is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge he has taken on after using David Bishop, the infamously feisty former Pontypool scrum-half who joined Hull KR in the late-80s, as his main sounding board. "Basically Bish was saying it's like shuttle runs into brick walls - constantly," Thomas revealed. "So he didn't paint too pretty a picture of it."I've got to get rid of my instincts as a rugby union player, because they won't work for me as a rugby league player. There has obviously got to be some scepticism because it is such a different game. I'm going to give it my best shot."After being released from the remaining two months of his union contract with Cardiff Blues, Thomas will watch the Crusaders play at Warrington , and start training with the team on Monday.The club hope his debut against the Catalans will ensure a second five-figure crowd in three games at the Racecourse, in which case Thomas will pay off a decent chunk of the six-month contract he has signed, with the option of an extension for 2011 depending on how this first year goes. But player and club were keen to stress that the deal is about more than a short-term publicity stunt."I'm a rugby player, I'm not here to sit down promoting things," said Thomas, who revealed that he had turned down a first league offer from Bradford as far back as 1995. "My place is on the field. Everybody says that at 35 you should retire, but I consistently push myself to the limit."I've had a fantastic rugby union career and achieved a lot. League has always interested me, I've always watched it, and I think the Super League is a package that is very desirable for any player of either code. As soon as it became one of my options, it was the most exciting one."Even so, it is a good job the Crusaders have a coach as respected as Noble to insist that Thomas's arrival is about more than raising the club's profile in Wales and beyond, following their move north to Wrexham after a disastrous debut Super League season in Bridgend."While there is a profile to it and everybody's so giddy about it, it was absolutely and ultimately a football decision," Noble said.The Crusaders have already received one letter from a Christian fundamentalist group complaining about the signing, but Thomas's sexuality - he announced he is gay last December - is not seen as an issue in league. It is more than a decade since this taboo was broken by Ian Roberts, the former Wigan and Australia prop who came out in 1995 when he was regarded as one of the game's toughest players.So for Thomas, the only concern now is preparing for those shuttle runs into brick walls.Gareth ThomasThe CrusadersRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Royal Navy ready to break new ground against Blackpool in Challenge Cup | Andy Wilson

www.guardian.co.uk - It took years of campaigning for rugby league to recognised as a sport in the armed services, but now it all seems worthwhileThe Royal Navy will break new ground when they host Blackpool Panthers at the United Services Ground in Portsmouth in the most intriguing of the weekend's Carnegie Challenge Cup ties.Their third-round fixture against a professional club will provoke great satisfaction in the former MP David Hinchliffe and a group of his parliamentary colleagues, who worked so hard to have rugby league recognised as a sport in the armed services in the early 1990s."It is amazing to think that as recently as 1994, the game was effectively banned," recalled Hinchliffe, who stood down as the Labour MP for Wakefield before the 2005 general election after almost two decades spent campaigning with Ian McCartney as the twin figureheads of rugby league's all-party parliamentary group."We were concerned that serving personnel were not allowed to play the game of their choice, but also that rugby league had missed out internationally, given the importance of the armed forces in spreading the game of rugby union."I remember getting a list of recognised sports from the House of Commons library. There were about 24, some of which neither me nor the librarians had even heard of. But we were told time and time again in parliamentary answers and ministerial statements that there was no demand for rugby league. We ended up having clandestine meetings through Merlyn Rees [who as a former defence secretary helped the group compile a list of servicemen keen to play league], and credit to Iain Sproat, the Tory sports minister who in 1994 lifted the ban."The progress since has been considerable, vindicating the MPs' efforts and providing league with one of its greatest success stories of the last 15 years. Under the coaching of Wayne Okell, a warrant officer and physical training instructor from Leigh who has been awarded the MBE for his services to rugby league, the Combined Services beat their equivalents from Australia and New Zealand to be crowned world champions in 2008 - and the game's Navy-driven international development has even reached the Falklands.Commander Gareth Hughes, the chairman of the Royal Navy Rugby League, explained: "The army were the first to play regularly, then the RAF. It took longer for the sport to become established in the navy, mainly for geographical reasons with the majority of our bases being on the south coast or in Scotland, which have been seen more as rugby union areas than league."But the fact that we were late may have helped us in getting everything recognised and organised in a very short space of time. Whereas in other sports the army can be quite dominant, in rugby league our combined services competition has been very open for the last five years."The Army reached the third round of the cup last season, but were thrashed 92-2 at Featherstone - an indication of the scale of the challenge facing the Navy against a Blackpool team who are equally keen to book a place in Monday night's fourth-round draw, when the Super League clubs enter the competition."It's a huge game for us because if we get through we could draw Wigan, Leeds or St Helens, which would be a dream for the lads and earn us enough money to keep us going for months," said the Panthers coach, Martin Crompton, a former Super League scrum-half with Oldham and Warrington. "Going to Portsmouth is going to be a little bit different, but we're treating it as an adventure rather than a nuisance. It's great for the game of rugby league that we've got a team from the navy playing in the Challenge Cup."Challenge CupRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Crusaders sign ex-Wales captain Gareth Thomas from Cardiff Blues

www.guardian.co.uk - Chairman hails 'monumental day' in club's history Former Lion 'excited by the ambition of the Crusaders'The former Wales and British Lions captain Gareth Thomas has completed his cross-code move from the Cardiff Blues to the Crusaders.The Wrexham-based Super League club announced the signing of the 35-year-old back, the most capped Welsh player of all time, at the Racecourse Ground this afternoon."I am really excited by the ambition of the Crusaders and playing for someone of the experience and reputation of Brian Noble and Iestyn Harris really excites me," said Thomas. "This move was not about money but about a chance of a fresh challenge on the field and an opportunity to promote rugby in north Wales off the field."Thomas won 100 caps for Wales and captained the Lions against New Zealand in 2005.The Crusaders' chairman, Ian Roberts, said: "This is a truly monumental day in the Crusaders' history."Getting a player of Gareth Thomas's stature and ability at the Racecourse is a major coup for us. We're building something special here at Wrexham. We want rugby league to succeed in north Wales."Thomas has signed a contract covering the rest of this season with an option on a second season. He will start training immediately, after being released from contract with the Blues."I think Gareth Thomas is a fabulous player," said Noble. "He's an amazing athlete and I'm a huge fan of his talents. He's in fantastic shape and has clearly looked after himself over the years."Noble does not believe he is taking a risk in signing a player who will turn 36 in July."He has all the attributes to succeed in rugby league," said Noble. "He's big and he's strong, has great footwork and he is not afraid to put in a shift in defence either."His skill levels are phenomenal and he brings a wealth of experience that you just can't buy. He will add a lot to the team as well as improving the profile of the game here in Wales."Thomas is set to make his Crusaders debut against Catalans Dragons in their next home game, on Friday 19 March.Gareth ThomasThe CrusadersSuper LeagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Cardiff Blues clear Gareth Thomas to train with Super League Crusaders

www.guardian.co.uk - Welsh source suggests Lion will not play union again Quinnell casts doubt on moving at the age of 35 Gareth Thomas will attempt to hit the ground running in his bid to switch codes at the age of 35, having received permission from the Cardiff Blues to begin training with the Crusaders immediately after his move is confirmed in Wrexham tomorrow.The former Wales and British Lions captain had been expected to see out the remaining two months of his rugby union contract before moving north. But Thomas and the Crusaders are keen for him to begin his crash course in league as soon as possible and the Blues have agreed to release him straight away. That means Thomas is likely to begin his education under the former Great Britain coach Brian Noble and Iestyn Harris, a former Wales team-mate who is now part of the Crusaders backroom staff, on Monday.There is no word yet on whether Thomas will attend their Super League game at Warrington on Sunday, or return to Cardiff for the Blues' Magners League fixture against Leinster. But a Blues source confirmed that he would definitely not be involved on the field, suggesting that Wales's most-capped international has played his last game of rugby union.Scott Quinnell, who overcame initial difficulties to make a successful switch from union to league with Wigan in the early-90s, warned Thomas about the challenges ahead."I was lucky enough to go at 21, but I couldn't imagine changing sports in your 30s," he told Radio 5 Live. "I can only think it's a fresh challenge but it's a totally different game that he'll have to learn, and he's at the wrong end of the scale."Thomas will become the second oldest player in Super League, behind Steve Menzies, the 36-year-old Australian forward whose Bradford team face the early-season pacesetters, Wigan, in tomorrow night's televised game - when the Bulls coach, Steve McNamara, has promised a warm welcome back to Odsal for Paul Deacon, who scored a club record 2,371 points in 302 appearances for Bradford before joining his hometown club last December.Leeds, who aim to bounce back from their World Club Challenge defeat by Melbourne Storm with a home game against struggling Harlequins, have been reassured by their former Australia hooker Danny Buderus that he has no desire to go home early, following reports that his old club Newcastle Knights want him back to help them tackle an off-field crisis that has so far seen two of their players arrested for drug dealing.Jordan Tansey returns after a one-match club suspension but Sean Long is still missing with his hamstring injury for Hull's home game against Castleford, whose second-row Brett Ferres has been ruled out for three months with a shoulder problem.Long is expected to return at Wigan next Friday. Catalans Dragons will be without their influential Australian stand-off Adam Mogg as they aim to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat at Salford, the only other club still to win this season.Gareth ThomasRugby leagueRugby unionAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Gareth Thomas hints he is on the way to becoming a Crusader

www.guardian.co.uk - Former Wales and Lions captain eyes move to Wrexham Move expected to be confirmed on FridayGareth Thomas is close to confirming a move to the Crusaders, which would be easily the biggest signing in the five-year history of the Welsh club, and arguably the highest-profile code switch to the Super League since rugby union went openly professional in 1995.The 35-year-old has dropped two strong hints that the Crusaders' bold attempt to persuade him to switch, driven by their coach, Brian Noble, and his assistant, Iestyn Harris - and first revealed in the Guardian two weeks ago - has finally paid off.He told the BBC Wales Scrum V programme on Tuesday that "moving northwards is one of the options", and added cryptically on Twitter today: "Interesting times lie ahead."The Crusaders had been expected to announce the signing of Thomas at their weekly press conference on Thursday, but the deal now seems more likely to be confirmed on Friday. That would give the club a fortnight to capitalise on the interest generated by the former Wales and British Lions captain before their next game in Wrexham, against the Catalans Dragons on 19 March.Thomas is not expected to start training with the Crusaders until the end of his existing union contract with Cardiff in May, but he is understood to have agreed an 18-month deal that will run until the end of the 2011 Super League season - when he will be 37."I feel I am as fit as anybody," he added on Scrum V. "If I decided to do another sport, all I have got in my head is a lot of experience and you can't buy experience - I don't feel like a 35-year-old when I am playing."The Thomas deal will add to the feelgood factor at the Crusaders, who were forced to relocate from Bridgend to Wrexham after a miserable first season in the Super League but in their last two matches have recorded consecutive victories for the first time, against Salford and Hull. Their first game in Wrexham, against Leeds, attracted a five-figure capacity crowd and they have even sold their initial allocation of 250 tickets for Sunday's away game at Warrington.Gareth ThomasSuper LeagueRugby leagueCardiff BluesMagners LeagueRugby unionAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Keith Senior charged for referee outburst after Melbourne defeat

www.guardian.co.uk - Leeds centre branded Richard Silverwood 'arrogant' Senior to appear before tribunal next WednesdayThe Leeds centre Keith Senior has been charged by the Rugby Football League with a breach of their operational rules following his public criticism of referee Richard Silverwood in the aftermath of the Rhinos' World Club Challenge defeat.The 33-year-old former Great Britain international branded the match official "arrogant" after he was penalised by him for dissent during the Super League champions' 18-10 defeat by Melbourne Storm at Elland Road on Sunday, although he later apologised for the comments.The former Sheffield Eagles player was today ordered to appear before an RFL operational rules tribunal next Wednesday evening to answer the charges of breaching rules governing the criticism of match officials and a breach of the governing body's respect policy.The rule states that "no person shall publish or cause to be published (or give any interview to the media by whatsoever medium) which contains criticism of the character of a match official or criticism of the manner in which a match official has officiated at a game in which the club or player has taken part, or of any other game under the control of the RFL."Last season Hull KR coach Justin Morgan was fined £4,000 - half of it suspended - after he was found guilty of breaching the RFL's Respect policy for labelling referee Ben Thaler "sub-standard".Senior, who is also likely to face a fine, was seething over what he saw as Silverwood's failure to clamp down on Melbourne's "spoiling " tactics at the play-the-ball. The comments, made to journalists in the mixed zone an hour after the end of the match, were studied by the RFL's compliance manager who obtained a tape of the interview.Senior was also forced to explain himself to Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington but the club have declined to divulge the outcome of those talks, describing it as "an internal matter".One of only five players to have appeared in all 15 seasons of Super League, Senior has been named in the Rhinos' squad for Friday's home game against Harlequins.In a statement issued late on Sunday night Senior said: "I would like to apologise for any offence caused by my comments following our defeat to Melbourne. Unfortunately I let my emotions get the better of me after a physically and mentally draining clash with Melbourne. Having had time to reflect on my comments, I appreciate that, like us players, referees have a difficult job to do and we do not have a game without them."Leeds call on young BushLeeds have called up 20-year-old part-time player Tom Bush ahead of Friday's Engage Super League match with Harlequins at Headingley.Bush, who is an apprentice plumber, has been named in coach Brian McClennan's initial 19-strong squad and handed the No26 shirt for what could be his Super League debut.Bush, who is hoping to take the place of injured winger Scott Donald, had to ask his father John for time off work in order to train with the Rhinos first team this week.""The whole family are massive Rhinos fans and it would be a dream come true if I could get to play for the first team this season," he said. "Normally I am up at 7am to start working with my dad but I am looking forward to the challenge of training with the first team this week."Rugby leagueLeeds Rhinosguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Keith Senior not a lone voice in frustrations with officialdom | Andy Wilson

www.guardian.co.uk - It is easy to sympathise with the Leeds centre's verbal attack on the referee after the Rhinos' defeat in the World Club ChallengeKeith Senior has had better weeks. He's in trouble with both his management at Leeds and the Rugby Football League for calling Richard Silverwood arrogant after his refereeing performance in last Sunday's World Club Challenge, but the greater regret for the veteran centre will surely be the loss of discipline that went a long way towards condemning the Rhinos to a second consecutive defeat by the Australian champions.Senior's verbal attack on Silverwood during the match, conceding a penalty that allowed Cameron Smith to kick Melbourne ahead for the first time, was as potty as it was costly. Yet as with his lengthy outburst outside the Leeds United dressing room at Elland Road an hour or so later, it was easy to sympathise with big, bad, bald Keith.His frustration at Silverwood's indulgence of the spoiling tactics that Melbourne have turned into an ugly art form was shared by anyone else in the stadium, or watching at home, who had been hoping for a spectacle to rival last year's Challenge in which Leeds were outclassed by Manly.It was a shockingly weak refereeing performance that the Storm exploited expertly, while Leeds appeared to be taken completely by surprise. Their coach, Brian McClennan, had declared confidently after a stodgy Super League victory over Salford nine days earlier that the Rhinos were looking forward to a faster game with cleaner rucks against Melbourne. As it turned out, the play-the-balls were as slow as anything seen in this country for years - and, as McClennan and his players conceded afterwards, Leeds failed to adjust.With the exception of Senior, they didn't whinge, which made the comments from Australia's controller of referees, Robert Finch, even harder to stomach. "You could say they're whingeing or you could say what you like, but the bottom line is they were playing under an English referee and under English interpretations," said Finch. But those were nothing like English interpretations, a point best summed up for me by an Aussie journalist covering the game - who said how much he'd preferred the slower pace of the rucks at Elland Road to the "touch and pass" he'd watched at the Super League fixtures at Castleford and Wakefield on the previous two nights.As Finch added, the evidence of last year's Leeds-Manly game suggests that Melbourne would probably have won an equally fast contest with plenty to spare. If only we'd had the chance to find out.The responsibility for that has to lie with Silverwood and his attempt to revert to international interpretations, whatever they are. Which brings us to Senior's second spray, for which I'd offer a double defence. First, give the bloke some credit for being prepared to answer journalists' questions when he emerged from the dressing room, rather than rushing past with a muttered "No comment". Second, his irritation with Silverwood, and I suspect with Super League refereeing in general, is by no means unique.Only the previous night at Castleford, the Tigers supporters had been infuriated when a series of marginal video refereeing decisions went against their team in a narrow defeat by Hull KR. As so often, the video official - in this case Steve Ganson - was put in an impossible position by the idiotic instruction to award the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team. That same instruction has now led to the last two major club games in this country - last year's grand final and now the WCC - being disfigured by Leeds tries that should not have been awarded. The game is being brought into disrepute, or at least inviting mockery, on a worryingly regular basis.The previous weekend, Ganson had been put in an equally sticky situation by an equally crazy decision to appoint him as the referee for the Catalans Dragons' first home game of the season in Perpignan - where he has become the least popular English referee with the passionate French fans - even though they were playing St Helens, his local club.There are so many unnecessarily irritating and provocative decisions like that being made regarding the game's referees, which makes their near-impossible job even harder - and undermines the Rugby Football League's admirable and ground-breaking Respect campaign to provide support for all match officials, among whom the likes of Ganson, Ian Smith, Robert Hicks and Gareth Hewer stand out as having produced splendidly low-profile and empathetic performances in recent weeks.Yet the RFL seem as complacent about such self-inflicted wounds as they are about the disillusionment felt by supporters of lower league clubs following the indulgence of the Crusaders' move from Bridgend to Wrexham, and now the uncertainty over the rules governing Toulouse's application for a Super League place.Keith Senior is far from alone in being driven to distraction.Rugby leagueLeeds RhinosAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Matt James quits Harlequins

www.guardian.co.uk - James ends Harlequins contract a month into the season Player says he wants to return to play in the northThe former Bradford Bulls prop Matt James has quit Harlequins just a month into the season. The 22-year-old forward signed a two-year contract with the Londoners last September and was on the bench for their opening three matches of the Super League.However, he was omitted for last Friday's game at Hull and the club said today the player had "cancelled his contract with the club by mutual consent", saying he wants to return to play in the north.James, who made his debut for Bradford in 2006, made only two Super League appearances last season before going on loan to Championship club Halifax. In a statement, the London club said: "Harlequins Rugby League wish Matt all the best in his future career."Harlequins rugby leagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Keith Senior accused of whingeing after Leeds Rhinos' defeat

www.guardian.co.uk - 'You could say they're whingeing,' says Robert Finch Head of Australia's referees says British game 'falling behind'Keith Senior last night came under attack for whingeing after his Leeds team were beaten in the World Club Challenge by Melbourne Storm yesterday night. The veteran centre was also awaiting the details of possible punishment from the Rhinos and the Rugby Football League for his derogatory comments about the British referee Richard Silverwood.The Storm's stand-off Brett Finch accused Senior of "a bit of sour grapes". But back home in Sydney Finch's father Robert, the controller of referees in Australia's National Rugby League, went much further, warning that the Rhinos' second straight defeat by the NRL champions showed that British rugby league is falling behind.It is the first time Australian clubs have won the Challenge in consecutive years since it became an annual event in 2000 and Finch said the trend would continue unless the Super League follows the NRL by introducing two referees for all matches."You could say they're whingeing or you could say what you like but the bottom line is they were playing under an English referee and under English interpretations," he said. "If they would have been playing under an Australian referee and under Australian interpretations the score would have been even greater."The two referee system has been acknowledged as being of great value to the game of rugby league in Australia. It's cleaned the rucks out ... and we're seeing far more skill in our game. They [Super League] need to move to a game that is played as quickly and as skilfully as the Australian game because you'll never compete with Australian teams unless you do."Gary Hetherington, the Leeds chief executive, called Senior in for a meeting at Headingley this afternoon after requesting a transcript of the interview in which the veteran centre said Silverwood has "got that arrogance about him", and is widely unpopular because of a desire to be the centre of attention. The RFL's compliance manager has studied Senior's comments to see if they merit a disrepute charge under the governing body's Respect policy, although the fact that he issued a public apology within hours is likely to work in his favour.The Crusaders have dropped the strongest public hint yet that the former Wales and British Lions captain Gareth Thomas will switch codes this season. Paul Retout, the chief executive of the Welsh club, has told the latest edition of Rugby League World magazine: "We have big ambitions here and the signing we are going to make will show just how ambitious. It will be a big-name union switch to league. This is about as big as you could get and it will put league on the map here. The guy really wants to come and is keen to give league a go."Leeds RhinosRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds' Keith Senior investigated over criticism of World Club referee

www.guardian.co.uk - League launch disciplinary procedure against centre Veteran slams official over Melbourne's 'laying-on' tacticThe Rugby Football League has launched an investigation into Keith Senior's public criticism of the referee Richard Silverwood after Leeds' World Club Challenge defeat by Melbourne Storm and is promising a quick conclusion.The 33-year-old former Great Britain international said the match official was "arrogant" after he was penalised for dissent at Elland Road last night.Senior, who was angry about what he saw as Silverwood's failure to clamp down on Melbourne's "laying on" at the play-the-ball, later issued an apology and that might spare him a heavy fine.The comments, made to reporters an hour after the match, will be studied by the RFL's compliance manager, who has the power to charge the player with bringing the game into disrepute.Last season the Hull Kingston Rovers coach Justin Morgan was fined £4,000 - half of it suspended - after he was found guilty of breaching the RFL's Respect policy for calling the referee Ben Thaler "sub-standard"."Our compliance manager will look at all the evidence, including the player's apology," said an RFL spokesman. "We are looking for a swift conclusion. It is not something we want to drag on."Senior, who is unlikely to be suspended for the comments, must also explain his comments to the Rhinos' chief executive, Gary Hetherington, as Leeds decide whether the player has breached the club's internal disciplinary code.In a statement issued late last night Senior said: "I would like to apologise for any offence caused by my comments following our defeat by Melbourne. Unfortunately I let my emotions get the better of me after a physically and mentally draining clash with Melbourne."Having had time to reflect on my comments, I appreciate that, like us players, referees have a difficult job to do and we do not have a game without them."Leeds RhinosRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds Rhinos 10-18 Melbourne Storm | World Club Challenge match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Leeds Rhinos 10-18 Melbourne StormLeeds were condemned by the indiscipline of Keith Senior to a second consecutive World Club Challenge defeat in a game that will be best remembered for Richard Silverwood's inability to referee it effectively.Senior finally ran out of patience at Silverwood's indulgence of the spoiling tactics for which Melbourne Storm are renowned in the 60th minute, complaining loudly to the Dewsbury-based official after one of the painfully slow play-the-balls that bunged up the contest.It was a brainless moment from the Rhinos' most experienced player, allowing the Storm captain Cameron Smith to kick his team in front for the first time in the match.But he would have found plenty of sympathy among the 27,697 crowd, and anyone else who sat through the scrappiest world club clash in recent memory. The game never developed any flow, and Melbourne won it with hardly a memorable contribution from their brilliant backs Billy Slater and Greg Inglis. They were just tough and efficient, especially in exploiting Silverwood's weakness.The bad weather removed any doubts that this would be a tight, low-scoring contest, which had always seemed likely anyway, after Leeds ground out an 11-4 win on the teams' only previous meeting two years ago. Yet the Rhinos had two good try-scoring chances in the first 13 minutes, with their inability to take either threatening to prove costly.They had started the game brilliantly, with Rob Burrow, the smallest player on the pitch, collecting Kevin Sinfield's short kick-off to put them straight on to the attack, and Ryan Hall then tapping back Burrow's chip into the arms of Brent Webb. But the full-back lost the ball over the line in a desperate Melbourne cover tackle, and 12 minutes later in the opposite corner the young wing Kallum Watkins also had the ball jolted loose after being given a sniff of the line by Danny McGuire's pass.By then the score was 2-2, Sinfield having kicked a fifth minute penalty that was quickly equalised by Smith after Jamie Jones-Buchanan was caught offside at marker. It was desperately scrappy stuff enlivened by a proper scrap, without which no World Club Challenge would be complete.It was triggered by a late tackle on Danny Buderus by the Storm substitute Hep Cahill, and came shortly after Burrow had regained the lead for the Rhinos with a second penalty, having taken over the goalkicking duties when Sinfield was forced off with a bang to the hip.Cahill escaped with a warning and it was Leeds who lost their discipline, with an error by Ryan Bailey allowing Smith to kick his second equalising goal.The Rhinos finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, but only with a hugely controversial try. It was a spectacular 90-metre run from McGuire, who showed impressive pace to hold off the Melbourne wing Anthony Quinn. However, the stand-off looked to be offside when he collected a ricochet off the knee of the Leeds centre Brett Delaney, and only the willingness of the video referee Phil Bentham to award the benefit of a considerable doubt to the attacking team allowed the try to stand.Burrow added another good goal, but Leeds wasted their good luck with a moment's sloppiness in defence, as they stood back expecting Melbourne to kick a penalty. The Storm capitalised slickly, with quick hands sending Luke MacDougall in at the right corner, and Smith converted from the touchline to level the scores again. Within nine minutes Senior lost his cool, and Smith punished him clinically.Leeds still had their chances after that, but Watkins was denied again when Slater sprinted across to push him into the corner flag - an all too rare moment of drama in a night memorable for the wrong reasons. Quinn then scored Melbourne's second try in stoppage time.Leeds Rhinos Webb; Watkins, Delaney, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Sinfield (capt). Interchange Buderus, Lauitiiti, Eastwood, Bailey.Try McGuire. Goals Burrow 2, Sinfield.Melbourne Storm Slater; Quinn, Nielsen, Inglis, MacDougall; Finch, Smith (capt); Tolman, Hinchcliffe, Lima, Blair, Hoffman, Lowrie. Interchange Kostjasyn, Proctor, Cahill, Bromwich.Tries MacDougall, Quinn. Goals Smith 5.Referee R Silverwood (England). Att 27,697.Rugby leagueLeeds RhinosAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Huddersfield Giants 10-14 Warrington Wolves | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Huddersfield Giants 10-14 Warrington WolvesThere have been times over the past two years when Warrington's investment in the former Australia international Matt King has been questioned. , he produced an outstanding performance to help his side to victory. The powerful three-quarter scored two tries and laid on the match-winning effort for one of his countrymen, Chris Hicks, as the Wolves edged a hugely entertaining match.Both sides, who contested last season's Challenge Cup final and have eyes on breaking the Super League dominance of Leeds and St Helens, showed a willingness to keep the ball alive. Although it led to plenty of handling errors, such an approach ensured the contest was never dull, even during the 36 minutes in which the sides were locked at 10-10."I thought Matt King was absolutely unbelievable," said the Warrington coach, Tony Smith, who was without the talismanic Lee Briers at stand-off. "Matt was the best player on the field by a country mile. He has been playing well for us for some time but went up another three notches today and took some handling."It was 10-10 at half-time, after King had given the visitors the perfect start by bouncing off two Huddersfield defenders for the opening try after three minutes. The Giants hit back to lead, with the stand-off Kevin Brown, who caught the eye throughout the first half, creating the position and then finishing their first try, before kicking to help set up a second for the centre Paul Whatuira.Warrington were level when King - who had switched wings after an early injury to Chris Riley - finished a smart handling move in the opposite corner to his first try. Huddersfield's Shaun Lunt and David Faiumu, plus the Wolves half-back Richie Myler, all dropped the ball over the line, before King's pass allowed Hicks - on his first appearance of the season - to cut inside three Giants defenders for the crucial score."This time last year we would have been nowhere near being as good as that in a contest like that," the Huddersfield coach, Nathan Brown, said. "But when the pressure is on and we're a touch behind on the scoresheet we still come up with similar problems to last year. We need to find a way to beat the good sides when the heat is on, and today we probably came up a fraction short."Huddersfield Giants B Hodgson; Cudjoe, Lawrence, Whatuira, D Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Griffin, Faiumu, Raleigh, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Aspinwall. Interchange Crabtree, Lunt, Patrick, Horne.Tries Brown, Whatuira Goal B Hodgson.Warrington Wolves Mathers; Hicks, King, Atkins, Riley; Grix, Myler; Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, L Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Interchange Higham, Wood, Solomona, V Anderson.Tries King 2, Hicks Goal Myler.Referee I Smith (Oldham) Attendance 8,567.Super LeagueHuddersfield GiantsWarringtonRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Melbourne look to take revenge as Leeds Rhinos face into the storm

www.guardian.co.uk - English sides have won in seven of the past nine years Melbourne were defeated by Leeds in 2008While victories over the Australian national side have been depressingly rare over the past 30 years, English clubs have done much for the credibility of the domestic game by winning seven out of the past nine World Club Challenge matches. But tomorrow night Leeds Rhinos, the Super League champions, face a huge task against their Australian counterparts, the Melbourne Storm, at Elland Road.Leeds beat Melbourne 11-4 two years ago, but lost their crown to Manly last year. Melbourne have a point to prove and are better prepared than they were in 2008. "We're feeling like there's a bit more spring in the step than there was two years ago," said their captain, Ryan Hoffman.Much has been made of the patchy early season form of the Rhinos, who have won two of their four Super League games, but this evening's match represents an entirely different challenge. There will have been specific training routines and game plans geared towards the Storm that they will have been able to concentrate on only for the past seven days.Ryan Hall, Super League's leading try-scorer last season, believes the game has been preying on the minds of his team-mates. "We've not been playing to our standards but this is a final so we'll be putting the last four rounds to the back of our minds and calling on all the experience in the side to produce our best showing," he said."We've discussed it quite a lot in team meetings. We have been trying to concentrate on the job in hand but it could have crept into our minds.Melbourne have not kicked off their domestic season yet but their coach, Craig Bellamy, was satisfied after their 34-10 victory over Harlequins last Sunday. "The ground was very heavy and I was a little bit concerned how heavy-legged we were going to be," he said. "I thought we played really well and were pretty strong defensively."Bellamy admitted that the absence of his first-choice scrum-half, Cooper Cronk, has created a problem at half-back. "There's a few things we can do there," he said. "Finchy [Brett Finch] has played a lot of half-back before and I thought young Luke Kelly did a good job [against Harlequins], Cameron Smith can play a little bit of half-back as well."But they have a wealth of talent to call on including centre Greg Inglis, who was voted the world's best player last autumn, and Billy Slater at full-back. The surprise package could be the Englishman Gareth Widdops. The 20-year-old emigrated to Australia from Halifax four years ago with his family and an outstanding performance against Harlequins could earn him a place on the bench.With conditions likely to be heavy it could all depend on how the teams adapt but Slater, one of five Storm players who lost in the 2008, said: "We play in some pretty ordinary conditions over in Australia in winter time. I don't think it's an issue for us."We don't have the benefit of playing games to get the continuity together but we've played enough football together over the past few years to overcome that."The Rhinos' biggest problem will be breaking down a phenomenal defence in what promises to be a riveting contest.Rugby leagueLeeds RhinosDavid Lawrensonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wigan 58-0 Catalans | Super League

www.guardian.co.uk - Wigan 58-0 CatalansWigan coach Michael Maguire paid tribute to Pat Richards after he claimed a stunning five-try haul in Wigan's 58-0 demolition of woeful Catalans. The Warriors moved two points clear at the top of the Super League table after maintaining their 100% start to the season with a 10-try blitz.Richards seized centre stage with his five tries and he also kicked nine goals to claim a 38-point haul.The rangy wing's only blip all night was hitting a post with his final conversion attempt, but Maguire could not hide his admiration. "He was great tonight and I felt for him when he hit the post with that last kick," said Maguire."He would have ended up with 10 out of 10 but Paddy had a great game tonight. That's credit to him. He's working very hard and the performances are coming out."Loose forward Sean O'Loughlin and wing Darrell Goulding also went over in the first half before Thomas Leuluai and George Carmont twice got in on the act after the break."I was very happy with the boys' performance, particularly in the first half," added Maguire. The boys are constantly striving to improve and as we do that then hopefully the performances will keep getting better and better."Super LeagueWigan WarriorsCatalans DragonsRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

St Helens 22-16 Wakefield | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - St Helens 22-16 Wakefield TrinityContrasting tries from Keiron Cunningham and Kyle Eastmond, two players at the opposite ends of their careers, rounded off a stirring fightback by St Helens that ended Wakefield's 100% start to the Super League season, allowing Wigan to pull two points clear at the top.A minute's silence was held before Cunningham's 500th appearance for Saints to mark the recent death of his mother and he then came off the interchange bench to play a leading role in overturning a 12-0 deficit. But it was Eastmond, the 20-year-old scrum-half who made such an impact with England in last autumn's Four Nations series, who set up the veteran hooker's trademark struggle over the line from acting half with a pinpoint kick, and he had also provided the most memorable moment of a filthy night with a stunning individual effort from 40 metres.Those two tries in the space of three minutes nudged Saints ahead for the first time, 16-12, and they extended their lead to 10 points when Francis Meli squeezed in at the left corner, with Eastmond adding his second touch-line conversion.But Wakefield, who were playing their first game since losing the former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton to a two-year drug suspension, were not prepared to concede their first defeat of the season without a fight, even after losing their livewire scrum-half Danny Brough with a deep head wound. The Fijian centre Darryl Millard claimed his second try from Ben Jeffries' accurate kick and, although Sam Obst failed to convert in the absence of Brough, they caused Saints plenty of anxious moments in the remaining 17 minutes of a compelling game."We've taken another step forward, despite the result," said Wakefield's coach, John Kear. "If we can defend like that against a team like St Helens, we'll do OK this season."The Saints coach, Mick Potter, picked out James Graham ahead of Eastmond and Cunningham as his team's most influential player. "He's played the full 80 minutes in the front row, which is a monumental effort," he said.St Helens, as in their previous home game against Hull, had received a nasty first-half shock, with Wakefield underlining their attacking threat with two long-range breakaways in as many minutes midway through the first half. Glenn Morrison's quick flick set Tevita Leo-Latu sprinting clear to set up the first for Dale Morton in the right corner, and then Wakefield's other young wing Aaron Murphy toed ahead Jeffries' chip for Millard to win the race to touch down.Brough added two excellent conversions but the introduction of Cunningham gave Saints the spark they needed. It was his inventive pass from acting half that led to Leon Pryce striding through to send Jonny Lomax in at the right corner, with Eastmond matching the quality of Brough's kicking to reduce the deficit to 6-12.This win lifts Saints above Wakefield on points difference but it was marred by a thigh injury to Matt Gidley on his 100th appearance for the club that seems certain to keep the Australian centre out of next Sunday's trip to Hull KR and possibly a fair while longer.St Helens: Wellens (capt); Lomax, Gidley, Wheeler, Meli; Pryce, Eastmond; Graham, Moore, Fozzard, Puletua, Clough, Roby. Interchange: Cunningham, Hargreaves, Ashurst, Fa'asavalu.Tries: Lomax, Eastmond, Cunningham, Meli. Goals: Eastmond 3.Wakefield Trinity: Blaymire; Murphy, Gleeson, Millard, Morton; Jeffries, Brough; Tronc, Obst, Korkidas, Morrison, Demetriou (capt), Leo-Latu. Interchange: Ferguson, Henderson, Davey, Moore.Tries: Morton, Millard 2. Goals: Brough 2.Referee: T Alibert (Albi)Attendance: 10,717.Super LeagueSt HelensWakefield TrinityRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Craig Bellamy's Melbourne Storm hit Leeds for World Club Challenge

www.guardian.co.uk - Melbourne coach is famous for foul mouth and rough tactics Leeds weak in wide areas as they attempt regain titleMention the name Craig Bellamy in Sydney or Brisbane, and the reaction would be similar to that in Liverpool or London. A fair amount of loathing, perhaps the odd quip about his industrial language, but grudging respect for his ability.However, this has nothing to do with the infamously feisty Manchester City forward from south Wales. He has a namesake from New South Wales who has arguably displaced the veteran Brisbane Broncos guru Wayne Bennett as the leading rugby league coach in the world, and who has brought his Melbourne Storm team back to Leeds this weekend aiming to put right the 11-4 defeat they suffered against the Rhinos in the World Club Challenge two years ago."Craig is probably the highest-profile coach in the game back home," says Michael Maguire, who was head-hunted by Wigan last autumn largely because of his experience working alongside Bellamy at the Storm. "He's been the New South Wales coach for the State of Origin series for the last couple of years, as well as all the success he's had with Melbourne. He'd be the first to say he had a great coaching education working with Wayne at the Broncos and before that Tim Sheens and Mal Meninga at Canberra. But he's created his own history now. To be able to take a team to four straight Grand Finals is pretty much unprecedented in the salary-cap era."Bellamy's success is all the more remarkable as it has come in a city where Australian Rules is overwhelmingly the most popular football code. That has not gone down well in league's traditional power bases to the north, where the ferocious Sydney media have labelled him Bellyache, and gone to town over his innovative, but not necessarily attractive, tactics. One newspaper sent a pair of WWE wrestlers to a Storm training session to mock the tackling techniques such as grappling and so-called chicken wings for which Bellamy's team became notorious, although they have since become widespread.But there is clearly far more to the 50-year-old's coaching than that. Clint Newton, a former Melbourne second-row now with Hull KR, points out that brilliant attackers such as Billy Slater and Greg Inglis, as well as the less spectacular contributors to the Storm's success such as Dallas Johnson and their captain Cameron Smith, were virtual unknowns when Bellamy lured them south to Victoria. "They're superstars now, but Craig has moulded that team from guys who were struggling in reserve grade at other places," says Newton. "He's great technically because of his attention to detail, but as a bloke he also epitomises what the perfect coach should be. He's still a mate to the players, or even a father figure - he's very hard on the outside but he's a big softie underneath, and I think secretly he used to like it when I gave him a cuddle at training."Johnson, the non-stop loose forward who left the Storm for the Catalans Dragons after last year's Grand Final win against Parramatta because of the salary-cap pressures to which Maguire refers, this week chose the words "intense" and "thorough" to describe Bellamy. The intensity goes some way towards explaining the profanity for which Bellamy is renowned, with a leading Australian Rugby League official once claiming that a special coaching box was installed on the roof of a grandstand so the crowd could not hear his invective. But Newton describes his former coach as "the perfect gentleman when he has to be", and his willingness to embrace the World Club Challenge despite the major disruption it causes to preparations for a domestic title defence reinforces the reputation he has earned in Melbourne as an ideal ambassador at an expansion club.Neither Bellamy or any of his players used the hostile atmosphere, or their lack of time to adjust from Australian summer to an Elland Road tornado, as an excuse when they were ground down by the Rhinos in a memorably brutal contest in 2008 - and they appear ominously businesslike in their preparations for the rematch.However, Leeds are equally determined after losing the world club title to Manly last year, and in Jamie Peacock, Kevin Sinfield, Matt Diskin and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, they have warriors who will again relish the battle against the Melbourne bruisers Adam Blair and Jeff Lima (assuming he passes a late fitness test). The worry for Leeds is potential weakness out wide following the loss of their Australian wing Scott Donald and centre and compatriot Brett Delaney rushing back from a knee injury. Inglis, the huge, rapid and skilful centre who was a landslide winner of the Golden Boot as the world's best player, will be licking his lips.Rugby leagueLeeds RhinosAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

How and why: Leeds Rhinos can overcome Melbourne Storm

www.guardian.co.uk - The Rhinos take on the NRL champions Storm at Elland Road on Sunday in the World Club Challenge. Leeds are appearing in the game for a third consecutive year, but were beaten 28-20 by Manly in 2009 More... (Rugby league)

Wakefield look to thrive in adversity at St Helens

www.guardian.co.uk - Wakefield confident of overcoming loss of Terry Newton Keiron Cunningham returns for 500th Saints appearanceWakefield Trinity will combine the unusual sensation of travelling to St Helens as unbeaten Super League leaders tomorrow night with the more familiar feeling of coping with off-field trauma.It will be Trinity's first game since their former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton was suspended for two years after testing positive for human growth hormone but, as their coach, John Kear, said: "Believe you me, we've dealt with a lot worse than this in the last 18 months."In the winter of 2008-09 the Wakefield club had to find ways of handling the loss of first the Cook Islands prop Adam Watene, then the reserve team youngster Leon Walker, who each died tragically young in the space of six months. They did so with admirable dignity and also seemed to draw extra inspiration from the twin tragedies in achieving a best-ever Super League finish of fifth.So Kear is cautiously optimistic that Newton's problems will not derail their promising start to this campaign. "It was a shock because nobody had any idea," he added. "But the players are very resilient."Wakefield remain well covered at hooker, where Newton had been alternating with Sam Obst and Tevita Leo-Latu. They are nowhere near the Super League salary cap of £1.7m, so retain the potential to sign a replacement, but for the moment Kear is content to promote James Davey, a highly rated 20-year-old, into the first- team squad slightly ahead of schedule.They are also boosted by the return of Damien Blanch, the Ireland wing who has not played since breaking his thumb in the Boxing Day friendly at Leeds, as they aim for a repeat of last year's 22-20 win at St Helens, their first at Knowsley Road since 2003.Keiron Cunningham returns to make his 500th appearance for Saints after missing the last two matches because of a family bereavement but Jon Wilkin is out after suffering a nasty head cut in last Saturday's impressive win against the Catalans Dragons. Ade Gardner and Sia Soliola are still missing and Saints have further doubts over James Graham and Jonny Lomax, who also suffered head injuries in Perpignan.Hull have dropped Jordan Tansey, one of their better performers in last Sunday's surprise defeat by the Crusaders in Wrexham, for internal disciplinary reasons for their home game against Harlequins. Sean Long is still missing with his hamstring problem, but Danny Tickle returns after a groin injury and Jordan Turner is likely to make his first appearance since his winter move from Salford.Adam Mogg will lead the Catalans at unbeaten Wigan in the absence of the injured Thomas Bosc and Olivier Elima, who is suspended, and Daniel Holdsworth returns after illness for Salford at home to Bradford in the fourth Friday night match.Hull KR have dropped Paul Cooke for their game at Castleford on Saturday, when Shaun Ainscough will make his debut for the Tigers after joining them this week on a month's loan from Wigan.Super LeagueWakefield TrinitySt HelensHull FCWigan WarriorsSalford City RedsCatalans DragonsHull KRRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

World Club Challenge still a Storm in a teacup for Aussies | Andy Wilson

www.guardian.co.uk - Despite Australian scepticism, Leeds Rhinos versus Melbourne Storm this weekend promises fireworksWhither the World Club Challenge? It's a question that is asked at roughly this time every year, in recognition that the concept, while embedded as a major highlight of the British season, is still short of credibility in Australia.The first step towards gaining that credibility is recognising what the WCC is not. The winners of Sunday night's clash between Leeds Rhinos and Melbourne Storm will not be recognised as the best rugby league team in the world. The Storm have already claimed that title by winning the best rugby league competition in the world - the NRL.But that does not make Sunday's game a waste of time. Far from it. The World Club Challenge is exactly the right description, for both teams. For Melbourne, the challenge is to take on Leeds in a hostile Elland Road atmosphere after less than a fortnight to adjust from the Victorian summer to this seemingly endless northern winter. For Leeds, the challenge is to beat a team including three of the best five players in the world - Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cameron Smith - plus some seriously high-calibre support acts such as Adam Blair, Jeff Lima and Ryan Hoffman.Two years ago, the Rhinos proved themselves up to a similarly exacting examination, grinding out an 11-4 win in a memorably brutal contest in which the Melbourne loose forward Dallas Johnson made more than 60 tackles, and Kevin Sinfield had to cope with the unusual distraction of a beam of light being directed by an idiot in the crowd on to the ball as he lined up a crucial penalty.The memories of that match are still fresh enough to provoke a tingle of anticipation about this weekend's showdown. But if they aren't enough to illustrate the importance of the WCC to British rugby league, then there are plenty of other highlights to recall: Paul Sculthorpe's fairytale comeback for St Helens against Brisbane in 2007; Stuart Fielden on the rampage for Bradford against Wests Tigers the previous year; and Wigan's unforgettable triumphs in Brisbane in 1994, and against Manly at Central Park in 1987 when the concept enjoyed surely its finest hour.Having said all that, the Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington, is spot on when he says that the expiry of the current agreement between the hemispheres over the WCC format provides the chance for a rethink.Hetherington's proposal is for the top three from the NRL to fly to England to play the Super League's top three on consecutive nights. It's an interesting concept, but previous evidence would suggest the Aussies won't be keen.It may be better, instead, to dust off Hetherington's previous offer to take on the Aussie champions in their own backyard, but to modify it a little in an effort to expand the WCC as the only chance league has of developing our own version of rugby union's Heineken Cup.As suggested in a previous blog, why couldn't we send the Super League champions and the Challenge Cup winners out to Australia (or New Zealand, if the Warriors are involved) to play the NRL Grand Finalists in a pair of WCC semi finals, building up to a final the following week?It would cause some complications in the Super League fixture list, but nothing that a bit of imagination couldn't overcome - for example by giving the two British clubs a bye through the fourth round of the Challenge Cup, and bringing that forward to one of the relevant weekends in February or March.Australian colleagues reckon that NRL clubs would be up for it as meaningful and potentially lucrative pre-season competition, and the success of the Indigenous All Stars game on the Gold Coast the other week would suggest that there is a growing appetite for rugby league at this time of year, both from supporters and television companies whose cash would be crucial in making any expanded tournament pay.If it takes off, the NRL semi-final losers could also come across to England (or France) to play teams two and three from the Super League (that would have produced St Helens v Canterbury and Huddersfield v Brisbane this year) in another mini-tournament - and that would be perfect to produce the final world club contest on neutral territory such as Dubai or Hong Kong that has long been mooted for the end of the season in October, between the winners of the two WCC sections.You could even have a supplementary competition involving the winners of England's Championship, the Queensland and New South Wales Cups, and the domestic competitions of France, New Zealand and even Papua New Guinea, but now I really am entering the realms of fantasy.But it's all worth thinking about, surely. For the moment we can look forward to another potential Leeds-Melbourne blockbuster, which follows a Super League programme including especially intriguing games at St Helens and Huddersfield - and first, the start of the Championship season with Sky's first Thursday night offering between Barrow and Ian Millward's Leigh.As ever, your thoughts on the Rhinos' chances this weekend, the future of the WCC, and reminiscences of past encounters, are welcome below.Leeds RhinosRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Scott Donald injury hits Leeds' World Club Challenge hopes

www.guardian.co.uk - Coach Brian McClennan admits Donald 'is not progressing' Brett Delaney set to be named in squad after surprise recoveryLeeds Rhinos have suffered a major blow to their hopes of regaining the World Club Challenge title against Melbourne Storm on Sunday night as their Australian wing Scott Donald is facing a lengthy lay-off because of a shoulder injury.Donald, who scored the Rhinos' only try in an 11-4 victory when they last played Melbourne for the world club title two years ago, fell awkwardly in last Friday's Super League win against Salford at Headingley. Brian McClennan is notoriously reluctant to discuss his players' injuries, but the Leeds coach conceded yesterday that the 30-year-old "is not progressing as well as we'd like".Others have suggested that Donald could be out for months rather than weeks, which would mean him missing the early rounds of the Challenge Cup as well as a sizeable chunk of the Rhinos' defence of the Super League title. There is still a possibility that the club's other Australian back, Brett Delaney, may make a surprise return against Melbourne three weeks after he hobbled out of a home defeat by Castleford with what appeared to be a hamstring problem - although Leeds have described it as "posterior knee irritation"."He's coming along really well and he's likely to be named in the 19 on Friday," said McClennan, describing Delaney's chances of making the final 17 as good. If Delaney starts in his preferred position of right centre, he is likely to be marking Greg Inglis, who was awarded the Golden Boot as the best player in the world after his performances for Australia in last autumn's Four Nations series.However, Melbourne's assistant coach, Stephen Kearney, said that Inglis could yet switch to stand-off as part of the backline reshuffle necessitated by the absence of Cooper Cronk, the Storm's regular scrum-half who has stayed at home following off-season surgery.McClennan also stressed his confidence in Kallum Watkins, the 18-year-old who is likely to take Donald's position on the right wing."He's up there with the Kyle Eastmonds and Sam Tomkins of the Super League," said the Leeds coach, referring to the young half-backs who made such an impression for England in the Four Nations. However, the New Zealander conceded that the Rhinos are facing "the biggest challenge we've had as a club" against a Melbourne team who have appeared in Australia's last four NRL Grand Finals, and contain three of the best five players in the world in Inglis, the full-back Billy Slater and the hooker Cameron Smith, their captain."We want to do the Super League proud against the best side the NRL have produced in quite a few decades," McClennan added. "They're a team that is evolving the game of rugby league very quickly."Leeds RhinosRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds Rhinos players to scoop £50,000 prize with win over Melbourne Storm

www.guardian.co.uk - World Club Challenge prize money would go to Rhinos players Brett Delaney and Scott Donald are injury doubtsThe Leeds players have been offered an extra incentive ahead of Sunday night's World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm, as the club have promised them the winners' pot of £50,000.Greg Eastwood, the New Zealand international who joined the Rhinos last winter, reveals in the latest edition of the Australian magazine Rugby League Week that the Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington, made the offer in a pre-season meeting. "Gary had a chat to the boys and went through the bonuses, about what the club would give us," Eastwood said. "He said they would give all the prize money to the players. It's good money - but we've got to win first."The bonus would work out at almost £3,000 per man. Eastwood also conceded that the Rhinos' concentration on regaining the world club title after losing it to Manly last year may have contributed to a slow start to their Super League defence, in which they have lost two of their first four matches."Brian McClennan [the Leeds coach], all he's been talking about since I got here is Melbourne and what we're going to do against them," added the second-row. "That's good in a way but on the other hand, maybe it's possible to focus too much on Melbourne and let our guard down." Leeds beat Melbourne 11-4 in the 2008 World Club Challenge, but have injury doubts over their Australian backs Brett Delaney and Scott Donald.Leeds RhinosRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Notes and queries: Does Europe love charity shops as much as we do?

www.guardian.co.uk - Does Europe love charity shops as much as we do?; The origin of wine-bottle corks; How football and rugby compareAre the high streets of European ­cities, other than those in Britain, full of charity shops? Continental Europe has far fewer charity shops per capita than the UK, but they are on the increase there. British high streets have many charity shops; also financial services shops, ­cafes, fast food outlets, hairdressers, pound shops and secondhand stores, because the British love affair with the supermarket has resulted in the closure of high street shops such as butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, clothes shops, and hardware stores.We love supermarkets because we are a cash-rich but time-poor society; we hardly have time for home cooking and want to do our shopping quickly and where we can park the car easily. If we want ready meals, these are sold most efficiently in large superstores where a wide range can be offered.Now, the biggest supermarkets also sell a wide range of non-food goods such as electrical products and clothes, so we buy these in the big, out-of-town stores too, alongside the large sheds that sell TVs, computers and white goods. Prices are lower because of economies of scale, and we value ­saving money over personal service and advice.The result is that British high streets have much vacant retail space, which is available for low-profit uses that do not easily transfer to the megastores. Charity shops get tax breaks, and a shop landlord may prefer to have a low-value user in there to having the unit empty and prone to squatters and vandalism. Ethnic diversification in Britain is also increasing the number of high street Halal butchers, Asian ­grocery stores and Polish delicatessens.Countries such as France and Italy have supermarkets, but many consumers there still like to buy food for home cooking, at local bakers, butchers and fishmongers. Non-food retailing has not transferred to the supermarkets to the same extent it has in Britain. ­Germany and Denmark have, like France, many small discount supermarkets, which remain on their high streets. Continental charity shops are often found in unusual locations, such as ­industrial estate sheds.Hillary Shaw, Newport, ShropsWhen did corks start to be used in wine bottles? What was used before corks?dThe Egyptians and Ancient Greeks both used cork as a stopper. Cork stoppers for wine bottles, however, probably started being used in ­Portugal in around 1700. The opening of the first cork-stopper factory (in ­Anguine in Spain) in around 1750, marks the ­beginning of the industrial ­application of cork.The mass production of glass bottles with uniform necks and openings helped the advance of cork stoppers. Previously, vinters stopped their ­bottles with oil-soaked rags. Sparkling wine was often plugged with wooden stoppers wrapped in hemp that had been soaked in olive oil. The French monk Dom ­Pérignon is sometimes given credit for being the first to use cork in a wine ­bottle, but this seems to one of many exaggerated claims made by Dom Groussard in his 1821 book.Gordon A Campbell, DundeeIf a footballer (one in a team of 11) gets sent off, it often seems to make little difference. If a rugby union player (one of 15) gets sent off, it nearly ­always does. Shouldn't it be the other way round?dThe big difference between football and rugby (of both codes) is that in rugby more points are scored per game and there are more point-scoring opportunities - in rugby league the average number of tries per game last season was more than six. So any ­superiority in numbers is likely to be reflected in the score.It is much harder to score a goal in football than a try in rugby. Football goals are undoubtedly scored by skill and verve, but the element of luck is bigger and the number in a game needed to dilute errors by teams (or ­officials) much fewer. So a sending off has less chance to affect the result.Steve Seddon, Market Drayton, ShropsAny answers?My optician insists my scratched glasses, with non-scratch coating, can't be mended. Is this to force me to buy new lenses, or is it true?Angela Smith, N4If I swim badly for half an hour, do I get the same exercise as someone who strokes smoothly up and down the pool for the same time?Susan James, SheffieldPost questions and answers to N&Q, G2, The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU or ­nq@guardian.co.uk. Please include name, address and phone number.Rugby leagueRugby unionRetail industrySupermarketsWineguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wales confident of making impact at 2013 World Cup

www.guardian.co.uk - County expected to be among 12 teams in expanded format 'We are in a transitional phase,' says WRL presidentMike Nicholas, the Welsh Rugby League president, believes his country will be well placed to compete strongly in the newly expanded 2013 World Cup, if, as expected, they are included in the competition automatically. Wales failed to qualify for the 2008 tournament, but their progression since then should see them included among 12 teams that will go straight into the event in three years' time, alongside two further qualifiers.The Rugby League International Federation confirmed the expansion to 14 teams on Tuesday, despite initially opposing the Rugby Football League's proposal. Details of the qualifying system will be revealed later this year but Wales look certain to join the 10 teams who took part in 2008, with Lebanon also hopeful of securing the other automatic spot."It was a shock not to compete the last time, but as a country we were in a transitional phase," Nicholas said. "Historically we have played in two World Cup semi-finals, and we now have three more years to bring Welsh youngsters through."We now have two professional teams, with the likes of Elliott Kear and Lloyd White playing in Super League for the Crusaders, and a host of youngsters playing at South Wales Scorpions this year. We're also hopeful that the likes of the Evans brothers at Warrington [Ben and Rhys] will come through, and with Iestyn [Harris] at the helm as coach we are very confident that we can have a strong team in 2013."The Catalans Dragons captain, Olivier Elima, will miss Friday night's trip to Wigan after being handed a one-match suspension following his dismissal against St Helens. Elima was found guilty of a careless tackle on Jonny Lomax and also fined £300. The Salford centre Stuart Littler escaped suspension for the same offence against Leeds due to his previous good record.Wales rugby league teamRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Terry Newton sacked by Wakefield as doping body says test was targeted

www.guardian.co.uk - Hooker's contract cancelled 'with immediate effect' UK Anti-Doping chief cites 'intelligence and target testing'Terry Newton was sacked by Wakefield Trinity today as it emerged that the blood test in which he became the first British sportsman to be caught using human growth hormone was anything but random. Describing the former Great Britain hooker's two-year ban as "a landmark in the fight against doping", Andy Parkinson, the chief executive of UK Anti‑Doping, revealed that Newton's positive test "was a combination of intelligence, target testing and a strong partnership with the scientific community in anti-doping".The Rugby Football League declined to expand on the specifics of why the 31-year-old had been targeted for out-of-season testing, but pointed to Newton's exposure and suspension as vindication for its decision to introduce blood-testing ahead of most other British team sports almost two years ago.It offered further evidence of its desire to use intelligence in the hunt for drug cheats last week when it responded to a suggestion from Paul Cullen, the Widnes and former Warrington coach, that the Newton case is "only the tip of the ­iceberg" by urging Cullen to furnish them with any evidence he has to back up those comments. He says he will be happy to do so.Newton's positive test came on 24 November, only eight days after he had started training with Wakefield, who had recruited him from Bradford several months earlier on a two-year contract. He had made only two Super League appearances for Trinity, both off the interchange bench, when he was informed by the RFL of his positive test last Monday. He admitted his guilt last Friday, stressing that the HGH was "self-administered" and obviating the need for a B test or a hearing before his suspension could be announced - which earned the small consolation of backdating the beginning of his ban to 24 November. It will now expire on 23 November 2011, meaning that he would theoretically be free to play again in the 2012 season - although by then he will be 33.Wakefield moved quickly to issue a statement saying that Newton's contract "has been cancelled with immediate effect". They have reportedly paid him around £17,000 for the 13 weeks for which he has been employed, and have threatened to take legal action against suggestions that they may try to recoup that money.Leeds have ruled out the possibility that they may recall Ben Jones-Bishop from his long-term loan at Harlequins to solve a potential shortage of three-quarters for next Sunday night's World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm. That suggests the Rhinos remain hopeful that one or both of the Australian backs who are doubtful for the game - Scott Donald and Brett Delaney - will be fit to play, as their only other option would be to switch a forward such as Jamie Jones-Buchanan to centre.Further details of the shoulder injury that Donald sustained in last Friday's Super League victory over Salford are expected tomorrow, when Warrington should also discover the extent of the ligament damage suffered by the veteran stand-off Lee Briers in their home defeat by Wigan.Melbourne's coach, Craig Bellamy, has confirmed that he will switch Cameron Smith, Australia's Test hooker, to stand-off for at least part of the game against Leeds to fill in for Cooper Cronk, who is recovering from off-season surgery. Bellamy has chosen Richard Silverwood from the list of three British refereeing options that were offered to the Storm. A crowd of around 25,000 is expected at Elland Road.Drugs in sportWakefield TrinitySuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wakefield sack Terry Newton after he admits taking human-growth hormone

www.guardian.co.uk - Hooker tested positive for banned substance in November Contract cancelled and facing two-year banWakefield have cancelled the contract of the former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton with immediate effect after he admitted taking a human-growth hormone. Newton, who had tested positive for a banned substance in November and was charged by United Kingdom Anti-Doping, could now face a two-year ban for the offence.A statement from Wakefield read: "Following a UK Anti-Doping investigation and Terry Newton's admission that he breached the RFL's Doping Control Regulations, his contract with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats has been cancelled with immediate effect."Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are fully supportive of the RFL's principles of a drug-free sport and the club works hard to inform its players through the '100% ME' campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs, or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations."Newton's admission that he took HGH removed the need for a B sample to be tested and for a hearing. The 31-year-old must now wait to see what punishment will be handed out to him.In his statement on Friday, Newton said: "I wish to formally apologise to my family, friends, colleagues and staff at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the club's supporters and the game of rugby league."I have made a grave error of judgment in taking a banned substance and hope that, if nothing else, my stupidity will be a warning to any other professional in any sport of the consequences of doing so."Newton, one of only five players to have appeared in all 15 seasons of Super League, had played just two matches for Wakefield following a move from Bradford.He won 15 caps for Great Britain and a Challenge Cup winners' medal with Leeds in 1999, in the last final to be held at the old Wembley Stadium.Wakefield TrinityDrugs in sportRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Terry Newton banned for two years for taking human-growth hormone

www.guardian.co.uk - Hooker tested positive for banned substance in November Contract with Wakefield cancelled with immediate effectThe former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton has had his contract with Wakefield cancelled with immediate effect and been banned from all rugby for two years after admitting taking a human-growth hormone. Newton tested positive for a banned substance in November.A statement from Wakefield read: "Following a UK Anti-Doping investigation and Terry Newton's admission that he breached the RFL's Doping Control Regulations, his contract with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats has been cancelled with immediate effect."Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are fully supportive of the RFL's principles of a drug-free sport and the club works hard to inform its players through the '100% ME' campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs, or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations."Newton's admission that he took HGH removed the need for a B sample to be tested and for a hearing.In his statement on Friday, Newton said: "I wish to formally apologise to my family, friends, colleagues and staff at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the club's supporters and the game of rugby league."I have made a grave error of judgment in taking a banned substance and hope that, if nothing else, my stupidity will be a warning to any other professional in any sport of the consequences of doing so."Newton, one of only five players to have appeared in all 15 seasons of Super League, had played just two matches for Wakefield following a move from Bradford.He won 15 caps for Great Britain and a Challenge Cup winners' medal with Leeds in 1999, in the last final to be held at the old Wembley Stadium.Wakefield TrinityDrugs in sportRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Harlequins 10-34 Melbourne Storm | Match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Harlequins 10-34 Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm warmed up for next week's World Club Challenge with a comfortable six-try victory over a depleted Harlequins at a damp Twickenham Stoop.Dane Nielsen overshadowed the comeback of his fellow centre Greg Inglis, the 2009 Golden Boot winner, with an impressive two-try display while the Halifax-born full-back Gareth Widdop enhanced his chances of facing Leeds next Sunday with an encouraging performance highlighted by some near-faultless goalkicking.Widdop, who emigrated with his family to Melbourne four years ago, succeeded with his first five conversion attempts before hitting an upright to lose his 100% record.The 20-year-old Yorkshireman began the match at full-back in the absence of Billy Slater and demonstrated his versatility with highly creditable spells on the wing and in the centre. The Melbourne coach, Craig Bellamy, used 19 of his 23-man squad in a match played with unlimited substitutions and will have been delighted with the way his side overcame the muddy conditions to brush aside the meek challenge of the London side.Inglis played the first half to test a hip injury and will now almost certainly line up against the Super League champions at Elland Road, alongside Slater, Cameron Smith, Adam Blair and Jeff Lima, who were all rested.Tries from the winger Anthony Quinn, second-row Kevin Proctor and Nielson helped the Australian champions to an 18-0 half-time lead and Hep Cahill, Rory Kostjasyn and Nielsen added others after the break.Harlequins were without eight regulars through injury and their coach, Brian McDermott, was forced to include the 17-year-old half-back Max Edwards in his starting line-up.The Super League side were outplayed from the start but raised the spirits of the 3,612 crowd with second-half tries from the full-back Ben Jones-Bishop and the winger Will Sharp, both created by the second-row Luke Williamson. Danny Orr added the conversion to wrap up the scoring.Harlequins rugby leagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Melbourne Storm's Greg Inglis is fit to face Leeds in club challenge

www.guardian.co.uk - Centre proves fitness in warm-up win over Harlequins Jeff Lima should also be available for Elland Road clashLeeds will face the world's best player in next Sunday's World Club Challenge after the Melbourne Storm centre Greg Inglis proved his recovery from a hip injury in a 34-10 warm-up victory against Harlequins at the Stoop.Inglis, who had not played since being awarded the Gillette Golden Boot shortly after Australia's victory over England in the Four Nations final last November, suffered no reaction before being withdrawn at half-time to ensure his fitness to face the Rhinos at Elland Road.Melbourne's coach, Craig Bellamy, also expects the New Zealand prop Jeff Lima to be available even though he was ruled out at the Stoop with a toe injury, and suggested that Gareth Widdop, a 20-year-old full-back from Halifax, could earn a place on the bench against Leeds after showing his versatility by switching to stand-off, and kicking five goals from six attempts.The Rhinos have major injury doubts over their Australian three-quarters Brett Delaney and Scott Donald, and are definitely without Carl Ablett.Rugby leagueLeeds RhinosAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Hull KR 0-30 Huddersfield Giants | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Hull KR 0-30 Huddersfield GiantsBrett Hodgson's influence on Huddersfield Giants' fortunes has rarely been more apparent than on their two recent trips to Hull. Without the reigning Man of Steel at Hull FC 10 days ago, the Giants fell to their first defeat of the season, but on his return to the side in the 30-0 victory at Hull Kingston Rovers, he inspired the kind of form that earned the Giants third place last season.Hodgson was at times imperious from full-back, injecting himself masterfully into the line and producing some moments of genuine magic. With his namesake David displaying his finishing prowess to score a well-taken hat-trick, and the Huddersfield pack as hard-working and effective as ever, the Giants had far too much for a Hull KR side badly missing their own influential Australian, the back-row Ben Galea."Brett's an important player for us," the Huddersfield coach, Nathan Brown, said. "We saw in the game on Saturday night that Warrington were going real well until Lee Briers went off - they are experienced players who understand when to do the right things."Rovers, by contrast, look some way below the form that took them to fourth in 2009, and not even the unveiling of the new signing Joel Clinton at half-time could cheer their coach Justin Morgan. "It was a poor display all round," Morgan said. "We didn't start well, and didn't get any better as the game progressed."Brett Hodgson was central to the Giants taking a match-winning 18-0 interval advantage, with his early 40/20 kick providing the platform for hooker Shaun Lunt to scamper over. The full-back then provided the final pass for the next two tries, putting David Hodgson over in the left-hand corner before taking a superb Eorl Crabtree offload to send the substitute Larne Patrick in with his first touch.An 80-metre David Hodgson interception early in the second half ended any hopes of a Hull comeback, and he later completed his treble from a Lee Gilmour pass. But it was Brett who had the final say, again breaking into the line to put wing Leroy Cudjoe over in the dying minutes.Super LeagueHull KRHuddersfield GiantsRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Crusaders 18-16 Hull | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Crusaders 18-16 HullCrusaders secured theirfirst Super League home win of the season and, with it, won two consecutive matches for the first time since entering rugby league's elite in a tense match with Hull.Its outcome hinged on the last few minutes of the match when the Welsh side, who are based at Wrexham Football Club's Racecourse Ground after their move from Bridgend, grabbed a corner try and conversion.Hull were aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, while the Crusaders were looking to build on their seven-try win over Salford a week ago.An army of volunteers were at Racecourse early yesterday morning to clear snow off the pitch, and it seemed to have been worth the effort as the home side got off to a great start when the wing Nick Youngquest leapt high in the corner to retrieve a cross-kick on sixth tackle and slide over for the opening try of the match.However, the lead did not last long as Hull hit back when the prop Lee Radford saw a slight gap near the home posts and went through to score. The loose forward Craig Fitzgibbon converted and had a terrific opening period, with plenty of carries and causing the Crusaders all sorts of problems.He also added the conversion when the wing Tom Briscoe was put in for a simple try at the corner to make it 12-6 and put the heat on the home side on a bitterly cold afternoon.Hull, though, did not have it their own way and were forced to defend bravely towards the end of the half. Crusaders' second rower Weller Hauraki nearly got their second try when he went over the line but the score was ruled out for a knock-on.That threat, though, brought results soon afterwards when the scrum-half Michael Witt, a thorn in the Hull side, found a gap to cross, converting his own touchdown and levelling the scores at the break.Hull put the pressure on the home side and nearly regained the lead when Epalahame Lauaki was superbly held up over the line, and it did not help the Crusaders' cause that they gave away possession and missed too many tackles.On the hour, Hull finally got back into the lead when a neat kick through to the try area on sixth tackle led to the centre Kirk Yeaman diving full length and just managing to get downward pressure on the ball for the try.The Crusaders hit back when Youngquest ran in his second try of the match with a carbon copy of his first by jumping high to reclaim the ball from a cross-kick. Witt then put them in the lead with a huge touchline conversion.The Crusaders' tails were up and they began to put in the tackles that were missing earlier on as Hull spilt possession too often and the home side held on.Super LeagueHull FCRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Hull KR 0-30 Huddersfield | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Hull KR 0-30 HuddersfieldOnly one place separated these sides last season, but on this showing Hull KR are in for a harder season than the side who comprehensively beat them in the Super League today. Rovers, who finished the last campaign a place adrift of their opponents in fourth, were well beaten at Craven Park by Nathan Brown's Huddersfield side.Rovers looked a poor second from early in the match and trailed 18-0 at the interval to tries from Shaun Lunt, David Hodgson and Larne Patrick; Brett Hodgson converted all three.Huddersfield owed the margin of their lead to their ability to take their chances - they had three and took them all, Rovers had three and the visitors repelled them all. The visitors also had more variety in their kicking game from Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson.Lunt opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he found a huge gap in the home defence from a Darrell Griffin play the ball. David Hodgson squeezed home in the left corner on 22 minutes and six minutes later Larne Patrick, who had just come on to the field from the subs' bench, touched down.At the break Rovers' latest signing, the Australia Test prop Joel Clinton, got a rapturous welcome and possibly the biggest cheer of the afternoon.Rovers were on the attack straight after the break when a grapple tackle on Clint Newton provided some impetus for the home side. But with a gap on the inside Rovers tried an extra pass out wide from Jake Webster to Kris Welham - and the move came to nothing.On 48 minutes David Hodgson had a chance to virtually put the game beyond Rovers' reach but his 50-metre gallop was snuffed out by some desperate Rovers defence. Five minutes later Rovers were almost on the Giants' try-line when David Hodgson intercepted and made it all the way to the line. Brett Hodgson's conversion attempt hit an upright and stayed out.Huddersfield forced another goal-line drop out with nine minutes to go when Cockayne had the ball knocked out of his hand but managed to touch it down.Rovers were looking tired and in the 74th minute David Hodson finished off a move down the left by touching down in the corner to make it 26-0. Hodgson was short with the conversion attempt. Huddersfield made it 30-0 in the 77th minute when Leroy Cudjoe touched down for an unconverted try.As the clock ticked down some Rovers' fans made for the exits - a rare sight in the Super League era, but then so was seeing their side "nilled", something that has not happened since their first season in the big time.Super LeagueHull KRHuddersfield GiantsRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Harlequins overwhelmed by Melbourne Storm force

www.guardian.co.uk - Harlequins 10-34 Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm warmed up for next week's World Club Challenge with a comfortable six-try victory over a depleted Harlequins at a damp Twickenham Stoop.Dane Nielsen overshadowed the comeback of his fellow centre Greg Inglis, the 2009 Golden Boot winner, with an impressive two-try display while the Halifax-born full-back Gareth Widdop enhanced his chances of facing Leeds next Sunday with an encouraging performance highlighted by some near-faultless goalkicking.Widdop, who emigrated with his family to Melbourne four years ago, succeeded with his first five conversion attempts before hitting an upright to lose his 100% record.The 20-year-old Yorkshireman began the match at full-back in the absence of Billy Slater and demonstrated his versatility with highly creditable spells on the wing and in the centre. The Melbourne coach, Craig Bellamy, used 19 of his 23-man squad in a match played with unlimited substitutions and will have been delighted with the way his side overcame the muddy conditions to brush aside the meek challenge of the London side.Inglis played the first half to successfully test a hip injury and will almost certainly line up against the Super League champions at Elland Road, alongside Slater, Cameron Smith, Adam Blair and Jeff Lima, who were all rested today.Tries from winger Anthony Quinn, second rower Kevin Proctor and Nielson helped the Australian champions to an 18-0 half-time lead and Hep Cahill, Rory Kostjasyn and Nielsen added others after the break.Harlequins were without eight regulars through injury and their coach Brian McDermott was forced to include the 17-year-old half-back Max Edwards in his starting line-up.The Super League side were outplayed from the start but raised the spirits of the 3,612 crowd with second-half tries from the full-back Ben Jones-Bishop and the winger Will Sharp, both created by second rower Luke Williamson. Danny Orr added the conversion to wrap up the scoring.Harlequins rugby leagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Warrington Wolves 20-22 Wigan Warriors | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Warrington 20-22 WiganA second-half revival by Wigan saw them turn this game on its head to beat Warrington 22-20 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Leading by 12 points at the interval before a sell-out 13,024 crowd, the Wolves looked to be coasting to victory but once their influential half-back Lee Briers had left the field with a leg injury after 51 minutes Wigan hit back in spectacular fashion to go top of the Super League table.Wigan had to withstand some heavy pressure from the kick-off, but went ahead when Amos Roberts received the ball just over the halfway line and, having skipped past Ben Harrison, the full-back showed great speed and balance to beat several defenders on his diagonal run to the line.Warrington took a while to get into their stride but midway through the half they took the lead when Richie Myler crossed unopposed.Briers made it 6-4 with the conversion and soon afterwards a penalty gave them a great attacking platform. Michael Monaghan, Briers and Richie Mathers all handled superbly but it was a brilliant catch and pass by Chris Bridge that allowed Chris Riley to score in the corner.Just before half-time Monaghan was denied a try by the video referee but David Solomona blasted over from short range and with Briers adding the conversion they went in at the interval with a 16-4 lead.The Wolves then lost Briers and Wigan brought themselves back into the game with two tries in three minutes. Roberts claimed the first, Darrell Goulding squeezed in at the corner and Pat Richard converted to make it 16-14. He then levelled the scores with a penalty before Wigan took the lead when Sam Tomkins chipped and regathered before passing to James Leuluai who put Joel Tomkins over.Richard made it 22-16 with the conversion but with seven minutes remaining Louis Anderson crashed over to bring his side to within two points. Solomona was then denied a try by the video referee to give Wigan their third successive victory.In last night's other Super League game, St Helens crushed Catalans Dragons 42-12 despite being 8-0 down after nine minutes.Warrington Wolves: Mathers; King, Bridge, Atkins, Riley; Briers, Myler; Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, L Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Interchange: Higham, Wood, Grix, Solomona.Wigan Warriors: Roberts; Goulding,Gleeson, Carmont, Richards; S Tomkins, Deacon; Fielden, Leuluai, Coley, Hansen, J Tomkins, O'Loughlin. Interchange: Prescott, Bailey Paleaaesina, Mossop.WarringtonWigan WarriorsSuper LeagueRugby leagueDavid Lawrensonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds Rhinos 22-10 Salford | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Leeds Rhinos 22-10 SalfordLeeds averted the danger of going into next Sunday's World Club Challenge against Melbourne on the back of three consecutive defeats but that was about the only positive the Super League champions could take from another sticky night on the Headingley quagmire.They made desperately hard work of putting away a Salford team who remain pointless at the bottom of the table - although on the evidence of this gutsy effort, they will not do for long - and also lost the Australian wing Scott Donald with a shoulder injury that seems certain to rule him out of the Melbourne game.That could leave the Rhinos worryingly short of three-quarters, although at least they can rely on Keith Senior, the veteran centre whose two tries were crucial as they bounced back from consecutive defeats by Castleford and Wakefield."We'd like to have had a lot more cohesion," said the Leeds coach, Brian McClennan, who refused to speculate on Donald's chances."Our timing is off but the beauty here is we've got experience in big games, so it doesn't take much to turn it around."Leeds offered an early hint of a return to form with a slick seventh-minute try, Senior collecting Jamie Jones-Buchanan's pass to maintain his record of scoring in each of the Super League's 15 seasons. But for the remainder of the first half they were held scoreless by a tenacious Salford side who made light of the absence of Ray Cashmere and Daniel Holdsworth to play some excellent rugby of their own, who were good value for the try from Ashley Gibson, a former Leeds three-quarter who shrugged off Brent Webb's weak attempted tackle to cut the half-time deficit to 6-4.Salford undermined much of that good work by making a series of handling errors at the start of the second half, putting themselves under pressure from which Webb made amends by touching down Rob Burrow's accurate chip. But Leeds showed no signs of finishing them off and instead their own indiscipline handed Salford the position to reduce the arrears to 12-10 when Willie Talau punished Danny McGuire's failure to deal with a high kick.It took another kick, this time from Kevin Sinfield, to set up the second try for Senior which established much needed breathing space for the Rhinos in the 66th minute. They grabbed a flattering fourth deep into stoppage time when Ian Kirke backed up a rampaging burst by the New Zealand international Greg Eastwood. But there was certainly nothing here to worry Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and the rest of the Storm superstars who Leeds must stop next weekend.Leeds Rhinos Webb; Donald, Watkins, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; K Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Sinfield (capt). Interchange Buderus, Lauitiiti, Eastwood, Bailey.Salford City Reds Fitzpatrick; Broughton, Henry, Talau, Gibson; Ratchford, M Smith; Boyle, Alker (capt), Parker, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain. Interchange: J Smith, Littler, P Leuluai, Sidlow.Referee P Bentham (Warrington)Super LeagueLeeds RhinosSalford City RedsRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Bradford 41-22 Castleford | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Bradford 41-22 CastlefordThe experienced Australian halfbacks Matt Orford and Brett Kearney combined to help produce Bradford's first win of the season and ease the pressure on their coach Steve McNamara. The Bulls had lost their opening two Super League fixtures, but looked much more like the team that their close-season signings suggested they would become against an out-gunned Castleford.Orford and Kearney were the highest profile of those winter captures, and this display suggested their partnership could bear fruit this year. Kearney scored two well-taken tries, while the organiser Orford created four and kicked 13 points.In total contrast to the recent capitulation to St Helens, the Bulls stunned their opponents with four tries in the opening half hour. They were 12-0 ahead after seven minutes, as the prop Nick Scruton powered his way through four Castleford defenders to score, and then the veteran Steve Menzies produced a moment of sublime skill to set up Rikki Sheriffe.The Tigers responded through Michael Shenton, but soon the Bulls were back in command. Heath L'Estrange's perfectly timed pass put the young back-rower Elliott Whitehead over from close range, before Menzies and Paul Sykes combined to send Kearney racing over.Again, Castleford stirred, as Richard Owen took a remarkable cross-field kick from the prop Craig Huby to score, but Orford made it 25-12 at the break with a drop-goal just seconds before the hooter.The Tigers were dealt a further blow when Owen left on a stretcher after almost five minutes' delay shortly after the restart, and the game went completely away from them soon after.Orford was the architect, running the ball on the last tackle before kicks from Sykes and Sheriffe led to Dave Halley's try.Orford then sent Kearney over for his second try, ensuring that late Tiger efforts from Steve Snitch and Ryan Hudson were scant consolation.Bradford Bulls Halley; Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Reardon; Kearney, Orford; Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch (capt), Langley, Whitehead, Menzies. Interchange Godwin, Worrincy, Kopczak, Hall.Castleford Tigers McGoldrick; Owen, Shenton, Evans, Wainwright; Snitch, Chase; Jackson, Hudson (capt), Higgins, Ferres, Jones, Westerman. Interchange Sargent, Huby, Netherton, Clayton.Referee T Alibert (France).Bradford BullsCastlefordRugby leagueAndy WilsonGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Warrington to raise the heat on Michael Maguire's new regime at Wigan

www.guardian.co.uk - Wigan coach could hardly face a more testing examination than the one he faces at the Halliwell Jones StadiumMichael Maguire could not have asked for a gentler introduction to one of the least forgiving jobs in the British game, with home victories over Crusaders and Hull KR in his first two games in charge of Wigan. The atmosphere will be considerably less friendly and welcoming evening, as the Australian's first away trip is to nearby Warrington, and involves one of British rugby league's fiercest rivalries.Wigan have lost on all seven previous visits to the Halliwell Jones Stadium since Warrington moved there from Wilderspool in 2004, an awful record that includes a shock Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by the Catalans Dragons in 2007. So this is the toughest test yet of the Maguire regime, which has involved army boot camps, transformed the physiques of a couple of the weightier Wigan players - and made an impact even on those who have left the club."I'm still close to a lot of the boys, and I think it's been a shock to their system," says Richie Mathers, the full-back who rejoined his former Leeds coach Tony Smith at Warrington last season after an unhappy spell with the Warriors. "If you were sat in a room with any number of Wigan players they'd say the same thing - chalk and cheese. That's no disrespect to the previous boss, because Brian Noble has an excellent record as a coach. But the new regime at Wigan is what it's been wanting for the last three or four years, or longer."Maguire had spent the last four years as part of the support staff to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, who have been Australia's most successful club during that period.Warrington went through a similar shock just under 12 months ago when Smith took over from James Lowes, and the impact has been undeniable - victory in last August's Challenge Cup final at Wembley to secure a first major trophy in 30 years for the primrose and blue under-achievers.Like Wigan, they have started the Super League season with consecutive ­victories, against Harlequins and Castleford, and Mathers leaves no doubt that their goal for 2010 is the Grand Final in October. "The first time I played against Wigan for Warrington it was special - I couldn't sleep, I was pumped up, bitter," said the 26-year-old. "Now it's just another fixture - another step to 2 October."Smith has already had a successful week in steering the two international props who are so important to his Wolves, Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell, away from suspension. They were put on report during last Saturday's stormy win at Cas but Morley was found not guilty and Carvell had a one-match ban thrown out on appeal, setting up a potentially ­explosive showdown against Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley, the Wigan props who have also made an excellent start to the season.St Helens are still without Keiron ­Cunningham for Saturday night's other game, the veteran hooker - who has made 499 career appearances - having decided not to travel to Perpignan to complete 500 against the Catalans Dragons following a family bereavement last week.Hull have injury doubts over Sean Long, Richard Horne and Danny Tickle for their first trip to Wrexham to face the Crusaders on Sunday afternoon, when Huddersfield hope to have their captain, Brett Hodgson, returning from a back injury at Hull KR.Maguire's former employers are in ­London to face Harlequins in a warm-up game for next Sunday's World Club Challenge against Leeds.Wigan WarriorsWarringtonSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Brian McClennan acknowledges Leeds' poor performances in the league

www.guardian.co.uk - Team were not good enough, says Rhinos' coach Salford match is chance to sharpen for World Club ChallengeThe Leeds Rhinos' coach, Brian McClennan, has admitted his side have not been good enough in defeats by Castleford and Wakefield, as they build towards their World Club Challenge with Melbourne Storm on 28 February. The Rhinos are looking to end their run of consecutive defeats at home to Salford City Reds and McClennan says the squad has taken a long look at itself in the wake of the surprise defeats."We haven't played well enough to win the games," he said. "We haven't controlled the ball well enough and we've come up with a couple of poor performances. We hope to put in a much better performance on Friday night and get ready for Melbourne Storm the week after. We've probably been a bit insular. We've had to reflect and review ourselves a bit more and that can be a pretty good thing for you."McClennan has also urged his side not to dwell on refereeing decisions, after they conceded 17 penalties at Wakefield and lost their captain, Kevin Sinfield, to the sin bin."We have to focus on the task in hand and not allow ourselves to get frustrated by the things we cannot control," McClennan added. "We need to put in a performance whereby we can look back on the video and see things we did well."The Rugby Football League has asked the Widnes coach, Paul Cullen, to explain his claim that Terry Newton's positive drugs test is "the tip of the iceberg" in the sport. Cullen made the statement on Sky Sports on Wednesday and the RFL communications manager, Craig Spence, confirmed that the game's governing body has written to him."We are asking him if he knows of any players taking drugs and to give us the evidence," Spence said. "We will then investigate the cases. If he can't do that, then we'll ask him to retract his comments."Leeds RhinosSuper LeagueRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Crusaders get the message across as the word spreads through Wales | Andy Wilson

www.guardian.co.uk - With Brian Noble in charge and Iestyn Harris on the staff, the Wrexham-based club are starting to justify their existenceFor the past year the Crusaders - Celtic or otherwise - have been a demoralising, divisive embarrassment to British rugby league.Having been granted a three-year Super League licence in the summer of 2008, they only just managed to raise a side for their first game at Leeds because of visa complications, had six of their Australian players deported because of much more serious visa irregularities, and were then forced to scuttle from Bridgend to Wrexham following the loss of their financial backers in south Wales.They were an absolute shambles, and it is hard to argue with the many rugby league supporters, particularly those whose clubs missed out to the Crusaders on a Super League place, who still bitterly resent their continued presence in the elite competition.So it will not necessarily be the most popular suggestion in Widnes, Halifax or Featherstone that the Welsh interlopers are finally starting to justify the gamble taken by the decision-makers at the Rugby Football League in awarding them their licence - or, even more controversially, by indulging the move to Wrexham.Yet the past few weeks have at least offered grounds for encouragement.First there was the five-figure full house that the Crusaders somehow attracted to the Racecourse for the opening game of the Super League season, against Leeds.The motley bunch of players that Brian Noble had assembled then gave the Rhinos a far tougher test than could realistically have been expected, helped by a skill-negating blizzard and the champions' early-season rust.They were heavily beaten the following week at Wigan, but last Friday they claimed a surprise win at Salford - opening their account several months earlier than the Celtic Crusaders had managed in their miserable debut year.That result has made the chance of a first Sunday-afternoon trip to north Wales for this weekend's game against high-flying Hull an attractive prospect for this neutral, especially as the vibes suggest another healthy crowd.Now there is the realistic prospect of the former Wales and British Lions rugby union captain, Gareth Thomas, trying his hand at league later in the summer, which would be a huge publicity coup for the Crusaders.Even if Alfie - that's Thomas, not Langer - doesn't bite the bullet, the fact that the Crusaders feel able to have made him a good offer illustrates one practical reason why the RFL endorsed the move to Wrexham. It's brought new money into the game, at a time when the majority of Super League clubs are finding times very tough.But there are far more worthy motives than that, perhaps best illustrated by the possibility of Thomas taking his first steps towards a league career with a couple of games for the South Wales Scorpions, the new part-time club that will this weekend begin preparations for their first season in the Championship with a game against Wigan in Neath.The Scorpions set-up contains nothing that could offend even the most passionate Widnesian, with more than 30 Welsh lads who fancy a crack at league - several of them having already shown great potential - plus a single unknown Aussie, and a couple of northern hardheads in Phil Cushion and Loz Wildbore.It will be fascinating to see how they fare, on and off the field.There is so much positive league development going on in Wales, but for the past 12 months its credibility has been shredded by the Crusaders' various calamities. Five Welsh players toured Australia with the Great Britain Under-18s last summer, the Crusaders Colts beat the cream of the north in their first season in the National Youth League, and Blackwood Bulldogs, the reigning champions of the Welsh Conference, have made history by reaching the third round of the Challenge Cup - in which they will play the mighty Oldham.Already that development is starting to bear fruit at Super League level, with Elliot Kear, a 21-year-old full-back from the valleys, earning more good reviews for his contribution to last week's win at Salford.Now there seems to be a real chance of a competitive Super League team at the top of the pyramid, albeit at the other end of the country. The appointment of Noble has done wonders for the Crusaders' credibility - likewise the involvement of Iestyn Harris in his coaching staff. Without those two, it is hard to see the Thomas move having any chance of coming off.Maybe they don't deserve their Super League place at the expense of clubs like Widnes or Halifax, but that's the fault of the licensing system, not the Crusaders - and a fault that needs to be sorted out before next summer, when all 14 teams must reapply.For the moment, I'm inclined to give them a chance.Terry Newton's failed drug testThe bulk of this blog was written before news of Terry Newton's positive drug test broke late on Wednesday afternoon. Laziness isn't the only reason for my reluctance to rewrite - Paul Cullen and Brian Carney, who are both far better-qualified than me to comment, pretty much covered all bases on possibly the best-ever Boots and All programme.Doubtless a few of you may want to add your thoughts below - please do - but I'll leave it at a couple of mild positives. First, if Newton really is the tip of the iceberg, as Cullen said, then the fact that he has been caught by the RFL's new blood-testing procedures should make a major impact on any players who thought they could get away with it.Second, having heard word over the weekend that a positive test was on the way, I was actually mildly relieved when Newton's name came out. Far better him than a player whose conduct has previously earned admiration and respect.The CrusadersRugby leagueGareth ThomasHull FCAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wakefield Trinity hooker Terry Newton handed two-year drugs ban

www.guardian.co.uk - Performance-enhancing drug detected by random blood test 31-year-old's career almost certainly ended by two-year banThe former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton has become the second ­high-profile Super League player to be suspended for a positive drug test in nine months, sparking strong warnings from well-placed insiders that the game needs to do far more to tackle a major problem.Like his ex-Wigan team-mate Gareth Hock, who tested positive for a ­metabolite of cocaine last May, Newton, now with Wakefield Trinity, has been banned for two years by the UK Doping Agency. But his suspension, which remains ­provisional until a Rugby Football League hearing, is for a performance-enhancing drug. It was detected last November by one of the random blood tests that have been ­introduced to the sport."Unfortunately I think these type of issues are only the tip of the iceberg," said the Widnes and former Warrington coach Paul Cullen on Sky's Boots and All ­programme. "We've introduced blood testing and hopefully that's going to frighten the cheats that live in our game to death. I think we should have ­mandatory tests for every single player at Super League level - blood tests regularly through the season and random testing on top. The cost is irrelevant. We've got to get rid of this problem in our sport."There's a frightening rumour going around our game that you can't be tested guilty for growth hormone. It's ignorance from some players, and it frightens me - as a coach, as an ex-player, and as a father of young players who are involved in this game. They may end up playing against players who are taking these substances. We need a moral compass."Brian Carney, a former Wigan ­team-mate and close friend of Newton, said: "There's something seriously wrong when a player of Terry's age and experience hasn't learned the lesson. He knows Gareth Hock."The RFL pointed out that it had extended its drug-testing procedures to take 508 urine or blood tests in the year up to last March, with that figure expected to rise to 628 in the current year, making league the third most-tested sport in this country behind football and athletics.Newton is one of the most notorious and least popular players in the Super League because of an approach that often strays the wrong side of rugged, most infamously with one late tackle on Craig Fitzgibbon that infuriated the touring Australians during the 2003 Ashes series. Another tackle in 2005 left Sean Long with a broken jaw, for which Newton received a six-month suspension."He's been the pantomime bad guy of Super League," added Carney. "I guess that's a compliment to him because he would terrorise other teams."The latest ban will almost certainly end the 31-year-old's career after only two appearances for Wakefield following an autumn move from Bradford.Newton won most of his 15 international caps when he was playing for his home-town club, Wigan, between 2000 and 2005, sharing in their Challenge Cup win against St Helens at Murrayfield in 2002 but also suffering defeat in three Super League Grand Finals.Warrington's good week at the RFL's disciplinary hearings continued when Garreth Carvell successfully appealed against the one-match suspension imposed on him for leading with his forearm in last Saturday's win at Castleford. It means Carvell will be able to line up alongside Adrian Morley, the Wolves captain and another England prop who had already escaped the threat of suspension, in Saturday's derby against Wigan.Super LeagueDrugs in sportWakefield TrinityRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Warrington's Garreth Carvell given one-match ban, Adrian Morely cleared

www.guardian.co.uk - Morley found not guilty of high tackle on Brent Sherwin Warrington expected to appeal against ban for CarvellWarrington escaped lightly from tonight's Rugby Football League disciplinary hearing as their captain, Adrian Morley, avoided suspension and his fellow England prop Garreth Carvell received only a one-match ban following incidents in last Saturday's Super League victory at Castleford.However, the Wolves are still expected to appeal against Carvell's suspension in the hope that he can join Morley in the team for next Saturday's top‑three derby against Wigan.Morley, a renowned enforcer, had a bad disciplinary record for much of his career in England and Australia but has generally cleaned up his act since returning from the Sydney Roosters to Warrington three years ago, and was found not guilty of the alleged high tackle on the Castleford scrum-half Brent Sherwin for which he was put on report.Carvell was found guilty of leading dangerously with his forearm to fell the Castleford prop Paul Jackson early in the game, but the one-match suspension was at the lower end of the range of penalties open to the disciplinary committee.Warrington did not believe that either player even had a case to answer, with their assistant coach James Lowes suggesting before the hearing that the fact that the Castleford game was televised "maybe helped them to pick on it a little bit".Lowes said that Mike Cooper, a promising prop who played in last year's Challenge Cup final triumph, is likely to come into the squad as cover for Carvell. David Solomona, the ball-playing Samoan ­forward who usually operates in the back-row, could also move up to prop with Lowes expecting him to recover from the injury that ruled him out at Castleford.Wigan's coach, Michael Maguire, confirmed that Amos Roberts will switch from the wing to full-back to replace Cameron Phelps, who will be out for around a month with ankle ligament damage. Maguire has still to decide whether to recall Shaun ­Ainscough from Widnes, for whom he made a try-scoring debut against Barrow last Sunday under the new dual-registration arrangements, or to call up Darrell Goulding to replace Roberts on the wing.Maguire hinted that his long-term planning for the full-back position could involve Gareth Widdop, a youngster from Halifax whose family emigrated to Australia several years ago, and who has returned to England as a member of the Melbourne Storm squad for the World Club Challenge against Leeds on Sunday week."Gareth has spent some time around Wigan before and we'd like to see him with us at some stage," added Maguire, who was a member of the Melbourne coaching staff before joining Wigan last winter. "He's a very talented player, and he's got a great teacher in Billy Slater."Widdop is expected to play in the Storm's warm-up game against Harlequins at the Stoop next Sunday. Blackwood ­Bulldogs, the first Welsh amateur club to reach the third round of the Challenge Cup, have been drawn away at Oldham. The Super League clubs enter the competition at the fourth-round stage.Carnegie Challenge Cup third round (A denotes amateur):Widnes v Wigan St JudesOldham v Blackwood Bulldogs (A)Gateshead Thunder v YorkLondon Skolars v LimouxDoncaster v Siddal (A)Rochdale v LezignanDrighlington (A) v DewsburyBatley v Leeds Metropolitan University (A)Royal Navy (A) v Blackpool PanthersFeatherstone Rovers v Workington TownWarrington Wizards (A) v SwintonLeigh Miners (A) v WhitehavenSheffield Eagles v Thatto Heath (A)Ovenden (A) v HalifaxBarrow v Hunslet Warriors (A)Keighley Cougars v Toulouse OlympiqueLeigh East (A) v Hunslet HawksLeigh v Wath Brow Hornets (A)Ties to be played over the weekend of 6‑7 March.WarringtonSuper LeagueChallenge CupRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Crusaders target Gareth Thomas for rugby league switch

www.guardian.co.uk - Gareth Thomas's contract with Cardiff Blues expires in May Former Wales and Lions captain recently came out as gayThe former Wales and Lions captain Gareth Thomas, months after breaking new ground for British rugby union by announcing he was gay, has been targeted for another bold move - a switch to rugby league. Thomas is understood to have held talks with the Crusaders, the Welsh Super League club who relocated from Bridgend to Wrexham last autumn, with a possibility his move could be confirmed this week.Crusaders' financial backers are keen to build on the momentum of the five-figure sell-out crowd they attracted to the Racecourse Ground for the first game of the Super League season against Leeds three weeks ago and Thomas would be the high-profile signing the Crusaders have been looking for since their formation in Bridgend in 2006.The 35-year-old's sexuality should not be an issue in league, as that taboo was broken in 1995 by the London-born former Wigan and Australia prop Ian Roberts, one of the tougher forwards to have played the game, whose top-level career continued for three more years with the North Queensland Cowboys after he had come out.Thomas's age and lack of league experience would be more serious stumbling blocks but a Crusaders source said he would be signed only if their coach, Brian Noble, thought he could offer value on the field - and not purely as a publicity stunt."Brian has drawn up a list of players in union and league who could strengthen our squad and it is fair to say the name of Gareth Thomas has cropped up," said the insider. "He is the type of player Nobby has looked at and thought that he could probably convert to league, but obviously there are a number of other factors to take into consideration."The people at Wrexham Village who have backed the move are serious about this as a long-term venture so we're not in it for publicity stunts. Any signings we make will be on the basis of the contribution they can make to the Crusaders team."Thomas's contract with Cardiff Blues expires in May and, despite rumours that he may join the coaching staff of the Ospreys, nothing has so far materialised.The Crusaders have been linked in the past with Gavin Henson, a near neighbour of Thomas and another rugby maverick who remained a regular attendee of Super League games in Bridgend last summer despite the disenchantment with rugby union which led him to take indefinite leave from the Ospreys.However, Thomas would seem the more likely to consider switching to league at this stage. If so, he would be comfortably the highest-profile union player to switch codes since rugby union became openly professional in 1995 - discounting the likes of Henry Paul, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Timana Tahu and now Lote Tuquiri, who have all returned to league after stints in union.Gareth ThomasRugby leagueRugby unionWales rugby union teamAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Warrington's Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell face bans for Wigan tie

www.guardian.co.uk - Front-row forwards face discipline committee tomorrow Carvell could miss three matches for forearm smashWarrington's captain Adrian Morley and his team-mate Garreth Carvell are in danger of missing the showdown with Wigan on Saturday after being cited by the Rugby Football League.The front-row forwards will face the RFL disciplinary committee tomorrow after being charged with separate offences during Warrington's 28-16 win at Castleford on Saturday.Carvell has been charged with illegal use of the forearm on the prop Paul Jackson, a grade-C offence which carries a ban of two to three matches, while Morley is accused of a high tackle on scrum-half Brent Sherwin, a lesser offence which carries a suspension of one or two games.Both players were referred by the match-review panel, which issued cautions to winger Luke George (Wakefield), prop Ryan Bailey (Leeds), forward Rob Parker (Salford) and full-back Ryan McGoldrick (Castleford).Catalans prop David Ferriol will automatically appear in front of the disciplinary panel following his dismissal for punching in the Dragons' 16-4 defeat at Harlequins.Four other players - Tom Briscoe (Hull), Richie Myler (Warrington), Clint Newton (Hull KR) and Joe Westerman (Castleford) - were all issued with official warnings for offences during the Super League round-two matches.WarringtonWigan WarriorsRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Warrington's Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell face bans for Wigan game

www.guardian.co.uk - Front-row forwards face disciplinary committee tomorrow Carvell could miss three matches for illegal use of forearmWarrington's captain Adrian Morley and his team-mate Garreth Carvell are in danger of missing the showdown with Wigan on Saturday after being cited by the Rugby Football League.The front-row forwards will face the RFL disciplinary committee tomorrow after being charged with separate offences during Warrington's 28‑16 win at Castleford on Saturday.Carvell has been charged with illegal use of the forearm on the prop Paul Jackson, a grade-C offence which carries a ban of two to three matches. Morley is accused of a high tackle on the scrum-half Brent Sherwin, a lesser offence which carries a suspension of one or two games.Both players were referred by the match-review panel, which issued cautions to the winger Luke George (Wakefield), prop Ryan Bailey (Leeds), forward Rob Parker (Salford) and full-back Ryan McGoldrick (Castleford).The Catalans prop David Ferriol will automatically appear before the disciplinary panel following his dismissal for punching in the Dragons' 16-4 defeat at Harlequins.Four other players - Tom Briscoe (Hull), Richie Myler (Warrington), Clint Newton (Hull KR) and Joe Westerman (Castleford) - were all issued with official warnings for offences during the Super League round-two matches.WarringtonWigan WarriorsRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 28-18 Leeds Rhinos | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Leeds Rhinos have made no secret of their desire to regain their World Club Challenge crown against Melbourne Storm later this month, but a second consecutive Super League defeat hardly bodes well for their chances.Brian McClennan's side were thoroughly outplayed 28-18 by a Wakefield team that heads the table after Danny Brough's inspirational display. The experienced half-back has started the season in fine form alongside his new stand-off Ben Jeffries, and the pair were among the try scorers as the Wildcats established a 26-6 advantage before the Rhinos stirred in the final quarter.For much of the contest Leeds were error-prone and ill-disciplined, with even the usually unflappable Kevin Sinfield finding himself sin binned following a string of team offences.McClennan will not have been amused either by the concession of an interception try and penalties for dissent, though he expressed disappointment that his captain Sinfield was unable to get any feedback from the 26-year-old referee James Child over a one-sided penalty count."The captain needs to be able to talk to the referee," said McClennan, who insisted that the Melbourne game should not be used as an excuse for the defeat. "We've got them [Melbourne] at the back of our minds, but we've been here before - this is the third one in a row we've prepared for. There is some light at the end of the tunnel and we can fix things."Wakefield were ahead from the 10th minute, when a superb Shane Tronc off-load freed Brough, and Jeffries supported to send Sean Gleeson racing over. Jeffries himself extended the lead by splitting a poor attempted tackle from Keith Senior and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, though the Rhinos did respond before the break when Danny McGuire skipped over under the posts.It would be McGuire, however, who would gift the initiative back to the home side when his pass was picked off by Brough, who surprisingly out-paced Ryan Hall on an 80-metre run to the line. When Brough's wide kick saw Daryl Millard out-jump Scott Donald to score, Wakefield held a 20-point lead.The Rhinos rallied briefly when Donald crossed twice within the space of six minutes, but Brough's penalty - one of 17 awarded against the Rhinos - settled any late Wildcat nerves."He's not bad is he?" the Wakefield coach John Kear said of his scrum-half. "I think Lee Briers at Warrington is a great reader of the game, but Danny is right up there with him."Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Murphy; Morton, Gleeson, Millard, George; Jeffries, Brough; Tronc, Obst, Korkidas, Morrison, Demetriou, Leo-Latu.Interchange Newton, Ferguson, Moore, Henderson.Tries Gleeson, Jeffries, Brough, Millard Goals Brough 6.Leeds Rhinos Webb; Donald, Watkins, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Eastwood, Sinfield.Interchange Diskin, Kirke, Lauitiiti, Bailey.Tries McGuire, Donald 2 Goals Sinfield 2, Burrow.Referee J Child (Dewsbury) Attendance 9,783.Rugby leagueWakefield TrinityLeeds RhinosGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Letters: Sports fans are doing it for themselves

www.guardian.co.uk - I couldn't agree more with your editorial about the ownership of football clubs (Unthinkable, 13 February). As a former director of Notts County Supporters Trust, I have had to watch from the sidelines as a succession of owners have bought and sold the club, while administration (still) looms. It will take time for supporter-ownership to become fully accepted - too many supporters prefer the dream to the reality - but it's already more than clear that the traditional business model simply doesn't work. The supporters are the only constant in football and the only people with the long-term commitment to guarantee a club's future. If it's good enough for Barca, it's good enough for Notts County.Mike ScottNottingham Your leader on supporter-owned football clubs makes several important points. Although this form of ownership is not a panacea, it does avoid many of the problems that bedevil football. In Rochdale, the birthplace of the co-operative movement, we have a real example. Rochdale Hornets, a founder member of the Rugby Football League in 1895, was restructured a year ago as a members' co-operative. There were many doubters, but the club is now just starting its second season, despite the fact that the recession has hit towns like Rochdale very hard. Any sports fan interested in participating in a supporter-owned co-op and learning first-hand about the practical pros and cons of this form of corporate structure can find lots of different ways of doing this by visiting our website www.­hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk.Paul OrmerodPresident, Rochdale Hornets RLFCFootball politicsNotts CountyRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Bradford Bulls 6-38 St Helens | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Bradford Bulls 6-38 St HelensEight days after being abused by their own supporters following a heavy home defeat by Hull, St Helens condemned Bradford to similar treatment with a scintillating six-try victory that shifted the early-season pressure from their coach, Mick Potter, to Steve McNamara at the Bulls.Paul Wellens, who took on the Saints captaincy when Keiron Cunningham withdrew because of a family bereavement, scored four tries as his team rediscovered their attacking vim after a run of 10 matches, going back to July, in which they had failed to score more than 15 points.Kyle Eastmond surpassed that on his own, kicking seven goals from as many attempts as well as pouncing for an 80-metre interception try. That was a gift from his opposite number, Matt Orford, the most high-profile of the four Australian recruits whose arrival at Odsal has raised the stakes for McNamara this season - and who have so far failed to deliver.Bradford's chairman, Peter Hood, reiterated in his programme notes that they have targeted a top-four finish and an appearance at either Wembley or Old Trafford. But they are bottom of the table after two rounds and McNamara was loudly jeered by the Bulls supporters on the Odsal terraces as he walked below them into the tunnel."We obviously weren't at the races today," said McNamara, who has come under pressure since he succeeded Brian Noble in April 2006. "A lot of things looked rusty, I can't deny that."It was painful for McNamara to see the leading role played in the demolition by Leon Pryce, who remains a good friend, having left Bradford shortly before he took over. Pryce provided the crucial pass in all three of Saints' first-half tries - two for Wellens and one for Jon Wilkin - that established a 20-0 lead. Eastmond then picked off Orford's desperate long pass for the try that killed off any remote prospect of a Bulls fightback, and long chunks of the second half were painful to watch as Bradford laboured to make any impression.Saints highlighted the gulf between the teams with a thrilling breakaway in which James Roby and Jonny Lomax combined for Wellens to complete his hat-trick. The veteran full-back's fourth was much more straightforward, after Pryce had taken a quick tap penalty to find Bradford hopelessly undermanned on their left."It was mostly a case of being in the right place at the right time, and following Leon," said Wellens, who like Pryce has something to prove this season after being dropped from the England squad for last autumn's Four Nations. "He always relishes the challenge of coming back to Bradford."Bradford Bulls Halley; Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Reardon; Kearney, Orford; Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch (capt), Langley, Whitehead, Menzies. Interchange Hall, Godwin, Worrincy, Kopczak.Try Orford Goal Orford.St Helens Wellens (capt); Lomax, Gidley, Wheeler, Meli; Pryce, Eastmond; Fozzard, Moore, Graham, Flannery, Wilkin, Puletua. Interchange Roby, Hargreaves, Clough, Fa'asavalu.Tries Wilkin, Wellens 4, Eastmond Goals Eastmond 7.Referee P Bentham (Warrington) Attendance 10,165.Super LeagueBradford BullsSt HelensRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Castleford 16-28 Warrington | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Castleford 16-28 WarringtonWarrington continued their good start to the season with a hard-fought win over a tough Castleford outfit. It was a rugged contest between two evenly matched sides, but the Tigers will be bitterly disappointed to have gifted their opponents two tries through interceptions which proved crucial in such a tight match, but credit must go the Wolves for taking their chances.Castleford found themselves under pressure from the kick-off but weathered the early storm from Warrington before hitting back on their first attack after 12 minutes. Ryan Hudson fed Brent Sherwin from dummy half and he ­created just enough space for James Evans to race over. Westerman added the conversion, but from the restart the Tigers put themselves under pressure through a series of errors. Their defence stood firm firm and when yet another Wolves attack broke down they pounced. Castleford swept upfield, stretching the visitors' defence down the right before moving the ball smartly to the left. Quick hands from Sherwin and Ryan McGoldrick allowed Westerman to charge through, to give his side a 10-0 lead midway through the half.The home side continued to make mistakes in their own half and eventually Warrington took advantage, Simon Grix scrambling over the line to touch down a Lee Briers grubber kick, and Briers cut the deficit to four points with the conversion. Just before half-time the Wolves stand-off put a perfectly weighted kick to the corner, enabling Chris Riley to score. The teams went in at the interval all square.Ten minutes into the second half, the Tigers regained the lead when Richie Mathers made a mess of securing a neat grubber kick to the line and Evans nipped in for his second touchdown. But their joy was short-lived as Briers picked off a pass from Rangi Chase and sprinted 40 metres for a try which made it 14-14. Westerman then landed a penalty to nudge his side ahead, but midway through the half the home side once again gifted a try when Ryan Hudson lost possession and Richie Myler ran in unopposed. Chris Bridge made it 20-16 with the conversion and with nine ­minutes remaining landed a penalty. ­The Wolves then wrapped up the match when they forced a goal-line drop out, Briers dummying to go for a drop goal before offloading to Myler, who forced his way over, to leave Bridge a simple conversion.Super LeagueRugby leagueCastlefordWarringtonDavid Lawrensonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Hull FC 14-6 Huddersfield | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Hull FC 14-6 HuddersfieldSean Long may have grabbed all the attention as Hull's headline off-season signing but it was the lower-profile but equally high-pedigree Australian recruit Craig Fitz­gibbon who held the key to this second consecutive win.Fitzgibbon, a 32-year-old with vast experience including State of Origin battles and Kangaroo tours, showed there is nothing wrong with his fitness by playing the whole 80 minutes and, with both Long and Richard Horne hampered by leg injuries, he held Hull together through a nervy second half in which Huddersfield looked the more dangerous team.It was one of Fitzgibbon's many copybook tackles that led to the Danny Tickle penalty that earned Hull precious extra breathing space as the only score of the second half and he also contributed numerous classy touches in possession."He holds it together in the middle," said Hull's coach, Richard Agar. "He's probably the fittest bloke in the club but he's got a tremendous rugby league brain on him as well. That was a tough battle and he's the type of bloke you need out there."Hull had taken a 12-0 lead in the first 25 minutes with well-worked tries from Tickle and Craig Hall, Tickle converting the latter from the touchline. But Huddersfield made light of the absence of their captain and the reigning Super League Man of Steel Brett Hodgson with a back problem to cause Hull all manner of problems in the remainder of the game.They should have scored before half-time when Luke Robinson burst clear from acting half, only to ignore supporting players in try-scoring positions on either side of him, the sort of error that has exasperated his coach, Nathan Brown, in the past. Robinson had switched from scrum-half to hooker when the Giants lost Shaun Lunt with a suspected broken wrist, a real worry given the young Cumbrian's growing importance to the team. But they coped admirably without him here, cutting Hull's lead to 12-6 early in the second half when Scott Grix struggled over in Kirk Yeaman's tackle.Long was sufficiently worried to instruct Tickle to kick the penalty that was earned by Fitzgibbon's powerful tackle, and that looked a shrewd move as the Giants threatened on several more occasions - with their wing David Hodgson denied a breakaway try when the touch judge alerted the enigmatic French referee Thierry Alibert to a knock-on in the build-up, one of several decisions that left Brown diplomatically frustrated.With their next two games against Crusaders and Harlequins, Hull would now seem set fair to open the season with four wins out of four, although a comfortable 36-16 win for the Crusaders at Salford last night suggested that Brian Noble's team could prove dangerous opponents at Wrexham next Sunday.Wigan matched Hull's two-from-two record by beating Hull KR 32-6 at the DW Stadium, with their Australian wing Amos Roberts scoring two tries for the second consecutive match.Hull FC Tansey; Hall, Whiting, Yeaman, T Briscoe; R Horne, Long (capt); O'Meley, Berrigan, Radford, Tickle, Manu, Fitzgibbon. Interchange: Dowes, Lauaki, Cusack, Houghton.Huddersfield Giants Cudjoe; Lolesi, Whatuira, Lawrence, D Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Raleigh (capt), Lunt, Griffin, Gilmour, G Horne, Faiumu. Interchange: Crabtree, Fa'alogo, Grix, Patrick.Referee T Alibert (Albi)Hull FCHuddersfield GiantsSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Hull FC 14-6 Huddersfield Giants | Super League match report

www.guardian.co.uk - Hull FC 14-6 Huddersfield GiantsSean Long may have grabbed all the attention as Hull's headline off-season signing, but it was the lower-profile but equally high-pedigree Australian recruit Craig Fitzgibbon who held the key to this second consecutive win.Fitzgibbon, a 31-year-old with vast experience including State of Origin battles and Kangaroo tours, showed there is nothing wrong with his fitness by playing the whole 80 minutes, and held Hull together through a nervy second half in which Huddersfield looked the more dangerous team.It was one of Fitzgibbon's many copybook tackles that led to the Danny Tickle penalty that earned Hull precious extra breathing space as the only score of the second half, and he also contributed numerous classy touches in possession.Not since the early 1980s, when the local rivalry with Hull KR dominated the British game, has such expectation surrounded Hull's first home fixture of the season. The Long-inspired victory at St Helens last Saturday was an emphatic statement of intent, and Huddersfield's chances of souring the atmosphere were undermined by the late withdrawal of their captain Brett Hodgson with an undisclosed injury.Hull stayed on message with two well-worked tries to establish a 12-0 half-time lead, although Huddersfield had enough chances to be level at least. Lee Radford, the no-frills forward who lost the captaincy to Long, did the spadework for Hull's sixth-minute opener with a one-handed offload, creating the pressure from which Danny Tickle steamed over from Shaun Berrigan's delayed pass. Long then demonstrated his under-rated defensive qualities with a try-saving tackle on the young Huddersfield centre Michael Lawrence, and within a minute he was darting through a gap on halfway. Hull's right wing Craig Hall fluffed that chance, but he made amends with an excellent finish in the 25th minute after Epalahame Lauaki made an immediate impact from the interchange bench. Tickle curled over the conversion, but Huddersfield were still in the game - as they showed when Luke Robinson burst clear from acting half, only to ignore supporting players in try-scoring positions on either side of him, the sort of error that has exasperated his coach Nathan Brown in the past.Robinson had switched from scrum-half to hooker when the Giants lost Shaun Lunt with an arm injury, a real worry given the young Cumbrian's growing importance to the team. But they coped admirably without him here, cutting Hull's lead to 12-6 early in the second half when Scott Grix struggled over in Kirk Yeaman's tackle.Long was sufficiently worried to instruct Tickle to kick a penalty that had been earned by Fitzgibbon's powerful tackle, and that looked a shrewd move as the Giants threatened on several more occasions - with their wing David Hodgson denied a breakaway try when the touch-judge alerted the enigmatic French referee Thierry Alibert to a knock-on in the build-up.With their next two games against Crusaders and Harlequins, Hull would now seem set fair to open the season with four wins out of four - although a comfortable win for the Crusaders at Salford tonight suggested that Brian Noble's team could prove dangerous opponents at Wrexham next Sunday.Wigan matched Hull's two-from-two record by beating Hull KR 32-6 at the DW Stadium.Hull FC Tansey; Hall, Whiting, Yeaman, T Briscoe; R Horne, Long (capt); O'Meley, Berrigan, Radford, Tickle, Manu, Fitzgibbon. Interchange: Dowes, Lauaki, Cusack, Houghton.Tries Tickle, Hall. Goals Tickle 3Huddersfield Giants Cudjoe; Lolesi, Whatuira, Lawrence, D Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Raleigh (capt), Lunt, Griffin, Gilmour, G Horne, Faiumu. Interchange: Crabtree, Fa'alogo, Grix, Patrick.Try Grix. Goal Cudjoe.Referee T Alibert (Albi)Attendance 14,520Hull FCHuddersfield GiantsSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Castleford coach Terry Matterson points to positives of lost finger

www.guardian.co.uk - The Castleford coach is in constant pain after a freakish pre-season injury but his side have responded magnificentlyTerry Matterson has heard all the jokes by now. Can he put his finger on the reasons for Castleford's stunning win at Leeds last Friday? If they maintain that form through to victory in the Grand Final, where will he wear his title-winning ring?It is four weeks since the Tigers' amiable and laconic Australian coach lost the ring finger on his left hand in a grisly accident during a pre-season training trip to Perpignan. His wedding ring caught on the top of a steel fence that he had scaled to retrieve a ball, and the finger was wrenched off with it as he jumped down.The shock did not really hit him until he returned to his wife and two children in Yorkshire. The pain is still intense. However, Matterson believes his own agonising misfortune could have positive consequences for Castleford."There was only one bad thing that ­happened on that trip," says the former Brisbane and London Broncos loose ­forward, wearing a pair of woolly grey gloves over the most talked-about digit in the game. "And on the back of the players' reaction to it, it probably wasn't such a bad thing. It was a real shock for them as well as me, and the way they reacted to taking responsibility was great. Don't get me wrong, I'd give the trip away to get my finger back. But there's always something positive that comes out of it. I think they grew up on that trip."They have also been inspired by the toughness of their coach. "We won't be looking to come off with any soft injuries, put it that way," joked one player at the gym this week."I think because of what we do, playing rugby league, it prepares us for stuff like this," Matterson says matter-of-factly. "We're brought up in a tough environment and we have to deal with a lot of injuries. So I think that helps. As the weeks have gone on I've found it a little bit tougher at times, because there is still a lot of pain involved - it really hasn't eased up. I'm on fairly heavy drugs, but there's always a comedown from that. It's going to be a fairly long process, so I understand - five or six months. I'm trying to take as few painkillers as possible but, if I don't at night, I can't sleep, the pain's too much. I'm learning to live with it. I'll just be really pleased when it's regrown over and covered over and there's no pain. But I'm really busy and being around these guys helps."The win at Leeds was a major tonic for everyone in the league hotbed of Castleford, especially as it followed a 76-12 humiliation on the Tigers' last visit to the loathed local moneybags. But the biggest frustration of what was otherwise a successful 2009 season for Cas, as they made a first play-off appearance since 2002, was some patchy home form.Warrington will provide formidable opposition at The Jungle tomorrow night tonight, on the evidence of their 58-0 romp against Harlequins. Matterson believes that should help his players to maintain the standards they set at Headingley."It's made a bit easier by who we're playing," he said. "Warrington have done really well in the off-season and you can just see that place gradually building. The challenge is to replicate our performance from last week and we'll give ourselves a good chance of winning the game."Leeds play on Sunday at Wakefield, who have won their first two games of the season, and have the former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton back from a biceps injury. At Bradford the Bulls and St Helens will be desperate to avoid a second defeat. St ­Helens have never suffered that indignity and it has happened to Bradford only in 2005, when they won the Grand Final.CastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Joe Westerman could be pick of the Super League's crop of young Brits | Andy Wilson

www.guardian.co.uk - British youngsters excelled in the first full round of fixtures but some matches made the case for cutting the league to 12 teamsFirst, the good news. The first full round of Super League fixtures was as promising as it was enjoyable. Two major surprises, with home defeats for last year's Grand Finalists, Leeds and St Helens, have set up some intriguing games this weekend: Sean Long's home debut for Hull against Huddersfield, plus the clash of two more opening-round winners, Wigan and Hull KR, on Friday night; the return of Castleford's Rhino-slayers to the Jungle to face white-hot Warrington the following evening; and two more potential crackers on Sunday afternoon, when Leeds will be under more pressure at the early-season pacesetters, Wakefield, but not as much as both Bradford and St Helens when they meet at Odsal in an unlikely bottom-of-the-table clash.Irrespective of the results, and some impressive attendances, arguably the most encouraging aspect of the weekend was the impact made by a clutch of young British players.On Friday at Huddersfield, Kevin Brown was all class at stand-off and the tough Cumbrian hooker Shaun Lunt picked up where he left off in his excellent 2009. Ben Harrison was just as good in Warrington's romp against Harlequins, and Tom Briscoe showed the pace that has already earned him an international call-up with an 80-metre try at St Helens. On the flimsy basis of a single match this season, all four look good bets for a place on England's Four Nations tour.Michael Lawrence, Leroy Cudjoe and Gary Wheeler also showed promise in the televised games, but the most tantalising sight of all came in the brief highlights of Castleford's win at Leeds, as Joe Westerman surged through the Headingley mud for a cracking try.Westerman himself admits that he struggled last season to repeat the initial impact he made as an 18-year-old in 2008, which wasn't surprising as he had probably been overpraised in his debut year, and then had to endure the terrifying experience of suffering a series of fits after an accidental head clash against St Helens. But I'd love to hear how good the gifted loose forward looked over the 80 minutes at Headingley, from any Leeds or Cas fans who saw the game. We'll all be able to see him for ourselves against Warrington this weekend.Do we need the weakest links?Unfortunately, there are a couple of weightier matters arising that have dominated rugby league discussion this week - the number of teams in the Super League competition, and the apparently declining level of behaviour of Super League players.The clubs have moved unusually decisively, if not very transparently, in voting at a meeting on Monday to stick with 14 clubs until at least 2014. This has the major advantage of lightening the climate of fear that had been hanging over at least five of them - Castleford, Crusaders, Harlequins, Salford and Wakefield - since the word spread of a mood to cut the Super League to 12 from 2012 to increase its quality and intensity. (And, more prosaically, to ensure that any future television contracts are sliced 12 ways rather than 14.)But there could not be a better illustration of the argument for cutting to 12 than this weekend's fixtures. You may have noticed that only five of the seven were highlighted at the top of this piece. It is safe to say that the other two - Salford v Crusaders on Friday, and Harlequins v Catalans on Sunday - will fall some way short of maintaining Super League's five-figure average attendance. More seriously, there must be doubts over how long the majority of Super League clubs who now spend the maximum £1.7m salary cap will tolerate the financial stragglers such as Salford, Quins, Wakefield and Cas falling well short of it.Judged by six of the seven clubs who played at home in front of 9,000-plus crowds last weekend, the Super League is a strong competition. Using its weakest links as a barometer of its health is more of a worry.So is the reality that in the eyes of many influential opinion-moulders in the media, and therefore for a fair proportion of the general sporting public, the Super League now has a real problem off the field. In the last month the involvement of six Huddersfield players in an alleged rape scandal has been splashed on the front page of the Mirror, and featured prominently in news bulletins throughout the days that followed, and this week five Catalans players were held for 24 hours in Leeds for their role in an alleged late-night brawl.This follows the extensive coverage of court cases involving Leon Pryce, Stuart Reardon and Ben Cockayne last year, and the string of off-field atrocities in Australia that caused a few ripples over here.It is entirely possible that over the next few weeks and months the Huddersfield and Catalans players will be cleared. But you can guarantee that would not receive as much publicity, so the damage would already have been done.Somehow, the game's authorities have to impress upon players that they can't even afford to put themselves in these positions, because anybody who denies that such stories damage the game's attractiveness to sponsors and broadcasters is kidding themselves. Steve Mascord, an Australian journalist with extensive experience of covering such stories, suggests in this month's Rugby League World magazine that clubs such as Huddersfield and the Catalans should be fined, and the players suspended, whatever the outcome of the current police investigations. That seems a bit draconian to me, and legally unenforceable when the players cannot be named. I'd prefer the immediate docking of at least one Super League point, which would create a peer pressure for impeccable behaviour.As ever, your thoughts on that, the 12 or 14 debate, Joe Westerman and the other young guns, the likelihood of a Hull v Warrington Grand Final, or anything else, are very welcome.Super LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds doubtful over Brett Delaney's fitness for Melbourne Storm decider

www.guardian.co.uk - Rhinos refusing to reveal updates through usual channels Carl Ablett another doubt after failing to finish Castleford defeatLeeds Rhinos have an injury concern over their Australian signing Brett Delaney ahead of the World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm at the end of this month.Delaney limped out of Friday's home Super League defeat by Castleford, and the unprecedented refusal of the Rhinos' coach Brian McClennan to discuss any of his players' injuries has fuelled fears that the former Gold Coast Titans centre could be out for a while.McClennan said: "Any statements regarding injuries for the rest of the year will be dealt with by Meiron Jones [the head physio]. There is a privacy part for the actual player whether or not they want to disclose the nature of their injury, and it is up to them if they want that to happen."There is similar uncertainty over whether the Rhinos' second-row Carl Ablett will miss the Melbourne game, after he was forced off in the early stages of the champions' 24‑10 defeat by Castleford.Melbourne's coach, Craig Bellamy, confirmed to rugbyleague.com today that four of the club's internationals - Brett White, Sika Manu, Cooper Cronk and Chase Stanley - have already been ruled out of the trip after off-season surgery.Bellamy also said Greg Inglis, the Australia centre who holds the Golden Boot as the best player in the world, is also a major doubt because of a hip injury. Inglis has been forced to withdraw from the Indigenous All Stars team who will play an NRL All Stars team on Saturday in a new high-profile fixture to launch the countdown to the Australian season, and Bellamy said: "We won't be taking any risks, put it that way."Castleford have been given permission by the Rugby Football League to wear their new red away strip for the first home game of the season, against Warrington on Saturday. The Tigers hope that Sky's coverage of the game will raise the profile of their initiative to donate £4 from every shirt sold to the Help for Heroes charity which assists British service personnel who have been injured in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, following the death of three Castleford supporters in Afghanistan during the past eight months.The Catalans Dragons have issued a statement backing the five players who were arrested following an alleged brawl in Leeds last Sunday and detained for more than 24 hours before being released on bail. "The players have been advised to put this incident behind them and concentrate on their rugby league," said the club, adding that after a meeting with the chairman Bernard Guasch they are now preparing for Sunday's game at Harlequins.Leeds RhinosRugby leagueSuper LeagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Leeds have doubts over Brett Delaney's fitness for Melbourne decider

www.guardian.co.uk - Rhinos refusing to reveal updates through usual channels Carl Ablett another doubt after failing to finish Castleford defeatLeeds Rhinos have an injury concern over their Australian signing Brett Delaney ahead of the World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm at the end of this month.Delaney limped out of Friday's home Super League defeat by Castleford, and the unprecedented refusal of the Rhinos' coach Brian McClennan to discuss any of his players' injuries has fuelled fears that the former Gold Coast Titans centre could be out for a while.McClennan said: "Any statements regarding injuries for the rest of the year will be dealt with by Meiron Jones [the head physio]. There is a privacy part for the actual player whether or not they want to disclose the nature of their injury, and it is up to them if they want that to happen."There is similar uncertainty over whether the Rhinos' second-row Carl Ablett will miss the Melbourne game, after he was forced off in the early stages of the champions' 24‑10 defeat by Castleford.Melbourne's coach, Craig Bellamy, confirmed to rugbyleague.com today that four of the club's internationals - Brett White, Sika Manu, Cooper Cronk and Chase Stanley - have already been ruled out of the trip after off-season surgery.Bellamy also said Greg Inglis, the Australia centre who holds the Golden Boot as the best player in the world, is also a major doubt because of a hip injury. Inglis has been forced to withdraw from the Indigenous All Stars team who will play an NRL All Stars team on Saturday in a new high-profile fixture to launch the countdown to the Australian season, and Bellamy said: "We won't be taking any risks, put it that way".Castleford have been given permission by the Rugby Football League to wear their new red away strip for the first home game of the season, against Warrington on Saturday. The Tigers hope that Sky's coverage of the game will raise the profile of their initiative to donate £4 from every shirt sold to the Help for Heroes charity which assists British service personnel who have been injured in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, following the death of three Castleford supporters in Afghanistan during the past eight months.The Catalans Dragons have issued a statement backing the five players who were arrested following an alleged brawl in Leeds last Sunday and detained for more than 24 hours before being released on bail. "The players have been advised to put this incident behind them and concentrate on their rugby league," said the club, adding that after a meeting with the chairman Bernard Guasch they are now preparing for Sunday's game at Harlequins.Leeds RhinosRugby leagueSuper LeagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

St Helens hit by the loss of Ade Gardner and Sia Soliola

www.guardian.co.uk - Gardner ruled out for six weeks with rib damage Ankle injury means Soliola may be missing for a monthSt Helens' hopes of ending a barren attacking run against Bradford on Sunday have been hit by the loss of two key players through injury. Mick Potter's side have not scored more than 15 points in their last 10 matches, dating back to last season, and they must now face the Bulls without their first choice three-quarters, Ade Gardner and Sia Soliola.The pair were both helped from the field during the first half of Saturday night's 32-12 loss to Hull FC. The England wing Gardner has been ruled out for at least six weeks with multiple rib cartilage damage, while the New Zealand centre Soliola, who was making his debut, has damaged an ankle and may be missing for up to a month.Potter was forced to field the hooker James Roby as cover on the wing for much of the Hull defeat, but will at least be boosted by the return of Francis Meli against the Bulls, after he briefly returned to New Zealand on compassionate leave. Soliola's place is expected to be taken by the young centre Chris Dean, who will return from Widnes Vikings, where he played last week under the new dual registration rules.There was also positive news for Potter on the prop James Graham, whose sternum injury will not keep him out against the Bulls. But the Australian is less optimistic about the injury to Gardner, which is worse than was first thought. "It's normally two to three weeks if there's damage to a single rib but there's three or four apparently, so it's not good for him," Potter said.St HelensSuper LeagueBradford BullsRugby leagueGareth Walkerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Super League votes against culling two clubs

www.guardian.co.uk - Decision will come as a relief to struggling teams RFL still committed to promoting a Championship clubThe Super League clubs have moved quickly to end speculation that the competition could be cut by two teams in 2012 by voting to stick with the current 14 for at least another four seasons.The decision, which was made at a meeting of all 14 clubs with the Rugby Football League today, is a major surprise and will have come as an equally big relief to at least six clubs whose licences would have been seriously threatened by the mooted cull.The RFL is committed to promoting at least one current Championship club when the current three-year licences run out at the end of the 2011 season, meaning that a reduction to 12 teams would have led to at least three Super League clubs being demoted.Now only one will definitely go, with the problems that have forced the Cru­saders to shed their Celtic prefix and decamp from Bridgend to Wrexham ­providing one ­obvious and easy option, and further reducing the pressure on other Super League clubs who are struggling on or off the field.The RFL plans to make an announcement on which Championship club - or possibly clubs - are to be promoted next spring, with Widnes the strong favourites but Halifax, Barrow and Toulouse also planning to apply.The 14 Super League clubs will already have begun the process of reapplying for their licences by then, although it is highly unlikely that any of them would be told of their demotion until the end of the season.The first full weekend of fixtures have provided the clubs and the Super League competition with a major boost, as the seven games attracted an aggregate attendance of 78,090 - the best since the reorganisation of 1996.The Catalans prop Remi Casty is in danger of suspension after being put on report in the Wakefield game for an alleged high tackle on Paul Johnson. Casty's case has been referred to the RFL's disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.Huddersfield's Andy Raleigh has also been referred to the hearing for a dangerous late tackle on the Bradford scrum half Matt Orford in last Friday's televised Yorkshire derby. Any suspension for Raleigh would leave Huddersfield short of props for their trip to Hull on Friday, as Keith Mason has been ruled out for six to eight weeks with the chest injury he suffered in the first minute against Bradford.St Helens will discover on Tuesday the full cost of their 32-12 home defeat by a Sean Long-inspired Hull team on Saturday. Ade Gardner, Sia Soliola and James Graham are awaiting the results of scans on respective rib, ankle and chest injuries, although all three are considered doubtful for next Sunday's trip to Bradford. Francis Meli, the Samoa wing who missed the Hull game after returning home to Auckland for personal reasons, is now back in the country and the Saints coach Mick Potter is confident that he will return at Odsal.Super LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Sweet and sour start for Super League as Catalans players held by police

www.guardian.co.uk - Five Catalans players detained after Leeds brawl Successful start to season tainted by off-field incidentsThe arrest of five Catalans Dragons players for their involvement in a brawl in Leeds city centre in the early hours of Monday morning took the shine off the most successful opening weekend in the Super League's 15-year history.The Catalans players were unable to fly home to Perpignan with their team-mates following Sunday's 28-20 defeat at Wakefield in their first game of the season after being detained by West Yorkshire Police. They were due to be interviewed this afternoon although no charges have yet been laid.A police spokesman had earlier confirmed that nine men were in custody following an incident in Boar Lane, near the hotel where the Catalans team were staying, at 2.15am.It was the second off-field incident to taint the Super League inside a month, following the arrest of six Huddersfield players during a pre-season training trip to Newcastle as part of a police investigation into an alleged rape. They have been bailed until 18 March.Whatever the outcomes of the two cases, they have brought unwanted publicity to the game at a time when the Rugby Football League would prefer to be celebrating the best-attended opening round of Super League fixtures since the competition was launched in 1996. The weekend's seven matches attracted an aggregate attendance of 78,090, with the prospect of two more gates of at least 15,000 on Friday when Sean Long makes his home debut for Hull against Huddersfield, and Wigan face Hull KR.The Catalans prop Remi Casty remains in danger of suspension after being put on report in the Wakefield game for an alleged high tackle on Paul Johnson. Casty's case has been referred to the Rugby Football League's disciplinary hearing tomorrow.Huddersfield's Andy Raleigh has also been referred to the hearing for an alleged late tackle on the Bradford scrum-half Matt Orford in last Friday's televised Yorkshire derby. Any suspension for Raleigh would leave Huddersfield short of props for their trip to Hull, as Keith Mason has been ruled out for six to eight weeks with the chest injury he suffered in the first minute against Bradford.St Helens will discover on Tuesday the full cost of their 32-12 home defeat by a Long-inspired Hull team on Saturday. Ade Gardner, Sia Soliola and James Graham are awaiting the results of scans on respective rib, ankle and chest injuries, although all three are considered doubtful for next Sunday's trip to Bradford. Francis Meli, the Samoa wing who missed the Hull game after returning home to Auckland for personal reasons, is now back in the country and the Saints coach Mick Potter is confident that he will return at Odsal.Catalans DragonsSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Catalans Dragons' Rémy Casty one of three Super League players cited

www.guardian.co.uk - Raleigh, Esders and Casty to face disciplinary panel Manu, L'Estrange cautioned, Riley warnedThree players will face the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee tomorrow after being cited by the RFL's match-review panel for alleged foul play in the opening round of Super League matches.The Huddersfield prop Andy Raleigh has been charged with a late tackle on the Bradford scrum-half Matt Orford during the Giants' 24-12 victory over the Bulls. The Harlequins second-rower Ryan Esders is accused of a dangerous throw on the Warrington full-back Richard Mathers in his side's 58-0 defeat.The Catalans Dragons prop Rémy Casty has been charged with a high tackle on the Wakefield forward Paul Johnson in his side's 28-20 defeat at Belle Vue.The Hull second-rower Willie Manu was given a caution for using his knees on Matt Gidley as the St Helens centre scored his side's first try in their 32-12 defeat and the Bradford hooker Heath L'Estrange was cautioned for a swinging arm on the Huddersfield scrum-half Luke Robinson.The Warrington winger Chris Riley, who scored five tries against Harlequins, has been sent a warning letter for an attempted trip on the wing Chris Melling.Super LeagueCatalans DragonsHuddersfield GiantsHarlequins rugby leagueWarringtonHull FCBradford BullsRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Five Catalans Dragons players arrested over alleged Leeds brawl

www.guardian.co.uk - Incident captured on CCTV at 2.15am Nine men in custody in totalFive players from the Catalans Dragons have been arrested and prevented from returning to France following yesterday's Super League game at Wakefield, for their involvement in an alleged brawl in Leeds in the early hours of this morning.A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that nine men are in custody in total and that two men were taken to hospital for treatment to head injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening.The incident was captured on CCTV at 2.15am in Boar Lane, in Leeds city centre.The Catalans lost at Wakefield, their first game of the Super League season, 28-20. The rest of their squad returned to Perpignan today.Catalans DragonsRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)