Tomlinson given six-match ban

A Northern Ford Premiership player has been suspended for six matches for the rarely committed offence of threatening a referee.

Glen Tomlinson, Batley's Australian scrum-half who has also played for Bradford and Wakefield, was sent to the sin-bin by the referee Ben Thaler for verbal abuse during the Buddies' National League Cup match against Dewsbury and charged with using threatening words to an official.

The only other six-match ban this season was given to the London Broncos' Rob Jackson last week for biting.

Oldham's former Widnes and Bradford loose forward, Tommy Hodgkinson, has announced his retirement at the age of 31, a decision he has been forced into by a neck injury.

The Leeds backs, Tonie Carroll and Chev Walker, are winning their race to be fit in time for Sunday's Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens.

The London Broncos' stand-off, Rob Purdham, will be out for three weeks after breaking a bone in his hand.

Wakefield's new South African centre, Ian Voortman, is likely to be thrust straight into the team when he finishes playing for Kendal rugby union club later this month.

Trinity are struggling with a long injury list, mainly in the backs.