Whitehaven will be without in-form second-row forward Dave Allen for Saturday’s home clash with the Batley Bulldogs.

Allen was banned for two matches by the Rugby League Disciplinary Panel following his sending-off at Featherstone in a recent Championship clash.

But because he gave an early indication of a guilty plea that ban was halved with one match suspended provided he stays out of further trouble on the field.

Haven chairman Tommy Todd said: “Dave will be a big miss to us because he has been playing consistently well but we just have to get on with it and produce the same sort of performance which shocked Halifax three weeks ago.

“We also played well at Featherstone and if Dave hadn’t been sent-off I feel sure we would have run them very close and would have had a very good chance of beating them.”

It’s very much Cumbia v Yorkshire this weekend with the two matches involving Cumbrian neighbours Whitehaven and Town of interest at both ends of the table.

Whitehaven’s opponents Batley went fourth in the table at the weekend with an 18-16 derby win over Dewsbury while Town travel to Featherstone, one of the sides pursuing the Bulldogs intent on grabbing a top four spot.

Halifax are on 25 points in third place, followed by Batley (also 25), Bradford (24) and Featherstone (22).

Town still prop up the table with only five points and ahead of them are Oldham (10), Whitehaven (11), Sheffield (12) and Dewsbury (14). Sheffield host Oldham on Friday night as two of the sides in the bottom four go head-to-head.

West Cumbrian Alistair Leek, a former Egremont amateur who has forged a successful career in the pro ranks, has just signed a new deal at Batley which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2018 season.

As the Bulldogs plan for life without coach John Kear they appear to be well ahead of schedule on the signing front, as two other players – Wayne Rettie and Brad Day – have committed themselves for a further two seasons.