Challenge Cup 5th Round Preview

Friday 20^th May 2011.

I hope you’ve had a great week!  Exams are coming thick and fast so please excuse me if the previews and reviews are a bit short over the next few weeks. I’ll try my best to keep up with it all but as you can imagine I’ll be a little short of time!

Warrington Wolves v Swinton Lions;

KO: 20:00

Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

Referee: T Roby

Teams;

Warrington (17 from): Atkins, Blythe, Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Clarke, Cooper, Grix, Higham, King, J Monaghan, M Monaghan, Morley, O'Brien, Riley, Solomona, Westwood, Williams, Wood.

Swinton (17 from): Mort, Foxen, Dodd, Hurst, Flooks, Ainscough, Watson, Morrison, Smith, Holland, Hawkyard, Cunniffe, Joseph, Ashall, Wilson, Paterson, Meekin, Gallagher, Hamilton.

I used to think Swinton were actually called Swindon; I still called them Swindon up until sometime last year when I was told that they’re two completely different places. You guys will definitely sleep tonight after hearing that, I’m sure!

Warrington have been given arguably the easiest tie of the round, and that’s no disrespect to Swinton. League leaders of Super League (Swinton are also league leaders, of Championship one) Warrington will rest Brett Hodgson who got injured last Friday during their thrashing of Castleford last Friday, he confirmed that night on his twitter page that it was only a spasm and that he’d be fit, there is no point playing him in this match anyway! Louis Anderson will also be rested and not Vinnie as reported by the BBC, as the latter no longer plays for them!

Swinton are clearly doing well this season as they are sat at the top of Championship One. I don’t really know too much about them I’m afraid so if you’re a Swinton fan I apologise for not knowing your geographical location (you wouldn’t have thought that I got an A* in Geography the other day would you?!) and for knowing literally nothing about your team. Oh and for what I’m about to say….

To be honest, I can’t see this being anything other than another 50+ score for Warrington. They’re on fire at the moment and whatever they do seems to come off for them. Good luck to both sides.

Leeds Rhinos v Harlequins RL;

KO: 20:00

Venue: Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds

Referee: B Thaler

Teams:

Leeds (17 from): Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, Burgess, Hauraki, Clarkson, McShane, Hardaker.

Harlequins (17 from): Ambler, Bailey, Bolger, Burnett, Calderwood, Clubb, Dorn, Ellis, Gale, Howell, Koupartisas, Krasniqi, Melling, O'Callaghan, Randall, Temata, Ward, Wilkes, Williams.

You’ll be happy to know that I know the geographical locations of both these cities as I visit both regularly, aha.

Leeds are in good form at the minute having won their last five matches (in league and cup) whereas Harlequins are quite the opposite. Their Super League form is terrible; they haven’t won a Super League match since the 11^th March. They did thrash Gateshead a couple of weeks ago to progress to this round of the Challenge Cup however, it was nothing more than expected.

Chris Clarkson is set to return for the Rhinos this weekend after limping off in the previous round’s match with a suspected broken ankle. They’re still without the other two players, Danny McGuire and Brent Webb, who were injured in the same game.

I’m not to sure as to which way this result will go. The Challenge Cup is a whole different game and it depends on who is most up for it on the day. I’ll stick with the form – and home – side, Leeds for the win!

 Salford City Reds v Hull KR;

KO: 20:00

Venue: The Willows, Salford

Referee: T Alibert

Teams;

Salford (17 from): this never fails to happen on Challenge Cup weekend. I am lacking team news!

Hull KR (17 from): Briscoe, Cook, Cockayne, Clinton, Dobson, Fox, Fisher, Galea, Green, Hodgson, Lovegrove, Latus, Murrell, Netherton, Vella, Wheeldon, Webster, Welham, Watts.

Despite lacking team news for Salford several sources have told me which players are set to miss out, through injury or otherwise. Wayne Godwin and Ashley Gibson won’t be playing as they were both injured in last week’s defeat by Hull FC. Sean Gleeson is set to return, however, after recovering from a hernia operation.

Hull KR may well be without Liam Watts despite scans showing that he hadn’t broken his thumb in the victory over Bradford last weekend; Clint Newton and Liam Colbon are also out. Scott Murrell will be available to play though.

This is the sort of match that I’m not really bothered who wins. Hull KR.  

As I leave school tomorrow (yipee!) I may be a little late in posting Saturday's match previews. They will be up either tomorrow (Friday) night or Saturday morning. :-)