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Hull KR stand by Godfrey

Dave Hadfield
Tuesday 18 June 2002 00:00 BST
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Hull Kingston Rovers say they will be giving their complete support to the full-back Alex Godfrey, who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an opponent after Sunday's game at Whitehaven.

Godfrey has now been released on police bail until 29 July. He was taken back to Humberside by his chairman, Wayne Smith, who says that the club will be pursuing a counter-charge of racial abuse against the Whitehaven winger Leigh Smith.

"We will be supporting Alex 100 per cent because we know the pressure he was under,'' Smith said.

"Our captain, Chris Charles, approached the referee on two or three occasions during the game about what was going on.

"It all kicked off again after the game when Alex was being interviewed by Radio Humberside and said that he had been racially abused. The player involved then confronted him again."

Smith was treated by the Whitehaven doctor for injuries to his lip and the club was saying little about the incident yesterday.

"There was some niggle during the game, but what happens on the pitch usually stays on the pitch,'' said their director, Des Byrne.

Cumbrian police have confirmed that they are investigating both complaints and the Rugby League has called for reports from both clubs and the referee.

Yorkshire have drafted Hull's Richard Horne into the side to play Lancashire in the second half of the Origin Series at Headingley tonight.

Horne missed his side's 22-18 defeat at Wigan last Friday with a knee injury but is now fit to take over at full-back, with Leon Pryce once more demonstrating his versatility by moving to stand-off. Lee Gilmour is switched to centre with his Bradford team-mate Lee Radford coming in at loose forward.

Lancashire are without their captain, Andy Farrell, due to a groin injury, with Paul Sculthorpe taking over.

If Yorkshire win, the match will go into a "golden point" period to decide the whole series.

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