Betting tips for this weekend : Fri Aug 02, 2013 5:16 pm
Tonight's play is a four team accumulator, with three very risk averse selections plus the money play of Warrington to win the second half by a pair of tries.Accumulator (4)
1 Widnes Vikings +36 points
2 Salford City Reds +54 points
3 Bradford Bulls +22 points
4 Warrington Wolves 2nd half handicap - 8
Widnes are away at Hull FC this evening and have a strong, rested squad versus a team that played an intense cup semi just a few days ago. They have beaten FC by 36-16 earlier this season. I would not bet against FC at the KC as they have an incredible home record, nor would I bet on them to win away, however most of their games are very close - normally less than 10 points either way. I just don't see them scoring 40 or 50 points tonight, whilst Widnes are always good value for quite a few tries. Widnes have all their try scorers in with Ah Van, Brown, Mellor and Hock in the team whilst Hull FC will either have a two game youngster or the industrious but slow Whiting at full back. This will aid our chances as Widnes can break the line as their record shows, they can normally get 22+ points, and if this proves to be the case FC will need about 60 to kill off our hopes.
Salford Reds have a lot of injury problems, but I cannot see them scoring less than 10 points and thus Huddersfield will need to get 64 or more to put us out on this one. Another try for Salford will mean Huddersfield need to get 70. Unless you support our beloved club this range is highly unlikely in a regular game - you would normally need to see Wigan or Warrington at home against a lower half Championship club to see this type of score. Again Salford are nicely rested and they shut out Catalans for the whole first half in their last game and have a good manager in Brian Noble who has tightened things up . This looks very nice as part of a short odds accumulator - it will be very tough for any team in the same league to win by a full 9 converted tries over their opponent. Especially a team that leaks 32 points in 45 minutes at home to Castleford.
Bradford Bulls are away against Wakefield in a local derby and again they go in with a fresh rested squad that won last time out. I think Wakefield are only slightly stronger than Bradford and do not see them winning by four converted tries with Bradford having close to a full strength side out. I actually fancy Bradford to win this one even without the start. They have beaten Wakey in their last three games and by a 34 point margin earlier in the year, so +22 at the miserable odds looks an easier way to get a bit of extra value in the accumulator.
My last play is Warrington to win the second half by +8. They should be able to do this I feel, with a far stronger squad than Castleford possess. Warrington have won their last eight games v Castleford and four times in a row at the Tiger's home ground. I am expecting a backlash from Wire after their frustrating defeat v Hull. Cas are a couple of forwards light whilst Widnes have a full pack, bar for Michael Monaghan and should be too strong.
A £35 play is on this one and should yield a few pence over £100 with Ladbrokes, which is not bad for three very odds on picks and one of a good team v an average one I feel.
Good luck to all
Mark
