Five Championship players banned

Five players from the Co-operative Championships have been suspended after submitting Early Guilty Pleas for offences committed during the final round of Northern Rail Cup group fixtures.

Featherstone Rovers player Tim Spears has been banned for two matches for committing a Grade C violent punching offence during his side’s defeat to Batley Bulldogs while Batley’s Alex Bretherton will miss one match for a Grade B striking offence in the same contest.

Featherstone’s Sam Smeaton and Batley’s Paul Mennel have both avoided suspensions after they were charged with committing Grade A offences during the fixture the Bulldogs won 34-22.

Barrow Raiders duo James Finch and Andries Venter have both been suspended for one game for committing a Grade B dangerous lift offence during their final group fixture against Whitehaven.

Paul Brearley of Rochdale Hornets will also miss one match for a Grade B dangerous contact offence committed during Rochdale’s game against Dewsbury Rams.