Yorkshire Cup Final – Batley (A) Sunday 20th Jan 2pm

Predictions? I think this will be tough. It’s going to be cold. Playing at Batley is never easy. At least Kear knows the opposition well. A lot depends on the side he picks. It’s an interesting one since it’s still a pre-season game yet the fact that it’s a final means it means a little bit more. Do we approach it in the way we would a league game? Or do we use it as a chance to give the fringe players a final chance to stake a claim? We have one more pre season game versus Toronto that might fulfil that purpose.

Given the current injuries to Hitchcox, Crossley, Peltier, Wilson and Bustin we’re a way of full strength up front. I’m assuming Bustin is out for a while – has anyone heard anything? As for Wilson he broke his thumb so that could be a few weeks before he’s back. When I saw Batley play Odsal they looked like they had some very big lads. They also looked well drilled and have a bit of pace in Jonny Campbell and power in Wayne Rettie.

If we are going full strength I think I’d go with a 20 man squad looking like this:

Pickersgill
Rickett – or DFJ if he can play on the right
Evans – in front of Gibson now IMO
Webster
Ryan
Chisholm
Lilley
Kirk
Wildie
Magrin
Farrell
Minchella
Wood

Green
Flanagan
Hodgson
Keyes – might start if he’s over the back spasms.
Storton
Foster/Scurr – I don’t think O’Sullivan is 1st team quality yet.
Gibson

They can dress it up all they want but make no mistake, this is a friendly match and nothing more.
No point taking any risks on anyone, I'd much rather Kear used games like this to assess the level at which our fringe/reserve players are at.

Any danger of the pitch freezing this weekend?

I doubt JK will be expecting a half hearted display from Batley and will want the Bulls up for this game!

There is always a risk of injuries in pre-season friendlies or training anyway!

If the forward power is a little under for Sunday I'm sure the Bulls have enough nous to move a heavy opposition pack around!

Batley 20 - 16 Bradford. Their paddock, few of our 'stars' missing and a nice little 'keep your feet on the ground' for us

Disco is up for it https://www.batleynews.co.uk/sport/rugb ... -1-9539127

Disco is up for it https://www.batleynews.co.uk/sport/rugb ... -1-9539127

That's very interesting point.

If not, do we have a vacant slot to put it into before the season starts? Not sure about Batley, but I don't think we have. I can't see either club wanting this, essentially friendly game, messing up the start of the 'real' season.

Weather forecast is for it not to freeze this weekend. However this is "Mount Pleasant" so wrap up. I think the coldest I've ever been at a rugby match in the 38 years I've been going was there. It's run pretty close by games at Odsal, Thrum Hall and Watersheddings.

Mount Pleasant is cold but nothing beats the Watersheddings for absolute freezingly your nads off!!! I think the last time I went there I was frozen solid... and it was JULY!!!

Tend to agree with that assessment....

I don't think this will be a friendly.