Siddal host Heath, eye West Hull showdown

Siddal face Premier Division rivals Thatto Heath at Chevinedge tomorrow trying to tee up a top of the table showdown with arch rivals West Hull in a fortnight’s time.

Gareth Greenwood’s side, who ended a run of uncertain form with a 20-4 home win over Leigh Miners Rangers last time out, currently sit third on the National Conference ladder.

But a win against the St Helens outfit tomorrow would cut their deficit to Wests - last season’s Grand Final winners - to two points ahead of the meeting between the teams at Siddal next month.

“It’s a big one; if we win we’ll be two points behind Wests when they come here, which would make that a very different kind of game,” said Greenwood.

“There will only be five league games left after this one, so these opportunities aren’t going to come around very often now and we need to make sure we take them.

“I don’t see West Hull losing again unless we beat them, so we need to keep the pressure on them.

“We’ve got a few players back now and hopefully we’ve turned the corner.

“We’ve had good numbers at training and it’s looking more like the team that started the season for us.”

Greenwood expects to name an unchanged side, with only long term absentees Shaun Garrod, Sean McCormack and Danny Keane out of contention. Castleford have confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in rugby league by announcing the sale of their highly-rated hooker Daryl Clark to Warrington.

The 21- year- old Clark, who scored his side’s first try in Saturday’s 23-10 Challenge Cup final defeat by Leeds, will leave his home-town club at the end of the season and join the Wolves on a four-year contract.

Clark, whose outstanding form this year earned him a call-up for England, has been linked with a move away from the Tigers since submitting a transfer request two years ago and Castleford revealed on Wednesday that the deal was completed last year at the height of their financial troubles.

Chief executive Steve Gill said “It is with a heavy heart that Castleford Tigers can confirm the sale of Daryl Clark to Warrington Wolves at the end of this season.

“The sale was agreed back in 2013 when the club had a real threat of going into administration and this decision was made to ensure we had financial stability at the club.

“We negotiated Daryl’s services for this season as part of that sale and he has been an integral part of our success this season.

“The club would like to thank Daryl for his professional attitude.”