As we enter the month of August, we are close to a month where many leagues come to a climax whilst some kick off.

This week we have approached crunch time many times in both cricket and rugby league.

With so much still to play for, there is no shortage of action to get stuck in this midweek.

Tuesday 4th August The Hundred: Sunrisers Leeds v London Spirit 15:00/18:30

The Hundred continues to light up cricket with fast-paced action and this week is no different as Headingley plays host to a bumper day of drama as both the men and women’s sides take to the field.

Redemption will be needed for both sides who fell to the Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge in their last fixture.

The women took to the field first and were ultimately slain by a narrow margin of five runs. It was then onto the men who similarly fought bravely but were too unable to get the best of the Midlanders and were outdone by five runs also.

That leaves the women languishing in the second bottom of the standings after picking up just one win from four matches.

For the men, a win over London Spirit could propel them into the playoff frame, as their tally of eight points puts them level with Manchester Super Giants in third.

Undoubtedly both will still have the same motivation to get one over on the side from the capital, especially with playoffs still on the cards but looking more of a certainty for the men.

Date: 04/08/2026

Time: 15:00/18:30

Venue: Headingley Stadium, Leeds

The match will be shown on BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports Cricket.

Thursday 6th August Betfred Super League: St Helens v Hull FC 20:00

As the climax of the Super League season is fast approaching, every match becomes more vital. The first match of this week could be extremely important for St Helens, who are looking to creep into the top six.

Hull FC, on the other hand, are fighting for pride, off the back of a disappointing season in which they have failed to get up to speed in a newly expanded Super League.

The Black and Whites have only managed five wins in 21 matches and are currently in a barren run of form, having lost seven on the spin and only managed two wins in their last 17 matches, a run stretching all the way back to April.

One of their most damning defeats came at the weekend in which they lost to bottom of the league Huddersfield Giants. Which confirmed FC’s place in 13th for another week.

St Helens also need to turn their form around if they are to get back on track. With a recent run of form potentially being the nail in the coffin of their playoff chances.

The Saints are currently out of the top six in seventh but are in a promising position with just two points separating them and Leigh Leopards in sixth and with a healthy buffer of six points to Catalans Dragons who are chasing them in eighth.

They cannot afford to continue on their form as of late however, with just one win in their last five matches they need to turn things around and gain confidence after being battered 46-0 by Toulouse and being beaten 34-32 by another league new boy in York at the weekend.

With an opportunity to get closer to the playoffs, Saints once again have an easy fixture on paper to repair their hopes. But with them being embarrassed by ‘lesser’ teams recently, another shock could be on the cards which would help recover damage for Hull.

Date: 06/08/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: BrewDog Stadium, St Helens

The match will be shown on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports+.



Friday 7th August Betfred Super League: Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos 20:00

We end the week with a battle of the top two in Super League as first-placed Leeds take the short trip across West Yorkshire to face a Wakefield side that are looking to make history and win their first league leaders' shield.

The Rhinos have been on the hunt to better their fourth-place finish in 2025 and have been on a surge for the entirety of the season under Brad Arthur, who has written the wrongs of their playoff loss in his first season.

They have only lost four matches all season and have picked up amazing results, such as a 52-0 win over Huddersfield and a league double over current champions Hull KR, including a 58-6 win over them in Las Vegas.

A blip did occur in the league leaders' race against Castleford in late July when they were beaten by their bitter rivals away from home in a tight 36-34 loss.

Since then they have bounced back with two victories over Bradford and Toulouse to keep them two points ahead of Wakefield, who are quickly taking up the chase.

Trinity have also been imperious all season and look to have a new side under Daryl Powell this year. They already made a big impact on their return with a sixth-place finish and an early exit from the playoffs in 2025.

Their ceiling is yet to be reached however and with just five losses all season they are in a perfect position to once again make the playoffs and even finish top.

Trinity have not lost a match since mid-June, and since then they have won seven on the spin, including a double over Castleford at Magic Weekend and in the Rivals round, as well as an away victory over Hull KR.

With just a two-point gap to make up to Rhinos, they are in a positive position to run them close with a victory but will have the unenviable task of bettering their superior points difference in this meeting and for the rest of the season. But, if Wakefield has shown anything this season, it's that they should not be written off.

Date: 07/08/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: Belle Vue, Wakefield

The match will be shown on Sky Sports+ Sky Go