Hobson banned for Paul tackle

The Halifax forward, Andy Hobson, has been fined £300 and banned for two matches for the use of his knees in a tackle against Bradford on Sunday, but found not guilty of a similar charge for which he was sent off.

The Halifax forward, Andy Hobson, has been fined £300 and banned for two matches for the use of his knees in a tackle against Bradford on Sunday, but found not guilty of a similar charge for which he was sent off.

Hobson was dismissed at The Shay for one tackle, on the Bulls' Hudson Smith, only a minute after another, on Bradford's captain, Robbie Paul, which went unpunished at the time, but for which he was later cited on video evidence.

Paul was taken to hospital, where he was discovered to have two broken ribs and a punctured lung - injuries that could keep him out for the rest of the season.

Bradford's coach, Matthew Elliott, complained after the match that his players were not being protected by officials. Hobson has the option ofappealing against his ban later this week.

Wigan have agreed a new, two-year contract with their long-serving forward, Mick Cassidy, who is currently in his testimonial season after 10 years with the club. The news will disappoint Warrington, who had been hoping to sign him.

Warrington also stand to lose their prolific Kiwi centre, Toa Kohe-Love, to Bradford, who could also be interested in another Wigan back-rower, Lee Gilmour, if he is made available following the re-signing of Cassidy and the impending arrival from Australia of David Furner.

The chairman of Dewsbury, Bob McDermott, insists he will have documentary proof of the Northern Ford Premiership-winning club's ability to increase its capacity at the Ram Stadium to 10,000 to meet Super League criteria by the end of the week.

Huddersfield-Sheffield, Super League's bottom club, say it could be tomorrow or Friday before they name their new coach. They are giving second interviews to five candidates including Andy Kelly, the coach sacked by Wakefield two months ago.