BRADFORD Dudley Hill's first team manager Steve Wright will be missing key personnel in the coming weeks due to suspensions, but he expects players like new signing Adam Sutcliffe to perform well in their absence.

Dudley Hill were heavily punished by a disciplinary hearing this week for their part in a fracas at Leigh Miners last month, with suspensions for offences ranging from foul and abusive language towards the match official, to running in and punching.

Neil Wall was one of the players sanctioned, but Wright is confident that Sutcliffe will be a perfect replacement.

He said: "We've signed Adam from Bradford & Bingley. We've got a couple of good wingers anyway but he'll slot into Neil's position for the next couple of games and his experience means that he knows what it's all about.

"He's played with us before and he's had a couple of games for the Yorkshire men's side. Playing at that level for Bradford & Bingley too, we know he's a good player."

Wright also hopes to welcome others back into the fold, saying: "We're losing Andy Walker through suspension but we've got a couple of returning forwards that can stiffen us up in the middle.

"We've got old-stager Jamie Brentley to come back and Damian Smith, who missed last weekend's game to get married, scores a lot of tries for us and he'll return shortly, although he's unlikely to be back tonight."

Dudley Hill face Lock Lane this evening, having already beaten Oulton Raiders and Shaw Cross Sharks this month, and Wright hopes that good form can continue.

He said: "We've been playing sides in and around us which has helped, because our form beforehand was absolutely horrendous. We've got two tough games against Lock Lane and Pilkington Recs though which will be tricky.

"The problem with this league is that it's often tight margins of six to eight points. The teams that we're getting beaten by are not necessarily better than us, it's just a case of completing sets and maintaining our discipline.

"We could so easily be sat in mid-table. We need some victories shortly though because it's so tight at the bottom and a couple of wins on the bounce can push us up the league."