Sky Sports commentator suggests Challenge Cup Finalists could be banned

Ahead of the Challenge Cup Final Leigh Leopards took on Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR met Wigan Warriors.

Both sides took differing approaches to their fixtures before the final. Hull KR rested almost their entire side and lost to Wigan comfortably.

Leigh only rested Josh Charnley and Zak Hardaker but were able to bring in star signing Oliver Gildart as the replacement for Hardaker. Gildart won’t be able to feature against his next club Hull KR at Wembley however.

As he played, the Leigh side will have been hoping to desperately avoid bans and there was one interesting moment when Matt Davis caught Aidan Sezer late.

Speaking on this moment on Sky Sports, Bill Arthur said: “Matt Davis has flattened Aiden Sezer there, it’s going to be a penalty. Sezer is back up on his feet, I’m not sure he was hurt badly but it was late enough.”

However, Phil Clarke claimed it wasn’t late but a fair challenge responding to Arthur saying: “It’s a fair challenge.”

This came as Jon Wilkin branded it a shoulder charge: “I think the issue that he’s got is that he doesn’t wrap his arms or make an attempt to wrap his arms, so the accusation there would be that it’s a shoulder charge.

“In terms of the timing it’s not late, the issue is that it didn’t look like he had any intent to wrap his arms around Aiden Sezer as he kicked it. It’s a penalty.

“It’s the first bit of ill discipline and it comes from Matt Davis and there’s no need. Just slow yourself down and make a tackle in an orthodox way then that’s not a penalty.”

Today the disciplinary panel meet and Bill Arthur highlighted that suggesting Davis could have something to worry about: “Of course there’s a disciplinary who will be on duty.”

Davis was involved in another incident however in a tip tackle on Luke Hooley.

However, there was an effort to protect the former Batley Bulldogs man and thus Davis will likely avoid a ban for this incident.

The worry will be around the shoulder charge.