Championship Weekend Preview

Sheffield went top of the Championship with a win over Batley, but Halifax and Featherstone can leapfrog them with wins this weekend.

Swinton Lions v Halifax (Fri, 8.00pm)

Darren Hawkyard, Chaz I’Anson and Richie Hawkyard could all come into contention for Swinton Lions after successfully training this week.

And coach Steve McCormack is confident his side can cause a major upset in this week’s Co-operative Championship schedule.

He said: ““We have to play well to win, but we’ve shown that if we play to our full potential we are a match for any team in the division.”

Ste Tyrer (knee), Callum Casey (leg) and Ross Divorty (shoulder) will all be assessed before coach Karl Harrison names his Halifax squad for Friday’s fixture.

Ben Heaton and Mick Nanyn remain injured, meaning Harrison could give a first game of the season to club captain James Haley.

Harrison is searching for a big improvement on last week’s 23-16 defeat at Batley.

He said: “The best team won and we were a bit off. Batley wore us down and got the result.

“Maybe some players have been reading their own press. It’s always hard at Batley and if you turn up soft, you’re going to get beat.

“The table shows there are no easy games in this division this year. Everybody’s capable of beating everybody.”

Dewsbury Rams v Leigh Centurions (Sun, 1.00pm)

Ben Jones and Elliot Cosgrove could both come into contention for a place in Warren Jowitt’s plans as the Dewsbury Rams coach tries to recover from last week’s ‘horrendous’ display against Sheffield.

The Rams lost 42-10 with a performance Jowitt has been quick to blast.

He said: “We were absolutely horrendous. We were poor in every department.”

He added: “The lads are hurting, but we’ve got a good bunch here and they’re more than capable of pulling it back around.

“It’s not technical problems, it’s just that too many players haven’t performed and that has a big knock-on effect on the rest of the team.”

Jones faces a fitness test on Friday, with Jowitt admitting his return would give Dewsbury ‘more size, strength and steel in the pack’.

On Cosgrove, Jowitt said: “He’s been training really well for a month or so. The only negative with him is his match-fitness, but he’s not that far off being selected.”

Centurions could be unchanged for match in which Leigh coach Paul Rowley hopes to see significant improvement from his troops.

“Last week we were a bit loose in some areas, but it’s nothing that can’t be addressed,” said Rowley.

“Our skill level and movement off the ball, which are usually things we’re pretty good on, we’re a bit off. I expect them to be vastly improved this week.”

He added: “Whether they’re top or bottom, you know you’re going into a hard game at Dewsbury. They’re strong, enthusiastic and have no lack of skill.”

Hunslet Hawks v Featherstone Rovers (Sun, 3.00pm)

David Clayton will definitely be absent from Barry Eaton’s Hunslet Hawks squad after breaking a bone in his foot during last week’s 30-10 defeat at Leigh Centurions.

Neil Lowe is also set to miss out after suffering a knee injury on the same knee that underwent an operation during the off-season. Eaton said: “Neil’s knee is locking up a little bit, and it may be that he needs another scan to check the cartilage.”

However, Tom Henderson should be fit to play despite needed six stitches in a head wound just about his eye.

Steve Lewis and Anthony Henderson are also expected to be available.

Eaton said: “It’s been a tough couple of weeks, with Leigh away and now Featherstone at home.

“Featherstone are a formidable team. They’ve maybe not been clicking as they’d want, but I’m expecting them to be on top of their game on Sunday. It’s a huge challenge.”

Rovers must cope without talented stand-off Kyle Briggs, who faces six to 12 weeks on the sidelines after undergoing shoulder surgery.

York City Knights v Keighley Cougars (Sun, 3.00pm)

John Davies (shoulder) and Ben Johnston (finger) are both struggling as York City Knights coach Chris Thorman battles against a mounting injury list.

Nathan Freer, Alex Benson and James Houston all face late fitness tests as Thorman prepares for the visit of sixth-placed Keighley.

Cougars’ James Davey has returned to Wakefield as Ryan Smith comes into contention for Jason Demetriou’s squad.

Demetriou said: “We brought James in as cover for Jermaine Wray and Ryan Smith. Now Ryan’s back we need to make sure he gets some rugby, but it’s definitely not the end for James.”

Demetriou insists his side’s defence has been the most pleasing aspect of their campaign, with another dominant performance seeing them win 36-4 against Swinton last week.

He said: “We were too adventurous in the first half, but we calmed down a bit in the second half and scored some good tries.

“Defensively we took some energy out of them, and our defence has been good all year. We’re only averaging 14 points against us.”

However, he is not expecting an easy ride against York, despite the Knights having lost all eight of their Co-operative Championship fixtures this season.

“They were dominant against Swinton in the second half a couple of weeks ago,” said Demetriou.

“They weren’t far away there, and then they were 14-0 up against Featherstone. I don’t think they’re far away from a win, and they’ll look at this week as their chance to get back on the winning ways. We’ve got to be ruthless in our attitude.”