Easter Monday at Mount Pleasant.

Will be a tough game and the slope always plays a major part. I'll go Batley 16-26 Eagles.

Agreed, tough game but hopefully they will be tired after tomorrow nights game and we will over power them with our foward pack coming down the hill.

Eagles 32
Batley 8

M.O.M: Crookes (if he can play) - said the same last week and seemed he put in a good performance..

Attendance: 1,060

Batley is always a difficult one to call because of the pitch.
Winning the toss may play a big part especially as the weather forecast is for it to be quite warm so potentially more energy sapping for the big guys.

Both teams should be high on confidence but it remains to be seen how much their game vs Dewsbury affects their fitness. Any team coached by Karl Harrison will be no mugs though.

The narrowest of wins........for the Eagles

As ive said on threads before, its best to attack downhill first half as its easier to run up the hill than defend backwards up the hill. Weve a good record there going downhill first.

Batley Bulldogs v Sheffield Eagles 3pm
Ref G Hewer TJ J Lowery TJ S Mikalauskas RR T Owen MC J Glover

I think our prospects have just gone up Bulldogs have lost their very good scrum half to wakey!

In sport especially in rugby to play two games in 5 days is extremly tough and will take it out on the players,They may rotate a couple,On a standard sunday id say it would be either way by two to four points,but because of fatigue im going for Eagles by a good 8

You still going?

Indeed,Got me Dad to get the old shirts out of the loft,Think 5 Sodje could be the one

Ive got my ridiculously large pepsi 98 shirt lined up ready to go

Only gone and pulled out an Eagles 1995 auction shirt with number 6 on,Daryll Powells,slightly big but that will be the shirt of choice for Batley,sponsored by Superloot

1999 $uper League shirt for me

Disappointing that Wood and Cording are unavailable, maybe move Q to 6 and put the legend that is Mr J. Woodcock at fullback?

Good option and agree v disappointing

Jonny's done his other knee, it will be Cottle at fullback and Q at stand off I'd guess. Any news on Crookes and Finighan?

More likely Finnigan at Fullback (if not recalled by the Bulls) - a safe pair of hands. Danny Mills on the wing and with Q at stand-off. It'll be interesting to see how he plays there.

Good call Ian, incidentally Misi wrote on his Facebook site on Tuesday that Sheffield awaits and a few posts on his wall sugget he's on his way, so could he be here in time? Would certainly be a welcome boost if we're losing Woody.

Cording is a good player but a bit of a bonus player as i think we can cover for him easily,QT has to play stand off and not Dane Mcdonald,Could turn out to be a masterstroke if QT comes in and plays well,If Misi gets back before the next league game 15th May we should be okay,We would then have permanent players Misi 1,QT 6 and Brown 7,For me then it would be 3 forwards on the bench and Wood covering stand off and hooker role coming off the bench, which if we lost Hendo we would be stuffed,With the above the odd callback for Wood would be less critical and would ease Astons selection dilema,We have Mills to cover finnighan and Hanson to cover Crookes,If the bradford lads arnt called back this weekend its highly unlikly they'll be called back all season.What you lose can only make you stronger,According to Kyle Woods facebook his partner is due to give birth anyday so we could have lost him anyway,We should still have enough to beat Batley!!!!

Also QT seems a bit suspect under the highball and feel his better play would be in the half back role,Bit more freedom and can make an impact closer to the line.Comon Misi get yer ere sharpish!!!!

Don't forget Peter Green slots in at hooker as well. Not ideal, but it gives us another option.

I reckon for Batley it'll be Cottle at FB, QLT to Stand Off, keep rest the same and bring Battye onto the bench alongside Heppy, Rowe & McD.

Think Peter Green slotting in at hooker is the equivalent of Dane slotting in at stand off




But as you say its always an option.

Only just seen this, gutted wood can't play. I'd move QLT to 6, Finigan to FB and mills back on the wing like Ian said. If not bring in Jamie Cottle for FB he did an okay job earlier this season.

Why would that affect his availability ?

He's already played there this season, EB2.

It's times like these we could really use the versatility of someone like Calden Bravo.