National League One
previews R7

National League One is a ten team competition, that operates a division below Superleague. Clubs compete for the potential of promotion to Superleague as long as the winning clubs is deemed to meet criteria regarding facilities, finances and off-field management. It is also where clubs relegated from Superleague usually take their place their next season.

This weekend sees four games in Round 7 of comeptition. The current table is as follows:

Hull KR 12pts (undefeated) Leigh 10 pts Whitehaven 9 pts Rochdale 6 pts (with a game in hand) Widnes 6 pts (with a game in hand) Halifax 6pts Doncaster 5pts Batley 4pts York 0pts Oldham 0pts

LHF HEALTHPLAN NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE PREVIEWS; ROUND 7

Batley Bulldogs v Leigh Centurions

Batley will be without John Gallagher (hamstring) and Mark Toohey (knee) this weekend.

And the Bulldogs have been dealt another blow with the news that Iain Marsh will miss the next six weeks with a finger injury.

Bulldogs? boss Gary Thornton said: ?Leigh are second in LHF Healthplan League One and going really well so we have to expect a tough game.

?However, we always seem to perform pretty well against them and we are certainly up for the challenge this week. Hopefully, we can use the confidence gained from our last two wins to help us kick on and get a result on Sunday.?

The Centurions are hoping for their sixth consecutive victory as they look to maintain the pressure on leaders Hull KR.

Paul Rowley and Gary Sykes could return after both suffering throat infections last week but Jules O?Neill (ankle) is likely to be on the sidelines again.

Halifax v Oldham

Halifax are looking to put a heartbreaking defeat at Whitehaven behind them with a solid show against LHF Healthplan League One strugglers Oldham on Sunday.

Anthony Farrell?s men led at Whitehaven with less than three minutes remaining only to concede two late tries to deny them the points.

Damian Gibson (hand) is still likely to be missing although Andy Spink and Joel Penny both made successful returns last weekend.

But a determined Oldham outfit will be searching for their first win of the season at the Shay.

Roughyeds? boss Steve Deakin watched his side crash to an 80-6 defeat at Hull KR last week but he said: ?We?ve made a conscious decision to put it to bed and to look for a positive reaction from everyone.

?All year the boys have trained well, we?ve just got to work hard and try to turn it around.

?Our difficulty is: which Halifax team turns up? They?re a Jekyll and Hyde team, capable of outstanding football. But, at the same time, they can make some errors, too.

?We have to prepare for what we anticipate to be a very good Halifax team and meet the challenge head on.?

Rochdale Hornets v Whitehaven

Hornets? coach Darren Abram will attempt to halt a run of three consecutive victories when his side comes up against Whitehaven on Sunday.

Abram believes that Dave Rotheram?s side are good outside bets for promotion but he is hoping to put a dent in their chances with his side?s first win since April 30.

Abram said: ?I think Whitehaven could be the dark horses for promotion, especially with the players that I?ve coached there in John Duffy, Steve Maden, Mark Leafa and Rob Jackson.

?They?ve got some real talent there and that quality is all over the field. Once they get used to the new playing style I think they could cause real problems for everyone in this division.?

Paul Owen (ribs), John Hill (shoulder) and Chris Campbell (work commitments) are all missing for Rochdale while Rob Jackson (ribs) is unlikely to feature for Whitehaven.

Whitehaven coach Dave Rotheram said: ?We?ve played Rochdale once already this season and they showed what they can do that day. They were certainly the better team in the second half.

?But this is a good opportunity for us to get ourselves our first LHF Healthplan League One double of the year and that?s what we?re aiming for.?

York City Knights v Widnes Vikings

The struggling Knights will continue their quest for their first win of the LHF Healthplan League One campaign without Craig Farrell (ligament damage) and Jason Golden (broken leg).

Jon Liddell (dead leg) is also doubtful but coach Mick Cook is hopeful that Dan Potter will make his return to action.

Cook said: ?Widnes have just made three quality signings. They?ve added beef to their pack and craft to their halfbacks ? it was always going to be tough, and this has just made it a little bit more difficult.

?But it?s down to us to deal with it. We have to produce a game-plan that will challenge Widnes and get the attitude in defence that will keep Widnes away from our try-line.?

Vikings? boss Steve McCormack will include all three of his new signings from Wigan, with Dennis Moran, Jordan James and Oliver Wilkes all set for their Widnes debut.

Terry O?Connor should also feature but Danny Heaton and Aaron Summers are both ruled out and Barrie McDermott and Mick Cassidy are rated no better than 50/50.

McCormack said: ?I?ve said all along that we are looking to bring quality players into this club and Dennis Moran is a prime example of that.?

Doncatser v Hull KR

Will be played on Wednesday 7 June, due to KR's Challenge Cup commitments this weekend.