Bailey to miss Bulls clash

Leeds Rhinos prop Ryan Bailey will miss Thursday’s Engage Super League Round 11 derby at Bradford Bulls after he was suspended for one match when he appeared before the RFL Disciplinary Committee this evening.

Bailey, who pleaded guilty to the Grade B charge of fighting in the 48th minute of his side’s defeat by Huddersfield Giants last Friday, was also fined £500 after the panel took into account his previous disciplinary record.

Huddersfield captain Kevin Brown escaped suspension but was fined £300 after being found guilty of a Grade A charge of fighting in the same incident. The appearance in front of the Disciplinary Committee was Brown’s first after nine years as a professional player.

The panel handed down a one-match ban and £50 fine to Widnes Vikings player Steve Pickersgill after finding him guilty of making dangerous contact with the shoulder joint of a Leigh Centurions player in a Northern Rail Cup tie on April 7. Pickersgill pleaded not guilty to the Grade B offence.

Toulouse Olympique player Darren Nicholls was cleared of a Grade C charge of stamping on Sean Penkywicz in the 72nd minute of a Northern Rail Cup tie against Halifax on April 8. Nicholls was given the benefit of the doubt by the panel and issued with a warning letter about his future conduct.