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.

Diskin's comments in that local rag seem to be trying to rile up his players and fans alike, with comments relating to the amount we have to spend (not sure where he gets that information from) and saying they are underdogs (which is an odd assessment in my view).



Coldest I ever remember being was the first ever game of Super League against the Rhinos at Odsal - it did all four seasons that day - my feet lost all feeling in them by the end of it. Mind you, I was 7 years old.

Listening to the Kear interview released yesterday (see youtube) it looks like we’ll be putting out a decent squad this weekend. Storton likely to be on the bench apparently as he’s played more minutes than anyone in these friendlies. Kear was also very impressed with Milnes – apparently our best halfback defensively and got good mentions for his kicking game (noticeable versus Dewsbury when he closed the game out). Some headaches for him to pick the combination with him, Chisholm, Lilley and Keyes to choose from.

We do have 2 local papers , and this is the better one https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/sportsne ... -cup-final

We do have 2 local papers , and this is the better one https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/sportsne ... -cup-final

Don’t have any issue at all in Diskin talking the game up in the other article and trying to provide motivation for his players and Batley supporters. It beats the usual boring comments you get.

Looking forward to Sunday – hopefully I’ll manage to get one of these famous pies that everyone goes on about.

20 Man Squad for Sunday: Crossley, Evans, Farrell, Flanagan, Gibson, Green, Hallas, Hitchcox, Kirk, Lilley, Magrin, Milnes, Minchella, Oakes, Pickersgill, Ryan, Storton, Webster, Wildie, Wood

Strongest pre season squad IMO. Would suggest with only a few missing Kear is taking this one relatively seriously.

I'd start with...

Pickersgill
Ryan
Webster
Gibson
Hitchcox
Lilley
Milnes
Kirk
Wildie
Magrin
Minchella
Farrell
Wood

Crossley
Evans
Flanagan
Green
Hallas
Oakes
Storton

Strong squad that. I'm excited about Milnes. Dunno why DC and JK are excluded but good to see Milnes in there. I hope he's putting real pressure on all the big names in that position.

He's just trying out different combinations in the halves, it's good to have competition for spaces for a change!

Keyes has had a few back problems. Not sure why Chisholm isn't in the side but IIRC Lilley/Milnes is the only halfback combo Kear hasn't tried yet.

Strong squad named, I know Milnes is highly rated but I'd have gone with Chisolm just for the experience. Hope he proves me wrong and has another great game. Roll on Sunday!

Possibility of Wildie and Lilley in the halves at some point too as he impressed against Dewsbury there.

Milnes defence was notably good on Boxing Day for sure

Quote ="batley... bob"We do have 2 local papers , and this is the better one https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/sportsne ... -cup-final'" Just a shame it's owned by motor mouth Danny Lockwood

Quote ="batley... bob"We do have 2 local papers , and this is the better one https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/sportsne ... -cup-final'" Just a shame it's owned by motor mouth Danny Lockwood

Our 20. Man squad https://twitter.com/batleyrlfc/status/1 ... 77793?s=21

Our 20. Man squad https://twitter.com/batleyrlfc/status/1 ... 77793?s=21

I’ve got a feeling that tomorrow’s game is potentially going to be the coldest game I’m ever likely to attend. How’s the pitch looking at Batley?