Rugby League: Gregory escapes punishment

THE SALFORD coach, Andy Gregory, went into last night's game at Halifax with his club's threat of disciplinary action against him having been lifted.

Gregory had been the subject of an internal inquiry over his remarks about his players and his future after the defeat at Wakefield last month, but the matter has now been closed without any punishment following a meeting with his chairman, John Wilkinson.

"We met man to man and shook hands," said Gregory. "All the chairman is concerned about is getting Salford back to winning ways."

The Rugby League has sent out a memo to referees and coaches, telling them that a tactic which has crept into the game this season is illegal.

The "mousetrap" move, where two attacking players go to dummy half, one as a decoy and one to restart play, has been permitted in Australia, but is regarded as deliberate offside here. Several teams, including St Helens at Wigan on Good Friday, have been allowed to use it, but the League has issued a reminder that it should be penalised.

Super League has defended the rescheduling of next Sunday's televised Sheffield versus Leeds match to the afternoon rather than the evening. The change has been made because of Sky's coverage of the Scottish FA Cup semi-finals and creates the unfortunate precedent of a live television match while games are being played elsewhere.

"It is not ideal, but it is a scheduling matter and will not be a regular occurrence," said Super League's media manager, Andrew Whitelam, who is confident that tonight's match between Huddersfield and Castleford will take the Easter aggregate of attendances over the 100,000 mark.

The England coach, John Kear, has appealed to the Leeds forward, Adrian Morley, not to commit himself to Ireland or Wales - for both of whom he qualifies - but to play for England in next year's World Cup.

Kear is also to sound out the Wigan stand-off, Greg Florimo, and the Warrington centre, Toa Kohe-Love - born in Australia and New Zealand respectively - about whether they would be interested in using their qualifications to play for England.

Florimo and his Wigan team-mate, Kris Radlinski, are having checks on injuries that could keep them out of the game against Warrington - one of only two teams with perfect Super League records - this weekend.

The former New Zealand Test full-back Matthew Ridge and former Warrington centre Nigel Vagana have been banned for three matches for manhandling a referee. The pair, who have also been censured and fined by their club, Auckland Warriors, pleaded guilty to misconduct after grabbing Paul Simpkins during Saturday's defeat to Balmain.