From News and Star
COACH Dave Rotheram is unhappy that Whitehaven playmaker John Duffy has
been forced out of tomorrow's NL1 trip to Batley after falling
victim to a vicious high shot against reigning NL3 champs Bramley
Buffaloes last week.
Full-back Shaun Flynn was red-carded following the tackle, made as
Duffy was touching down for a second-half try at the Kells End in the
Northern Rail Cup clash.
Bramley also had two players sin-binned in an explosive second-half,
while Haven, who won 52-4, had Marc Jackson sent off for punching and
fellow prop Steve Trindall yellow-carded for interference.
Duffy has a nasty cut to the mouth and has been suffering headaches
this week.
"We have lost our best player for an important NL1 games as a
result of a foul tackle, while he was in the act of scoring," said
Rotheram. "It has affected John and the doctor is not happy with
him."
Flynn has not yet been dealt with by the RFL, so Rotheram felt unable
to comment publicly on the tackle, though he is clearly angry at being
denied the services of his No 7.
The experienced Leroy Joe will step up to partner Carl Rudd at
half-back.
"This is the sort of game where we need a big, physical team, and
Leroy doesn't mind running the ball at people," the coach added.
In more bad news for Haven, back-rower Scott McAvoy has been diagnosed
with a double hernia and faces three months on the sidelines.
But skipper Aaron Lester, Richard Fletcher, Carl Sice and Graeme
Mattinson all return at Mount Pleasant after being rested last week,
while centre Rob Jackson is ready to resume after recovering from a rib
injury.
Batley pair John Gallagher and Mark Toohey will return but David Best
and David Rourke are both likely to miss out.
