Rugby League: No easing up from Widnes

Sep 8 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

STEVE McCORMACK insists he won’t be resting any of his Widnes Vikings squad for tomorrow’s final Co-operative National League One game at Batley Bulldogs.

The Vikings need a win to have any chance of finishing the regular season at the top of the table, but they need second-bottom Rochdale to spring a surprise on leaders Castleford for that to happen.

But going into the play-offs without the advantage of being the table-toppers won’t concern the Widnes coach too much if his side can continue to gather the momentum they need to finish off their Super League promotion push.

And that is why McCormack is so keen to ensure he has continuity in the side going into the season’s climax.

“I won't be resting any of the players. We have a job to do at Batley and we need to start building some momentum for the play-offs,” said McCormack, who is expected to name Denis Moran in his side despite a recent niggling hamstring injury.

“During the Whitehaven (Northern Rail Cup) final everything went well for us and we played some very entertaining stuff. But it’s impossible to maintain that level of consistency every week.

“The other week against Cas we didn't play overly well and came within six points of them.

“But Batley is a tough task. They have no pressure on them.”