Superleague: 3rd/5th August

[kompressaur]

2007-08-03 %
20:00 Salford (18/35) Draw (20) Hull K R (2)
20:00 St Helens (3/19) Draw (33) Hull (11/2)

2007-08-05 %
12:30 Harlequins RL (7/2) Draw (25) Leeds (1/3)
15:00 Bradford (2/9) Draw (33) Wakefield (9/2)
15:00 Huddersfield (2/11) Draw (33) Catalans Dragons (5)
15:00 Warrington (4/6) Draw (20) Wigan (7/4)
odds best available

[kompressaur]

WIGAN TO BOUNCE BACK
By Ian Millward

Salford v Hull KR (+6)
Salford played last weekend and performed poorly in defeat at Hull while Hull KR had the weekend off. It will be interesting to see who was disadvantaged by that. This is clearly a crucial game for both sides as they battle against relegation but if Salford can produce the no-thrills rugby that was good enough to beat Bradford they would win this one. If it is a wet night that would be to their advantage and I take them to win and cover the start. My concern is that they don't go backwards from last week's loss but they probably had one eye on this game at the KC Stadium.


St Helens v Hull (+12)
St Helens' great win last week means they will go on with it in this game. When I coached there whenever we reached a Challenge Cup final the whole club was on a high and we would play very well in the next game. They are full of confidence and while Hull beat a poor Salford side last week, they have too many injuries at present. The St Helens fans will be ecstatic to be going to the new Wembley and the players will feed off that enthusiasm. St Helens to cover - and cover easily.


Harlequins (+10) v Leeds
The return of Rob Purdham will definitely lift the home defence, he is very good in that department and gives the whole side a lift. Some of Leeds' performances of late make you wonder what they are waiting for. Unless they finish in the top two they can't win the comp and that has to be their focus. I expect them to go down to London, win the game, cover the start and post plenty of points. They are becoming inconsistent but the week off will help them and they have more firepower than a grafting Harlequins side.


Warrington v Wigan (+6)
Wigan were awful in the first 35 minutes of their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Catalans Dragons, not scoring a point and their ill-discipline in attack leading to them coughing up plenty of ball. They lacked patience, weren't using their pack and were going sideways before trying to go forwards. That smacked of a team panicking and I expect them to be desperate to prove a point after adverse reaction from their fans to the defeat and the decision of Maurice Lindsay to leave the club. They will learn from the setback and back at the same ground can win this game so they have to be the pick with the start. Warrington have improved of late but there are still weaknesses in the Wolves side.


Bradford v Wakefield (+12)
Like Wigan, Bradford will be reflecting on their failure to reach the Challenge Cup final. They had so much good possession and field position against St Helens but couldn't turn it into points. They will have looked at what they could have done better in attack and with that focus they will be in tune to score points. That could spell bad news for Wakefield, despite the fact John Kear has them playing so well. I am not very confident on this one but will take the Bulls to win and cover the 12.

Huddersfield v Catalans (+14)
The week off will have been great for Huddersfield and they will have been resting up as the Dragons beat Wigan last week in that Challenge Cup semi-final. Catalans seized on the Wigan mistakes in that game, they had so many to take advantage of, and this will be different. When a side unexpectedly reaches a shpwpiece finel their league form can suffer for a couple of weeks and that could be the case with the French team. I expect the Giants to take advantage and along with Wigan they are one of the bets of the weekend.

Titans (+6) v Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers are one of the form teams of the NRL at present and their attacking play is a joy to watch. Gold Coast welcome back their star half-back Scott Prince from injury and while he is a very good player, I am sticking with the West Tigers. They are in better form, Gold Coast have lost five in a row, and they can cover the start too.

Handicaps courtesy of Sky Bet.

WIGAN TO BOUNCE BACK: Rugby Betting News - Rugby Union News and Tips, Super League Betting, Rugby World Cup

[slick]

Cracking game on at the moment on Skysports, Just half an hr left but its a must win game for Both Saflord and Hull KR.

Salford are under the cosh but their hanging in there just about allthough 4 points behind.

[slick]

Well that put the mockers on it, Salford are getting stuffed now.