Let the game flow, pleads Benson

TONY Benson is hoping for a free-flowing game against Hunslet Hawks this weekend.

Monday night’s home clash with Hornets RL at Sedgley Park featured a total of 33 penalties, 18 of which were awarded to the visitors by referee Jamie Leahy as he followed the new RFL edict of clamping down on interference at the play-the-ball.

As far as the Roughyeds coach is concerned ahead of Sunday’s trip to the South Leeds Stadium, that is too many - for both his own team to prosper and for the game to be anything of a spectacle.

“We are hoping it is not a penalty-fest again,” said Benson. “If you look at the time the ball was actually in play, there was a penalty virtually every minute and every time we got some momentum it was halted again.

“It is difficult for referees as they have to do as they are told. But it does not encourage people to come and watch.”

Dewsbury-based referee Craig Halloran takes charge of Sunday’s clash as Benson adds three new players to the line-up which saw off Hornets 24-14 on Monday.

Marcus St Hilaire, Mark Brocklehurst and Scott Mansfield all come in, with St Hilaire a likely replacement for John Gillam should the winger be ruled out by a shoulder injury.

Hunslet have been rocked by the news that Luke Haigh is facing up to ten weeks on the sidelines after suffering a broken jaw in last weekend’s 60-12 win at London Skolars.

“It’s bitterly disappointing, but as Luke moves out somebody else gets an opportunity,” said the Hawks coach Paul March.

“I don’t think our performance in London backed up the score. We didn’t get out of second gear.”


CHRIS HAMILTON, the Roughyeds chairman, was today trying to get hold of Council leader Howard Sykes for an urgent meeting about the ground situation. Hamilton is seeking an update so he can pass it on to the club’s supporters.