RUGBY LEAGUE ROUND UP: Newlove proves fitness as Iro displays readiness

Paul Newlove more than proved his fitness for the forthcoming World Cup with a hat-trick as Bradford registered a comfortable 34-18 win against Sheffield in the Stones Centenary Championship. Back in action after missing two games with a hamstring injury, he made his mark with a superb individual try from 40 yards which gave the Bulls a 14-4 first-half lead.

Later, he swooped twice to touch down kicks to the line by Deryck Fox and he might well have had a fourth try in the closing stages but unselfishly passed to Gerald Cordle, who was then adjudged to have gone into touch as he crossed the line.

Leeds signed off for the World Cup break by staying on the heels of leaders Wigan at the top of table. They ran in seven tries against injury-hit Oldham with the Kiwi centre, Kevin Iro, warming up for the World Cup by producing a devastating display of powerful running. He scored only once in the 43-14 victory but had a hand in several other tries.

Some injury problems did emerge from the game. Paul Atcheson, Oldham's full-back, meets up with the Welsh World Cup squad tonight hoping a hamstring injury, which forced him off with 15 minutes remaining, will not prove serious.

England's Paul Cook, who played on the wing for Leeds, finished with a sore back and their Tongan prop, George Mann, had a slight hamstring pull but both are expected to be fit.

Someone who is definitely out, at least for one game, is John Lomax, the New Zealand prop. He misses their opening game against Tonga on 8 October at Warrington because of a one-match suspension sustained after his dismissal for a high tackle in a trial game in Auckland on Friday.