The Northern Rail Cup

By The Man

Dewsbury v Leigh



21st February 15:00 GMT

Leigh had a highly impressive victory over Featherstone last weekend and they look to have improved their squad greatly with the addition of dual contract players. McCarthey, Blythe and Mitchell have arrived from Warrington whilst Emmitt comes from St.Helens. All these players have had first team experience and then you add them to the likes of Robbie Paul and Mick Nanyn and you start to see a very competitive side. Their shock defeat at York ensures that qualification is far from assured and with a cup final victory ticking a franchise application box this is a must win game.

Dewsbury are a promoted side who swept all before them last season. However, their first taste of the bigger boys resulted in a comprehensive defeat at Halifax and they may need time to adapt.

This is no gimme for Leigh but I had them as 4pt favourites.

Pick: Leigh +2 3pts @ 1.91 with Sky Bet & Betfred

 
Workington v Whitehaven


 
21st February 15:00 GMT

I'm afraid I have scuppered the early handicap as bet365 were offering as low as 14pts. However, I'm still content to play at this line. Last weekend we saw the gulf between the Championship and Championship One with some lopsided score lines and as long as the weather stays fine I expect the superiority to be confirmed. Workington have improved but they are still very much an average team for their division whilst Whitehaven may well struggle this year in the higher league as their squad looks weaker than usual, but there is still that gulf. Whitehaven hammered Doncaster last week and whilst I don't expect the same margin my handicap was in the mid20s.

Pick: Whitehaven -18 3pts @ 1.91 Stan James
 
The Man