Saturday's coming!
Whitehaven come to Spotland on the back of yet another draw with Stupid League pretenders Salford. Having gone into last week's game on the back of a defeat against Doncaster, most people thought that Salford would prove a step too far for Steve McCormack's side - but the ex-Salford coach seems to have the measure of his former team: and the nous to fire up his own when it really matters.
So 'Haven get to spend a Saturday with us at Spotland - and it's set to be another tight, combative and competitive arm wrestle as Hornets seek to turn up the heat on Leigh and Salford.
But - as with last week - McCormack will have other ideas. He's assembled a quality side at the Recre' and we'll have to be on top of our game to grab the points. The whole Whitehaven side revolves around the Leroy Joe / Darren Holt halfback fulcrum. Joe's a livewire, niggling pest who puts himself - and his side - about a fair bit. Give him a foot and he'll take a yard - and probably your ear.
Darren Holt is one of the quality scrum halves in this division. With great vision, good hands and a radar in his boot (he sealed the draw last week with a tough conversion - and even had the temerity to try and nick it with a late, late drop goal attempt from half-way) he has the ability to steal games away while you're not looking. The battle between him and Ian Watson should be worth the admission money alone.
Up front the workmanlike pack is led by barnstorming David Fatialofa, while one-man try machine David Seeds still lurks out in the three quarters waiting for any half chance to pass his way. The team is topped and tailed by the top level experience of Gary Broadbent and Howard Hill.
Quite a formidable challenge.
But Hally won't be fazed. The pack was massively dominant against the hapless Biffs last week and will be key to putting the brakes on the momentum created by Joe and Holt.
Ian Watson and Radney Bowker will be called upon to produce top notch performances if we are to grab this absolutely vital two points.
Make no mistake, this really will be the game at Spotland that everyone will be really interested in this weekend. Forget the sideshow of the Late Trains Cup final - let Salford and Leigh knock seven bells out of each other in a meaningless battle while we get on with the serious business of securing league points.
This is as equally matched a game as you could get in the National League. It'll require guile, guts and big hearts to pull this one off - and we've got that under Hally. It'll be an absolute belter. Enjoy.
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