Rugby League Halifax will be without John Bentley and Mike Umaga for Sunday's Challenge Cup

Rugby League

Halifax will be without John Bentley and Mike Umaga for Sunday's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds, unless they succeed in appeals today. Bentley has been suspended for one match after being sent off for a high tackle, whilst Umaga has been given a three match ban for striking an opponent after being placed on report. Michael Jackson has decided against appealing over his three-match ban after being cited by Sheffield for use of the forearm in the same Cup tie match on Sunday.

Kevan Gorge, the former Workington chairman who stood down to let a Scottish consortium take over the club, has admitted to "concern" over the consortium's failure to come up with the promised finance.

Hull have succeeded in persuading the 21-year-old centre Tevita Viakona to sign a two-year extension to his contract.