Bell to miss showdown with Warriors after ban
JAMES Bell is set to miss St Helens’ huge showdown with Wigan Warriors this Friday after picking up a suspension.
The forward, who has been a key player for Paul Wellens’ side this season, has received a one-match ban for a dangerous contact charge.
The incident came during the club’s Challenge Cup victory over Leeds Rhinos and, as a result, he will miss the battle between Super League’s two heavily-tipped sides, subject to an appeal of course.
The suspension has caught many by surprise given Bell wasn’t penalised for an incident during the game.
It was, in fact, an innocuous incident.
It took place during the first half of the game when Leeds were coming out of their own half.
Paul Momirovski was the ball carrier and the Australian got up gingerly after Bell had come around the back of the tackle.
The Rhinos player appeared to hobble away from the tackle.
As it is, Leeds coach Rohan Smith confirmed on Monday that Momirovski is now a doubt for their night visit tomorrow to Castleford Tigers as a result of an ankle issue picked up in the game, though he didn’t confirm that it was a result of that tackle.
“He’s not too bad,” Smith said. “But he’s having a scan to check the extent of the damage and that’ll give us the best indication of the best path forward.”
Footage of the incident has now made its way onto social media.
Town begin their run-in with a clash at home to play-off chasing Coventry City on Good Friday, before facing back-to-back relegation strugglers.
The Terriers travel to face Stoke City on Easter Monday, before hosting Millwall at the John Smith’s Stadium on April 6. Consecutive away
Second-from-bottom Wednesday face mid-table Swansea City next up at Hillsborough on Good Friday before taking on tenth-placed Middlesbrough away from home on Easter Monday.
Danny Rohl’s side then take on fellow relegation battler QPR at Loftus Road on April 6, prior to back-toback home games against play-off chasing Norwich City and another fellow struggler in Stoke City.
The Owls then face a third bottom eight side in the form of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on April 20. Wednesday’s final home match of the season is against promotionchasing West Bromwich Albion. Remaining fixtures:
March 29 – Swansea City (H)
April 1 – Middlesbrough (A)
April 6 – QPR (A)
April 9 – Norwich City (H)
April 13 – Stoke City (H)
April 20 – Blackburn Rovers (A) April 27 – West Bromwich Albion (H)
Having appointed Gary Rowett as their interim boss over the international break, the Blues kick off their run-in with a relegation six-pointer at Loftus Road on Good Friday, where they take on fifth-from-bottom QPR.
Three of their following four games are then played at St Andrew’s, where they host three top-half sides in Preston North End, Cardiff City and Coventry City, while they also face a trip to promotionchasing Leicester City in between on April 6. The Blues then face back-to-back away trips to bottom three sides in Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town, before rounding off their campaign with a home clash against sixth-placed Norwich City. Remaining fixtures:
March 29 – QPR (A)
April 1 – Preston North End (H) April 6 – Leicester City (A) April 10 – Cardiff City (H) April 13 – Coventry City (H) April 20 – Rotherham United (A) April 27 – Town (A)
May 4 – Norwich City (H)
A potentially pivotal fixture awaits Town on April 27 as they host Birmingham
■■QPR - 20TH (P38 PTS 40)
After the above-mentioned clash with Birmingham City on Good Friday, the Rs make the trip to South Wales to take on Swansea City on Easter Monday. However, Marti Cifuentes’ side then face two further relegation clashes back-to-back
Stoke take on play-off chasing Hull City away from home on Good Friday before hosting Town on Easter Monday. Top-six side West Bromwich Albion follow on April 6, before they travel to face Swansea City away from home on April 10.
The Potters then face secondfrom-bottom Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, before Steven Schumacher hosts his former club Plymouth Argyle. Stoke face Southampton at St Mary’s in their final away game on April 27, before closing out the campaign at home to 14th-placed Bristol City.
Remaining fixtures:
March 29 – Hull City (A)
April 1 – Town (H)
April 6 – West Bromwich Albion (H)