This Week's Rugby League

By The Man

This weekend sees the sees the Super League teams enter the Challenge Cup at the fourth round stage. From a betting angle I'm a big fan of this stage as you get a lot of matches with teams from different divisions. I feel the bookmakers sometimes struggle in this area and hopefully I can be a step ahead. I have managed to identify a number of wagers as the bookmakers have produced handicaps different to my tissue.
 
Swinton v Halifax

 
 
16th April 20:00 GMT

Halifax are having an in and out season but there is no doubting the quality in their ranks. They have posted two 40+ scores in their last two fixtures admittedly against two lesser lights in their division in the shape of Keighley and Toulouse and I feel they will have little problem posting that many and possible more tonight. Swinton are in a lower division and they are a long way from being a leading side. They crashed heavily at Hunslet at the weekend and they will have their work cut out keeping out a Fax team who can score for fun. Despite Halifax's leaky defence I can't see the lower division side posting too many and my handicap was in the low 40s.

Pick: Halifax -30 3pts @ 1.91 William Hill

 
Blackpool v Whitehaven

 
 
18th April 15:00 GMT

Blackpool have to a degree slipped under the radar. There has been a lot of talk about Hunslet in their league but Blackpool have every right to contest favouritism. They have been churning out the wins and have recruited with real quality. They face a major test in the shape of higher division Whitehaven but I feel they can cope. Whitehaven aren't in the best of form and, despite the victory at Dewsbury last weekend, they struggle on the road. Blackpool will really fancy their chances in this one as many of their players have played at a higher level. I had this as a scratch game and really feel it could go either way. The points on offer is a nice insurance buffer.

Pick: Blackpool +8 3pts @ 1.91 with Betfred , Boylesports or Sky Bet

 
York v Crusaders

 
 
18th April 15:00 GMT

The gap between Super League and the Championship isn't as wide as some would believe but the gap to Championship One is a chasm. Crusaders are starting to put together a decent Super League team and they do a lot of the little things right. They will be too big and too strong for York. York have struggled to a degree in their own league and I can't see them scoring many and managing to defend sufficiently. This has the makings of a really big score and the start on offer would be the minimum of my expectations. There's a fair chance the gap could be fifty and my handicap was 42pts.

Pick: Crusaders -34 3pts @ 1.91 with Betfred or Ladbrokes

 
Castleford v Barrow

 
 
18th April 15:30 GMT

Castleford are in trouble. They have a mountain of injuries, can't play their three on loan signings, have disciplinary problems and face a fans' protest at the game on Sunday. All is not right in the camp and they could do without facing the Championship winners who come in on the back of improving form. If ever a Super League team was to lose to a lower division team then this would be it. I am more than sure that Barrow are capable of winning this one outright. They pushed Wigan all the way at this stage last season and the team has improved significantly since then. I go through the teams man for man and I can't see a difference in quality. I accept the full-time Castleford players may have the fitness and strength edge and they could run in some points but the more likely scenario is that they won't. Many of Barrow's players have played at the top level and the likes of Jamie Rooney and Zeb Luisi would do a job now. The start's too big. I had Cas by 10pts.

Pick: Barrow +18  3pts @ 1.91 with VCBet

 
Catalan v Salford

  

18th April 14:00 GMT

Salford have shown improved form in their last few outings. Victory over Huddersfield and a competitive display against Wigan will have improved confidence. They face a Catalan team in some strife. They have lost Adam Mogg back to Australia and key man Clint Greenshields is injured leaving a big gap in quality. They have shown patches of form like the second half display against Leeds but backed that up with a woeful effort against Bradford. They could well see this Salford fixture as an opportunity to get their season going but they aren't too be trusted at the moment. The start on offer is the tempter. If Catalan play true to recent form then the start is far too high though I accept they do win on overall quality. Salford could win this fixture and I like starts this high when I feel a team has a chance of victory. I had Catalan by 6pts.

Pick: Salford +12 2pts @ 1.91with Sky Bet
 
The Man