This Week's Rugby League - Part Two

By The Man

Well I've really bounced down to earth. I can only apologise for the Hunslet wager. If I saw the same price with the same circumstances I'd do the same again but perhaps now I need to re-adjust my thoughts on Hunslet. I had them as pre-season favourites having assembled a very big, strong squad but I guess they are a lot closer to the pack than I envisaged. It could be a very tight league with York, Oldham and Blackpool also having aspirations for the title.
 
I was waiting for team news for a Super League wager and I wanted to oppose Harlequins if they still had all their players missing. However, Temata and Orr are set to return and although I'll still try to lay them on the exchanges at poor odds the temptation to go with the bookmakers has waned.
 
I still have a couple from the Championships:
 
Whitehaven v Toulouse


 
13th March 18:00 GMT

I'm predicting a very long season for Haven. They were once virtually top dogs in their league and were only seconds away from securing a Super League slot but that side has broken up in the past few years and the replacements aren't of sufficient quality. I admit it's always difficult to go the Rec' but it is not the fortress of old.
Haven have had a shocking Northern Rail campaign. Beaten by Batley at home and Keighley away is poor but to compound that with a comprehensive defeat at lower league Workington is shocking. Last week they even struggled to dispose of the amateurs Leigh Miners Rangers and only a few late scores gave the scoreline a flattering look. I feel Haven are a team to oppose until the bookmakers catch on.

Toulouse haven't taken part in the Northern Rail cup but got their league campaign off to a winning start with a comeback victory over Dewsbury and followed up with a Challenge cup win at Keighley. They look to have improved their squad for their second tilt at the English game and I feel they are more than capable of winning this fixture. I had Whitehaven by 4pts.

Pick: Toulouse +8 3pts @ 1.91 with Ladbrokes or Sky Bet

 
Workington v York


 
14th March 15:00 GMT

Workington have had a big recruitment drive in the off season and have picked up many Barrow based players that have become surplus to requirements after they have spent big. The likes of the Finch brothers, Dutton, Backhouse and Whitehead were key figures in Barrow's Championship One winning side so know what is required at this level. They have been reasonably competitive in the cup with victories against Gateshead and Whitehaven and a close defeat at home to Swinton. Last week's trouncing in the cup at Featherstone can be ignored to a degree as a number of players were rested.

York are one of the favourites for promotion. They were rocked with the suspension of their coach for RFL disciplinary reasons but Chris Thorman has handled the job well. They have had some decent sized wins at Rochdale and Gateshead and the notable scalp of Leigh in the cup and I really can't see them losing this one but hopefully we will see Workington be competitive and repeat their Whitehaven form. I had York by 12pts.

Pick: Workington +16 2pts @ 1.91 with Ladbrokes or Sky Bet
 
The Man