Widnes finally land Lawford

Widnes have finally completed the signing of the Batley Bulldogs' scrum-half, Dean Lawford.

The Widnes head coach, Neil Kelly, has been in talks with Lawford for weeks but the player is expected to be unveiled officially tomorrow, having signed a two-year deal.

The Castleford hooker, Wayne Godwin, could be out for the rest of the season after breaking his wrist in Sunday's 40-16 victory at Halifax. Godwin, a substitute, is likely to miss the remaining five matches of the season but will be fit for the play-offs should the Tigers qualify.

The St Helens pair Paul Wellens and Darren Britt need knee operations, putting them in doubt for the rest of the regular season. They played in Saints' 50-22 win at Bradford on Friday but the Saints coach, Ian Millward, said: "Both carried knee injuries into the Bradford game, which made their performances even more heroic.

"In the interests of player welfare we have decided to have Darren's surgery done now so he is free for the play-offs. Paul having the operation means he will also be free for the play-offs as well as for the Test series with New Zealand at the end of the season."

The Canterbury Bulldogs, who lead Australia's National Rugby League, have admitted salary cap offences after accusations in last Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Yesterday, the NTL chief executive, David Gallop, told of "an elaborate use of payments by parties other than the club to breach the salary cap" of $3.25m (£1.15m) a year. He said: "The club have today detailed a $600,000 breach for the 2001 season and a $400,000 breach for 2002. Clearly there has been conduct designed to gain an unfair advantage over the other teams."