Injuries deplete Bradford pack before Cup final

Dave Hadfield
Wednesday 16 April 2003 00:00 BST
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Bradford's legendary pack strength could be stretched to the limit this weekend in their one remaining match before the Powergen Challenge Cup final against Leeds. The Bulls expect to be without Joe Vagana, Jamie Peacock, Mike Forshaw and Daniel Gartner against Hull on Friday night. Forshaw, who has a troublesome biceps injury, is the biggest doubt for the final on 26 April.

The roof of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium will be closed for the big occasion, not to keep any rain out in this driest of springs, but to prevent the occupants of some of the best seats being dazzled by the sun.

Bradford want to play their game against London Broncos, scheduled for next Monday but postponed because of the final, on 30 July. The League's usual policy is that it should be played within 10 days of the final but that could involve the Broncos playing twice in three days.

Wigan, already facing their most disrupted start to a season for a generation, have lost another player with a long-term injury. The scrum half, Luke Robinson, broke a hand in the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Bradford on Sunday and will be out for six weeks.

The centre, David Hodgson, dislocated a shoulder in the same game and could be out for as long, leaving the Wigan coach, Stuart Raper, to somehow scratch a team together for Friday's traditional bank holiday derby against St Helens.

Two teenagers who were on standby for the semi-final, David Allen and Kevin Brown, are likely to make their debuts against Saints and it is even possible that players like Simon Haughton and Phil Jones, who were allowed to go to Wigan's sister club, Orrell, could be borrowed back when their rugby union commitments are over.

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