Labrador

Lewis did the business last week?.
Given the likely weather at Wigan this evening it's hard to imagine a try fest against Catalan Dragons. It's tempting to go low on points but the bookies are already on board with that. As it's Wigan with French, Field and Marshall in their ranks, it always possible they could still notch up a few tries.
If the conditions dictate a tight game with limited expansive attacks out wide, I have picked a couple of Wigan forwards who could reward at big prices. I've had token bets for interest on England prop, Mike Cooper at 10/1 (Spreadex) and Morgan Smithies at 12/1 (Spreadex).
I feel the likliest scorers are Wigan's Liam Farrell and Jai Field - no bets, as the prices do not really appeal.

The modern day tactic is frequently to kick penalties to touch as near to the opponent's try line as possible. For decades now it has been the custom for the hooker to throw the ball to the resulting lineout. The tactic is then to create a rolling maul from the lineout, and, because the hooker joins at the back of the maul, he is usually the player to whom the ball is smuggled so he has the best opportunity to go over for a try if the rolling maul is successfully nearing the try line. 
If you really fancy a hooker to score, I'd definitely look at fixed odds prices because quite often the entire front row may be subbed after 50/55 minutes. 
If there are set scrums near the opponent's line then I'd be looking at the number 8 checking whether any particular no. 8 tends to get subbed or play the full 80 mins. That can determine whether to play fixed odds or spreads. 
Naturally these are generalisations, and I'm sure you would always check the actual stats of any particular player you are considering to score a try.
 

Good luck. 9/5 best now so you've swerved a jinxing scenario!

Could be the night tonight for Mikey Lewis to open his account for the season (best price 11/5 Bet365). Leigh have reportedly only managed one full training session this week following a delayed trip back from the South of France, whereas home side Hull KR have had 8 days break since an excellent win at Salford following a strong 2nd half display. If Leigh do tire in the second half there could be opportunities for the Rovers' half-back Lewis to dart over. 
Also think Hull KR -8 on the handicap could be a decent shout (5/6 Coral).
[Last night's game went nicely to script for Warrington and George Williams??].

I've taken Warrington -9.5 at 10/11 (Bet 365). Have been very impressed by Warrington's start to the season and not expecting them to go off the boil like last year. Salford started really brightly against Hull KR but did not score the tries their 1st half performance deserved. However, after HT they fell away badly and looked pretty disorganised once Rovers started to get on top. I can see a few points in this game but anticipate Warrington can pull away in the second half.
 
Not betting on tryscorers as can't see any real value - however the player's price I checked first was - George Williams (good luck?). Was tempted by Sam Kassiano at 6/1. He did score on debut but seemed to tire fairly quickly and looked pretty knackered generally. He is only likely to have about 30 mins game time so decided to swerve.

Looks a strong enough side for Villa to dispose of League 2 Stevenage, although Chambers and Bednarek at centre backs may give the visitors a bit of hope from any set pieces. Carl Piergianni has scored 3 powerful headers in his last two games for Stevenage so his goal minutes worth a small buy for me at 3 (Sporting Index).
For Villa Ludwig Augustinsson gets a start and was unlucky not to score against Wolves last game. At 12/1 to score Augustinsson perhaps worth a modest dabble.

Looks a strong enough side for Villa to dispose of League 2 Stevenage, although Chambers and Bednarek at centre backs may give the visitors a bit of hope from any set pieces. Carl Piergianni has scored 3 powerful headers in his last two games for Stevenage so his goal minutes worth a small buy for me at 3 (Sporting Index).
For Villa Ludwig Augustinsson gets a start and was unlucky not to score against Wolves last game. At 12/1 to score Augustinsson perhaps worth a modest dabble.

Tom George has a satellite yard at Chantilly run by his son Noel. Frequently James Reveley is booked for the French runners.

Have to endorse Darran's comments about Kidderminster, although Chester were reportedly very poor in squeaking a 1-0 against Blyth Spartans at the weekend.
Nothing certain -  but there are local rumours that Kiddie have been hit with a bug this week, so there could be one or two extra players missing this evening as well as striker Ethan Freemantle. 
Chester's Kurt Willoughby has scored in 6 of his last 7 league games. Have bought his player goal rush at 8 with Sporting Index. [Wouldn't surprise me if Harriers old boy Declan Weekes scores - he's very decent from free kicks and shots outside the box].

Have to endorse Darran's comments about Kidderminster, although Chester were reportedly very poor in squeaking a 1-0 against Blyth Spartans at the weekend.
Nothing certain -  but there are local rumours that Kiddie have been hit with a bug this week, so there could be one or two extra players missing this evening as well as striker Ethan Freemantle. 
Chester's Kurt Willoughby has scored in 6 of his last 7 league games. Have bought his player goal rush at 8 with Sporting Index. [Wouldn't surprise me if Harriers old boy Declan Weekes scores - he's very decent from free kicks and shots outside the box].

Tom George has a satellite yard at Chantilly run by his son Noel. Frequently James Reveley is booked for the French runners.

Tom George has a satellite yard at Chantilly run by his son Noel. Frequently James Reveley is booked for the French runners.

Southgate's immediate post-match interview was all about stating how he had drilled into the players how effective and dangerous USA would be and how his team must stick to a very careful plan.
Having instilled so much negativity into the England side and obviously told Harry Mcguire and John Stones to keep passing the ball to each other for the opening 15 minutes, it's no wonder we were so poor. 
Unless there is more adventure and belief I cannot see us having any chance against the likes of Brazil or Spain.

Southgate's immediate post-match interview was all about stating how he had drilled into the players how effective and dangerous USA would be and how his team must stick to a very careful plan.
Having instilled so much negativity into the England side and obviously told Harry Mcguire and John Stones to keep passing the ball to each other for the opening 15 minutes, it's no wonder we were so poor. 
Unless there is more adventure and belief I cannot see us having any chance against the likes of Brazil or Spain.

With England Women v Brazil Women on BBC2 at 2.30 this afternoon I couldn't resist a look at the limited markets to see if anything looked "value". The weather forecast for Headingley suggests light rain throughout the game, so it's a bit tempting to go with Brazil +65.5 at 10/11 Hills. However, it's impossible to get any handle on the ability of the Brazil ladies.
England's Georgia Roche plays scrum half or loose forward so should regularly be pretty active near the Brazil line. Roche has scored 5 tries in 6 games for England and 8 tries in 11 for Leeds Rhinos. That makes 4/6 (skybet) a bit of value for Georgia Roche to score a try.

Forecast to be heavy rain right throughout the game at Wigan this evening. Consequently I can envisage PNG going route 1 up the middle with their powerful forwards and having many play-the-balls close to the Welsh line. I was all set to back their hooker/dummy half Edwin Ipape to score but he is not in the Sporting Index tryscorer list. I wonder whether he is being saved for the quarter final next week.
If that's the case then the role should be covered by Wesser Tenza. I have bought his super mega try minutes at 13 (Spreadex).
Also backed under 49.5 match points at evens (skybet). [Was very tempted to sell match multis at 571 - but given how poor the French underdogs were yesterday I'm not trusting tonight's underdogs enough to keep it tight, although I've a hunch it will be a close, possibly low-scoring game in poor conditions].

Assuming sources are correct the last gasp Miski try would appear to have landed the full house! 

Well done with Graham and (first) Taulagi bets.
I'm a bit surprised that the handicaps are so high for Samoa v France. At evens (Coral) I've taken France (+28).

Well done on the nice late brace of Ackers tries @Labrador
Done the later game as well, Australia v Italy:
Taulagi 1st half try at 6/5
Taulagi try in both halves at 11/4
Graham 1st half try at 6/5
Burton 1st half try at 7/4

Difficult to find any value in today's seemingly one-sided matches. Mike McIlorum is not in the England squad against Greece which suggests that Andy Ackers will have a long stint at hooker/dummy half. Have split stakes between a buy of his try minutes at 27 and his super minutes at 43 (Spreadex). 
 
Very striking for Fiji both for his dyed blonde hair and his try-scoring has been Viliame Kikau. Have backed him to score 2 or more v Scotland at 13/5 (Spreadex). [He may conceivably be rested and kept for the quarter final against the Kiwis].

The Moldovans have received a red card in 3 of their last 6 European matches and tonight''s Greek referee could certainly oblige again. The recent managerial turmoil with Sheriff Tiraspol could see the team go either way in terms of commitment and effort. I'll take a chance they will be fired up and have bought Sheriff bookings at 24 with Spreadex. Have also bought total match red cards at 0.18 (Sporting Index).
On the off chance that Ten Haag puts Harry Maguire in the team tonight I think his goal minutes are worth a buy at 6 (Sporting Index).

Manchester United vs Sheriff Tiraspol
The Europa League action continues at 8pm BST on Thursday night and one of the key games is Manchester United versus Sheriff Tiraspol from Old Trafford. The Premier League club can seal a place in the knockout round and keep their last 16 hopes alive with a victory. Can they earn that win against a visiting Moldovan side that are heavy underdogs but have been giant-killers in Europe before?
Manchester United didn't have a great start to the season with the club losing their first two league games by an aggregate score of 6-1 and suffering a disappointing 1-0 loss in their opening Europa League group stage game against Real Sociedad at home. Form has now settled under head coach Erik ten Hag but it's still not a team that seems entirely at peace with itself. The Red Devils are up to 6th place in the Premier League table and have won their last 3 matches in a row in this competition to move to within 1 point of confirming their place in the next round. However, ten Hag will undoubtedly be targeting group leaders Real Sociedad and will want to win here to take the battle for top spot into their final group game against the Spaniards away. United have now won 9 of their last 13 matches in all competitions and they have only conceded 1 goal in their last 4 matches across all competitions. It's interesting to see that 3 of their 4 group games have ended in less than 2.5 goals being scored. The centre back partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane is clearly having an impact but it'll be interesting to see if ten Hag decides to stick with Victor Lindelof in Varane's absence due to injury or if the out-of-form Harry Maguire will have a chance of redemption soon.
Sheriff Tiraspol are a team that hardly anyone had heard of before recent seasons. The little club from the disputed Moldovan territory of Transnistria have already been making waves on the European front in the past couple of campaigns. It was only last season that they pulled off a shock 2-1 win over eventual Champions League winners Real Madrid in that very competition in the Bernabeu in what was undoubtedly one of the greatest upsets in European football history. Head coach Stjepan Tomas has resigned from his role with the team just days before this clash leaving the club in disarray. This controversy could not have come at a worse time with Sheriff in need of a win to keep their qualification hopes for the next round alive. The team are in 3rd place with just 3 points from their 4 group games so far. That solitary win to earn those points came in their opening group match in a 3-0 win away to Omonia. Unfortunately, it's been 3 losses in a row without even scoring a goal since then. Tomas also witnessed his team suffer a surprise loss away to Petrocub in the league on the weekend and it seems that was enough to push him over the edge despite the team sitting on top spot of the Moldovan Super Liga and still on course to qualify for the Europa Conference League play-offs. One thing looks for sure, with all 12 of Sheriff's European games seeing 3.5 goals or less so far this is likely to be a game that won't be a goal bonanza but I'd still stretch to under 3.5 goals being scored rather than under 2.5 goals.
I really think the resignation of Tomas will make this game move from being a very tough job to being nearly impossible. Manchester United are beginning to show more and more of that ten Hag DNA. Even after the latest issues with Cristiano Ronaldo storming off before full-time in the win over Tottenham before being left out of the squad entirely for the Chelsea draw there is a feeling ten Hag has the support of the squad. Sheriff don't even have a head coach at the helm so they should be there for the taking for a club of the stature of United. It seems obvious but backing the handicap and clean sheet win is looking tempting.
Manchester United -2 @ 1.85 with Sporting Index
Total Goals Scored Under 3.5 @ 1.73 with Boylesports

Well played with sell of Samoan hotshots - I think it's very brave to sell this market against a team like Greece. Having said that, Joseph Suaalii barely registered in an attacking sense - very strange!
Good luck with Tonga bets. Wales were better than expected against Cook Islands and Tonga were fortunate in my view to come out on top against PNG. However, like Samoa last night, I feel they may keep the foot on the jugular this evening and rack up a big score. I've just kept things simple with a bet on Tongan (and St Helens) juggernaut Konrad Hurrell to score a try at 5/6 (Bet 365). Also had a modest dabble on Hurrell to score 3+ tries at 12/1.
New ground broken in this game with the first time a woman has reffed a men's test match. She is Kasey Badger who has NRL experience. [No doubt she will enjoy the SETTS? of six].
 
 

What must Steven Gerrard be thinking?
Same team as in midweek when abysmal at Fulham is 3-0 up after 14 mins!

What must Steven Gerrard be thinking?
Same team as in midweek when abysmal at Fulham is 3-0 up after 14 mins!