Doncaster RLFC: Thornton sweating on fitness of key duo

Although the injuries sustained by stand-off Jordan Howden and goal-kicking full-back Tom Carr are not thought to be as serious as first thought at this stage, neither looks likely to be involved in the game which has been switched from the All Golds’ ground to pitch No 2 at the Keepmoat Stadium for financial reasons.

Howden suffered an Achilles tendon injury, and Carr a knee injury, in Sunday’s impressive League One win at North Wales Crusaders on a Queensway Stadium pitch which drew criticism from head coach Gary Thornton.

“Jordan is wearing a surgical boot as a precaution,” said Thornton.

“The club doctor looked at both players on Tuesday night. He said that Jordan, who we are hoping has just strained the tendon rather than torn it, has a fair range of movement but we’ll just have to wait and see how it goes.

“Tom’s knee buckled in a tackle but we don’t think that there is any structural damage. But he’s got a bit of swelling and we’ll be looking to reduce that over the next few days.

“Depending on how his knee responds, Tom might have an outside chance for Sunday’s game and we’ll leave it as late as possible before making a decision. What we won’t do is gamble on his fitness.

“We haven’t got a game next weekend with the scheduled home game against Oxford on Sunday having being postponed, so if they are both out this weekend we’ll look at trying to get them fit for the rearranged home game against Hunslet on April 2.”

Meanwhile, Jordie Hedges has had his six-game ban reduced to four on appeal.

The scrum-half was found guilty of a grade D charge for a dangerous throw in the recent iPro Sport Cup clash with Keighley Cougars.