Co-operative Championship preview : Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:08 pm
Sunday September 18
Co-operative Championship Elimination Semi Final
Sheffield Eagles v Halifax (3:00pm)
Powerful centre Menzie Yere remains unavailable for Sheffield Eagles as he serves the second week of a two-match suspension.
Yere missed the Eagles’ 36-20 win over Widnes last week, and will again be absent on Sunday for the club’s knockout clash with Halifax.
Dane McDonald (shoulder) and Mitch Stringer (knee) are also in doubt, but Sheffield coach Mark Aston has praised his side’s ability to cope with whatever is thrown its way.
Aston said: “People have been injured and we’ve not been able to pick the team I might have wanted, but the quality of the squad is there.”
Halifax finished sixth in the Co-operative Championship table, but Aston insisted: “They didn’t win the Grand Final last season by a fluke.”
Fax full back Miles Greenwood (rib) is a major doubt, but caretaker coach Damian Ball is expecting James Haley to play despite suffering a shoulder injury against Batley.
Co-operative Championship One Qualifying Semi Final
Keighley Cougars v Workington Town (3.00pm)
Jermaine Wray (shoulder) is Keighley Cougars only doubt ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Workington Town.
The livewire hooker is struggling to recover from a knock sustained in Keighley’s 28-20 win over Whitehaven a fortnight ago.
Cougars coach Jason Demetriou said: “Jermaine’s a doubt, but other than that we’re all good.
“It’s important for us to keep calm on Sunday. The team that plays with passion and desire, but also a level head, will win the game.
“Play-off footy is about keeping control of your emotions. If we do that, we’ll be difficult to beat.”
He added: “We’ve beaten them this year, and they’ve beaten us. There’s nothing in it.
“They’ve got a good pack, and they’re directed well by Darren Holt. They’ve certainly got enough in their arsenal to make it tough. We’ll have to be on top of our game.”
Town will travel without Jack Pedley, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his ankle in training.
Joint Workington coach Gary Charlton said: “He’s had a couple of plates and a screw put in, so he’s gone for the year. He’s looking at six weeks in a pot, and then three months in rehab. He’ll be a big loss, but the boys will want to do it for him on Sunday.”
Charlton believes matching Keighley’s physical presence will be key to his side’s hopes at Cougar Park.
He said: “We’ve got to stop their forwards making ground. We’ve been working on that in training all week.
“If both teams play to their potential, it will be a really good game. If one is undercooked, the other will rattle up lots of points.”
Co-operative Championship One Elimination Semi Final
Rochdale Hornets v Doncaster (3.00pm)
Rochdale coach John Stankevitch is boosted by the return of Gary Middlehurst and Steve McDermott for Sunday’s do-or-die Co-operative Championship One play-off clash with Doncaster.
Stankevitch said: “Steve will be vital for us this week. We’ve felt we’ve caused them problems with our ruck-speed in our previous meetings, and Steve will be a massive factor.”
He added: “I’ve done a lot of video work on Doncaster. They keep things basic, complete their sets and try to force you into an error. They grind you down.
“They’ll be really confident, which they should be, but I don’t think Doncaster have seen us at anywhere near our best this season.
“We’ve gone under the radar a bit, and teams have underestimated us. We’ve used more than 40 players this season and suffered horrendous injuries, but we’re now at a place where everyone seems to be on form, we’ve got a fully fit squad and there’s a hell of a lot of hunger.”
Doncaster’s Matt Carbutt is a major doubt for the trip to Rochdale, having suffered a knee injury during last week’s play-off win over Whitehaven.
He has struggled to train this week, but coach Tony Miller has not yet given up hope of him recovering in time to face the Hornets.
Doncaster chief executive Carl Hall said: “We’re expecting another tough match, as Rochdale seem to be in top form at the minute.”
