The Northern Rail Cup

By The Man

Hunslet v Featherstone



4th March 20:00 GMT

Ever get the feeling that a fixture has been arranged that two teams simply don't want to play? Well this is it. The RFL have insisted that this fixture goes ahead on this date due to the poor weather playing havoc on the scheduled dates. The teams tried to persuade them for a change of date but they were insistent. So what have the clubs done? They have made their teams as weak as possible.

After the weekend's fixtures coach Daryll Powell of Featherstone announced that he would be resting a number of his players, as the chance of qualification from the group was nigh on impossible. It was in the rugby league press and the bookmakers have obviously viewed it. Normally you would expect a handicap in the 20s for this fixture but with a weakened Featherstone team then the offer of 12pts was probably fair.

Meanwhile Hunslet were keeping quiet over their plans. They still had a chance of qualification so the assumption was they'd be going for it. However, coach March has completely rested the first team squad with an eye on the weekend's Challenge Cup fixture.

So now comparing the two teams we have a much stronger Featherstone outfit. In fact Featherstone have named seven players from the weekend fixture and have also have added loanee Kaye from Harlequins and Papua New Guinea internationals Parker and Marabe.

So it's back to the status quo. For me the handicap should be back in the 20s and the 10 on offer looks a very good wager. I get the feeling the bookmakers are running around like headless chickens for these re-arranged fixtures and it isn't only the clubs who wish they weren't taking place.

Hunslet squad:

Nathan Larvin, Corey Challenger, Danny Cook, Richard Knight, Michael Mark, Stuart Young, Nigel Scott, Nico Slain, Darren Robinson, Joe Helme, Jake Wilson, Michael Kelly, Charlie Wabo, Russ Dale, Gareth Firm, Neil Lowe, Steve Brook
 
Featherstone squad:
 
Hardaker, Marabe, Allan, Saxton, Smeaton; Parker, Dobek; Morrison, Kaye, Sheriffe, Dale, Manning, Lee. Substitutes: Divorty, Tonks, Williamson, Carr, Welham

Pick: Featherstone -10 4pts @ 1.91 with Sky Bet
 
The Man