Errant Fairbank brought to earth

Bradford's Great Britain forward, Karl Fairbank, sent off last Sunday for a head-high tackle on the Leeds captain, Ellery Hanley, has been banned for two games.

The Rugby League's disciplinary committee has also imposed a two-match suspension on the Oldham hooker, David Stephenson, for his trip on Wigan's Va'aiga Tuigamala. Stephenson had been been placed on report by the referee, Russell Smith, during last Saturday's Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-final at Huddersfield. He was referred to the disciplinary hearing by the League executive committee, which viewed the incident on video.

Leigh's Homman Tuavao, sent off against Batley last weekend for punching, has been found not guilty of the offence, and Dewsbury's Phil Cornforth, dismissed against Keighley nine days ago for use of the forearm, has escaped a ban after receiving a "sending-off sufficient" verdict.

Doncaster look set to fulfil their remaining fixtures this season, starting with Sunday's Championship match at Bradford Northern, despite reports that the players might refuse to play after a disagreement with the club's administrators over payments.

The Doncaster secretary, Granville Bowen, insisted yesterday: "There is no danger that the players will not turn out and there has not been any threat of strike action."

Maurice Lindsay, the Rugby League's chief executive, said: "The issue of non-payment of players is one which we view with great concern. The whole administration procedure will be discussed in full by the Rugby League board next Wednesday.

"We shall be considering ways in which we can prevent such situations arising again and, if that means that we decide to expel automatically any club which goes into administration, then so be it."

The Oldham vice-captain, Mike Kuiti, has said he is ready to return home to New Zealand when his contract expires at the end of the season, because he still has not been offered a new deal.

The club's chairman, Jim Quinn, said Kuiti would be offered a new contract, but not until the board had worked out an overall strategy within new salary-cap restrictions.

Salford have signed the former Great Britain Under-21 prop, Phil Sumner, on loan from Warrington until the end of the season. The Salford-born Sumner joins his Warrington team-mate, Rob Myler, who moved on loan earlier this week.

Rochdale have signed the Leigh forward, Mark Meadows, on loan until the end of the season.