Rugby League Weekend


I've managed to pick out four wagers for this weekend's matches but to be honest I'm not bouncing up and down about any of them. They are all marginal calls and qualify for a wager by virtue of being just enough away from my numbers.
 
Celtic v Wakefield



30th May 19:00 BST

I sense an improvement in the Celtic team and they got their first win under their belts with victory at Bradford a fortnight ago. They backed that performance up with a defeat to Catalan but even in that one at the hour mark they were within 4pts and had a try disallowed.

This week they face a Wakefield team in some strife. They got off to such a bright start when there seemed to be a real focus in the squad galvanised by the untimely death of Frank Watene. However, you can only keep that collective spirit for so long and eventually the natural ability of the team is found. What we are seeing now is a Wakefield team that will win games but haven't got the ability or consistency to challenge for the honours.
Coach Kear suspended two players for drinking on the team bus following the big defeat at Harlequins but that didn't stop the rot. What followed was an embarrassing home defeat to Huddersfield. I wonder if the coach is starting to lose the dressing room? Certainly Danny Sculthorpe was quick to pack his bags following his suspension. I sense all is not right in the camp.

Super League Table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	St Helens	14	11	0	3	411	256	22
2	Hull KR	14	10	1	3	356	235	21
3	Leeds	14	10	0	4	349	205	20
4	Huddersfield	14	9	0	5	348	243	18
5	Harlequins RL	13	8	0	5	323	253	16
6	Hull	14	7	0	7	288	304	14
7	Castleford	14	7	0	7	317	337	14
8	Wakefield	14	7	0	7	304	331	14
9	Wigan	15	6	0	9	340	303	12
10	Warrington	14	6	0	8	311	374	12
11	Catalans Dragons	14	5	0	9	320	388	10
12	Salford	14	5	0	9	234	399	10
13	Bradford	13	4	1	8	269	343	9
14	Celtic Crusaders	13	1	0	12	206	405	2

So from a Celtic point of view I feel this is a perfect time to be playing Wakefield. I think there will be points galore in the fixture as I don't rate either defence and it is a game Celtic can win. I've gone for the 6pt start as a cushion and by virtue of the offer of even money from bet365 which they kindly seem to do for televised fixtures. My tissue said between 2-4pts start for Celtic.

Pick:  Celtic +6 2pts @ 2 with Bet365

 
Huddersfield v Castleford

 

31st May 15:30 BST

Again I'm taking advantage of the bet365 offer of even money for the televised fixture. Your tissue doesn't have to be much different before a wager becomes value when you get such good odds.

For this fixture I sense a close game with a semi-final place and the dream of Wembley on offer. In previous seasons Castleford have disregarded the Challenge Cup as they have concentrated on the avoidance of relegation. No worries on that score this season and coach Matterson has publicly declared it is their focus. They also have a team that can go all the way. They have recruited very well and have a batch of promising youngsters and their rise in to the play-off places is no fluke. They've lost their last two but preformed very creditably at Hull KR and at home to Leeds.

Huddersfield got their show back on the road with a big victory last week at Wakefield but worryingly was the recent home defeat to Salford and tame performances versus both Leeds and Warrington. I think they'll be a play-off team for sure but I'm not convinced they have what it takes to push for the silverware.
I think these two are teams with more or less equal ability and the prize at stake should ensure intensity from both teams. Home advantage dictates that I should give the visitors 4pts start but the number of away wins this season perhaps suggests that isn't too important. For now I'll say that stat is a blip but never the less the 8pts on offer is attractive to me.

Pick:  Castleford +8 3pts @ 2 Bet365

 
Batley v Widnes

 

31st May 15:00 BST

A accept that this is a dangerous wager as Batley are more than capable of copping a hammering. However, last week's big home victory against Whitehaven has to be given some value. If nothing else it will have restored some confidence to the squad. New coach Karl Harrison has now had some time to implement his ideas and they are in with a chance of avoiding relegation. Before the Whitehaven victory they were just edged out at home to Leigh so we can at least hope they are becoming competitive.

Co-operative Championship table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	PTS
1	Halifax	9	8	0	1	363	166	0	24
2	Barrow	9	7	0	2	276	122	2	23
3	Widnes	11	6	0	5	296	216	4	22
4	Featherstone	10	7	0	3	313	225	0	21
5	Leigh	10	5	0	5	192	245	3	18
6	Whitehaven	10	5	0	5	278	298	2	17
7	Toulouse	9	5	0	4	264	262	1	16
8	Sheffield	9	3	0	6	248	207	6	15
9	Gateshead	9	2	1	6	232	355	1	9
10	Batley	9	2	1	6	166	348	1	9
11	Doncaster	9	1	0	8	161	345	3	6

I have this current Widnes team as no better than Leigh and they really are the under-performers of the season. Five defeats from eleven league fixtures is far too many for the pre-season favourites. Even last weekend's victory against lowly Gateshead was stuttering after conceding a big early lead and quite simply I don't rate them. I had Widnes by 8pts.

Pick:  Batley +12 2pts @ 1.91 with Betfred or Ladbrokes

 
Swinton  v Rochdale

 

31st May 15:00 BST

I expect a fairly comfortable routine victory for Swinton in this one and it was just a question of how many? I have Swinton as a similar side in ability to Hunslet who cast aside Hornets with ease last weekend. With Holroyd pulling the strings for Swinton I would have expected the handicap to be a touch higher and I would have plumped for 12, hence the small wager. Rochdale have ability and they have notched a couple of victories most notably against York but this is one Swinton will have been targeting to cement their play-off berth.

Co-operative Championship 1 table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	PTS
1	Dewsbury	8	8	0	0	350	107	0	24
2	Oldham	9	7	0	2	362	208	1	22
3	Keighley	8	5	0	3	219	183	3	18
4	York	8	5	0	3	250	145	2	17
5	Hunslet	8	5	0	3	252	162	2	17
6	Swinton	8	4	0	4	260	247	0	12
7	Blackpool	9	3	0	6	220	236	3	12
8	Workington	8	1	0	7	129	310	2	5
9	London Skolars	8	1	0	7	74	477	0	3
10	Rochdale	8	2	0	6	201	242	4	1

Pick:  Swinton -8 2pts @ 1.91 with Stan James
 
The Man