This Week's Rugby League

Sheffield v Doncaster



9th April 18:00 BST
Sky Sports 1 (18:00-20:00)

First tip of the Easter Weekend is the televised South Yorkshire derby. As with all of my bets I firstly produce my own handicaps and then compare them to what's on offer. If there's a difference of opinion between myself and the layers I try to find reasons why I might be wrong. In this instance I can't find any reason why the start should be so high so there is value in taking the +14 at the 1.91 that’s available.

In my book, I would have Sheffield the slightly better team and also add some more points on for home advantage. Sheffield have had a similar tight defeat at home to Leigh, had a last gasp win at improving Toulouse and put up a creditable performance in defeat at Widnes. Doncaster, meanwhile, suffered a biggish defeat at Barrow to go with the Leigh effort.

Doncaster big defeat at home to Gateshead in the cup last weekend is probably the reason for the high start. However, I tend not to over-react to one result and feel that they can keep this one tight in the local derby. My idea of a handicap was Sheffield by ten.

Co-operative Championship table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	PTS
1	Whitehaven	3	3	0	0	132	70	0	9
2	Widnes	3	2	0	1	112	44	1	7
3	Barrow	3	2	0	1	96	54	1	7
4	Leigh	3	2	0	1	75	74	1	7
5	Halifax	2	2	0	0	50	38	0	6
6	Sheffield	3	1	0	2	60	63	2	5
7	Batley	3	1	1	1	62	82	0	5
8	Featherstone	2	1	0	1	60	60	0	3
9	Gateshead	3	0	1	2	52	98	0	2
10	Doncaster	2	0	0	2	32	58	1	1
11	Toulouse	3	0	0	3	38	128	1	1

 Pick: Doncaster +14 (h’cap) 3pts @ 1.91Totesport, Betfred

 
Also a couple of smaller bets for the first leg of the Super League Easter programme.

 
Harlequins v Catalan

 

9th April 20:00 BST

Again, I don't see a great deal between these two in terms of ability. Catalan have got off to a sluggish start but they still have plenty of quality players in their ranks. The win against all the odds against Bradford in the cup will be a confidence booster and they will fancy their chances of a follow up victory here.

Harlequins have been very in and out and have had two big defeats against Huddersfield recently. In between was a win versus Hull but that doesn't look quite so good with Hull losing to Salford last weekend. I'm sure there will be a shortage of atmosphere at the Stoop as two teams away from the heartlands will no doubt perform in front of a pitiful crowd and I can't be giving Quins too much for home advantage. Quins by four for me.

Pick: Catalan +8 (h’cap) 2pts @ 1.91Totesport, Boylesports , Sportingbet , Bluesq , PaddyPower

 
Salford v Warrington

 

10th April 15:00 BST

I must be mad backing a Warrington side to cover the start away from home but it's what I'm doing. Warrington are the real Jekyll and Hyde of Super League though they have been more of the monster this season. Warrington and unpredictability go hand in hand.

New coach, Tony Smith, has now had a few weeks in charge and they had a promising victory at home to Hull KR which followed the Harlequins debacle. Add in expected victories against Celtic and York in the cup and you could argue they are on a winning roll.

Losing Martin Gleeson to Wigan this week is a blow to their chances and Richie Mathers arriving in the swap deal is hardly like for like but for me I backing more based on Salford than Wire.

Salford have been unable to come to terms with Super League and big defeat has followed big defeat. Hammerings at home to the likes of Wigan and Harlequins is my basis for the bet. The shock victory at Hull in the cup will have boosted them but I'm still opposing them until they can show they can perform week in week out. I simply don't see enough quality in their squad and the five day turnaround after playing Super League opposition won't help. I had Warrington by twelve.

Pick:  Warrington -8 (h’cap) 2pts @ 1.91 Totesport, Sportingbet , Sky Bet

Super League Table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Leeds	7	6	0	1	179	84	12
2	St Helens	7	6	0	1	178	88	12
3	Huddersfield	7	5	0	2	166	105	10
4	Castleford	7	5	0	2	183	142	10
5	Hull	7	5	0	2	164	127	10
6	Hull KR	7	4	1	2	182	123	9
7	Harlequins RL	6	4	0	2	166	116	8
8	Wakefield	7	4	0	3	159	139	8
9	Wigan	8	3	0	5	162	154	6
10	Warrington	7	2	0	5	129	228	4
11	Bradford	6	1	1	4	115	161	3
12	Catalans Dragons	7	1	0	6	130	204	2
13	Salford	7	1	0	6	108	269	2
14	Celtic Crusaders	6	0	0	6	82	163	0

The man