This Week's Rugby League - Part Two

By The Man

Wakefield v Crusaders



11th April 15:30 GMT

Wakefield were comprehensively beaten by Wigan last time out and for the second time this season they conceded over fifty points. The other occasion was against Huddersfield and they just don't seem to be able to handle the better teams. However, following the last mauling they bounced back with victory at Hull KR and as a rule they seem to have the ability to put away the weaker outfits.

Crusaders are making a decent fist of their second season in Super League but they still remain limited. They have a mechanical approach to their play with completing sets and a kicking game their priority, a trait many of Brian Noble's teams have had.

This game could well be a grind but I just expect Wakefield to have too much. As ever, the real reason for the wager is that my numbers disagree with the layers. I had Wakefield as 12pt favourites and my original, and still worthwhile play, was to take them to win by more than eight points on the handicap. However, the odds on offer for the match equate to a handicap in the 6-7pt range. I would expect as low as 1.33 for the handicap on offer. So purely for greater value as opposed to worrying about the taking the safer option I'll side with Wakefield to win the match.

Pick: Wakefield 2pts @ 1.4 (Betinternet)

 
Rochdale v London Skolars

 

11th April 15:00 GMT

London are a woeful outfit and as ever with this sort of sides they are very inconsistent. They always lose but the margin tends to fluctuate greatly often depending on the attitude of their opponents. In the last couple of games they have won on the handicap at Doncaster and at home to Blackpool but the former are no great shakes whilst the latter game was in a mudbath.

Rochdale are a half decent team and with the pitch at Spotland firming up I would expect them to have a comfortable victory posting a lot of points. It will be their desire in defence that will be the making of the bet but even if it is a little leaky I still would be hopeful that the scores at the other end will allow us to cover. I had Rochdale by 34pts.

Pick: Rochdale -20 3pts @ 1.91(Ladbrokes)

 
South Wales v Oldham

 

11th April 14:00 GMT

South Wales are a new team and it has been a little difficult to gauge them. They have got off to a decent start and look to be play-off contenders. A heavy defeat at home to Hunslet perhaps doesn't tell the whole story as they matched the league favourites for a long period.

Oldham are unbeaten but I still see flaws in their team. Hopefully the layers have been guilty of staring at the league table rather than judging the merits of the personnel available. A long trip to Wales won't help part-time players having to play their third game in eight days and I'm sure they'd take any kind of victory.

The start on offer suggests victory will be straightforward but I'm not convinced and I wouldn't rule out a home win. I had Oldham by 6pts.

Pick: South Wales +12 2pts @ 1.91(Bet365 & Ladbrokes)
 
The Man