RBKnight

My thoughts entirely

Fresh from their epic Challenge Cup semi-final, Saints and York go again six days later. Virtually all the usual suspects have been named in the preliminary squads (only one who's not in that I can spot is Rhiannon Marshall for York), but it's not much of a secret that there are players with niggles and knocks in both squads, so the starting teams may be different from last week. The biggest news on the squad fronts is the return to action of Ex-Saints and England centre Carrie Roberts, this time in a York shirt. She's in the squad, and must stand a good chance of playing. There's a lot riding on this fixture - a York win will virtually wrap up the League Leader's Shield for them, and give them (more than likely) a home draw against Wigan to reach the Grand Final. Saints win, and they have a shot for the top spot themselves, if they can then beat Leeds at home on 3rd September.

I'll put a fresh thread up for discussion (live on Sky Sports action here)

Yes, it's Carrie Roberts

Both of these suspensions for the Rhinos upheld by the disciplinary panel on appeal yesterday

Saints win it 17-16 with a Faye Gaskin drop goal in the last minute. Not a festival of running rugby, but a titanic physical battle. Gutted !

York lead Saints 14-10 h//t

It's also flat.....

There will be no problem with York's pitch - a fast draining hybrid pitch, which looked like a carpet after the Summer Bash weekend - it is not Mount Pleasant.

With Jodie Cunningham and Zoe Harris back, Saints will be at full strength (barring long term absentee Leah Burke). I think the key for them today will be slowing down York's ruck speed, and nullifying Sinead Peach's ability to jump out of dummy half and put the Valkyrie forwards on the front foot. If they don't, York have shown they have got the ability to starve them of good field position. A tip for Saints' young backs - when running out of yardage, don't run at Grace Field Sophie Nuttall of the Rhinos committed this cardinal error last week, and was promptly escorted off park by the physio. She's not mentioned much, but having a fit and firing Rhiannon Marshall back this season has been huge for York - think she'll have a say in the outcome today.

Yes, on BBC Red Button and iPlayer - not that you'd know it if you clicked on the BBC sports site under Rugby League "Live coverage on the BBC"

Saints v York is a scratch handicap at the bookies, according to the Forty20 guys...... feels about right.

St Helens v York Valkyrie Sat 22nd July KO 11.45am Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors Sun 23rd July KO 2.15pm Both on BBC Red Button/iPlayer

Both Kaiya Glynn and Keara Bennett have picked up two-match suspensions at the disciplinary for these challenges

Mr Vella for the 1895 semi-final ?

Hopefully, York got their worst performance of the season out of their system against Leeds on Sunday.

Both Leeds sin-binnings were for nasty challenges on TJS....

All the OurLeague streams I have purchased before have had this facility (some for up to 30 days I think) - good idea, might do this myself !

Tip tackle by (i think) Keira Bennett for which she got binned in the last three minutes. Hope she wasn't concussed

Nice NRL feature on Hollie Dodd, with the (inevitable) mention of the British connection at the Green Machine https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/07/16/dodds-move-down-under-set-to-mark-new-era-in-the-nations-capital/

York beat Sheffield 23-18 - another great 2nd half from the Knights, from 6-12 down at h/t.

Wigan beat Warrington 20-12

12-12 f/t - York miss a penalty and three drop goal attempts in last 10 minutes to miss out on taking both points.

Beginning to get on top of them physically

York lead 12-4 h/t, beginning to really get on top of Leeds physically. Lots of whistle and errors, on a very windy day. Ref looks about 15......