Fox gesture reported by angry fans

RUGBY LEAGUE

The Bradford Northern chairman, Chris Caisley, is investigating complaints from supporters that the club's coach, Peter Fox, made the gesture forever associated with another Yorkshireman in their direction after the midweek defeat by Featherstone.

Fox, the game's most experienced current coach, has denied making a general gesture but has admitted aiming a "Harvey Smith" sign at one abusive fan.

Bradford were runners-up to Wigan last season, but their form has slumped recently and a section of their supporters has reacted angrily. This incident comes in the same week as the resignation of a director, Philip Hobkirk, who disagreed with giving Fox a three-year contract extension.

At least Bradford have the ideal opportunity, before three weeks without a match, to get a win tomorrow against the First Division's bottom club, Hull.

Castleford have transferred their longest-serving player, Martin Ketteridge, to Halifax in exchange for the former Leeds forward, Lee Harland. Ketteridge will make his debut in the front row at Warrington tomorrow, allowing Paul Moriarty, who has been covering for the injured Karl Harrison, to move back to the second row.

Nigel Wright will be fit to play for Wakefield against Wigan, the club who have let him go back there on loan, despite collecting a knock to his leg playing for England against France on Wednesday. Wakefield's two other former Wigan players, Mike Forshaw and Ian Gildart, are more doubtful with groin and hamstring injuries respectively.

Wigan will be without Andy Farrell, while Martin Offiah needs one more try to become the second player to score 200 in the First Division. The only other double-centurion in the era of two-division rugby is Ellery Hanley.

Widnes, who climbed out of the relegation positions with a good win over Workington in midweek, have Steve McCurrie back from international duty for a match that must be considered more important to them than the meeting between the two clubs in the Challenge Cup next week.

Mark Elia is in at centre for St Helens, at home to Oldham, replacing Scott Gibbs, out for a month with a dislocated elbow.

Rochdale will be without their loose forward Wayne Reid for four matches following his sending-off in the cup defeat by Ryedale-York last week. Swinton and Leigh have set aside tomorrow's Second Division fixtures in order to make a third attempt to play the one remaining fourth-round cup tie.