Eagles ready to tame Bulldogs
SHEFFIELD Eagles face an immediate test of their resolve to stay in the play-offs places when they face form side Batley Bulldogs.
The Eagles moved into the top six with a crushing 78-8 win over crisis club Doncaster but the Bulldogs are snapping in their heels.
Both clubs have five wins but the Eagles have edged ahead because of collecting losing 'bonus' points when both clubs struggled for wins earlier in the season.
Eagles coach Mark Aston knows a win tomorrow is critical. He said: "It is in our hands now, we're in the top six and keep chipping away at the teams above and we'll put the pressure on them.
"We have Batley at Don Valley which will be a massive game because they've had a great win and are playing with a lot of confidence.
"But so are we and it'll be a cracking game."
Batley produced one of the shock results of the weekend with a 46-16 win over second placed Barrow Raiders.
It's the latest in a string of good results since former Salford coach Karl Harrison took charge.
Batley -like the Eagles - have crushed struggling Doncaster by 70 points in recent weeks.
The manner of the Eagles win won praise from Aston after his side started slowly but following the introduction of Papua New Guinea forward Trevor Exton from the bench blasted the Dons away.
"We didn't play the smartest at the start and Doncaster showed a lot of commitment but we did the little things and it paid dividends at the end with the second 40 minutes very clinical," said Aston.
"Trevor has been itching for game time and he was outstanding. When he went on the tempo lifted and he caused a lot of problems, he has a presence about him."
Four of the Eagles tries came from centre Menzie Yere with a quick-fire hat-trick from winger Damian Gibson in the second half.
Craig Cook, signed from Doncaster last week made his debut and claimed a typically opportunist hooker's try.
Aston added; "The lads are buzzing - but we've got a swift turn around and have to do it against Batley and they area as confident as we are."
Tomorrow's game at Don Valley kicks-off at 8pm.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
