Since coming to Washington, Hairston had stru

Leeds captain Danny McGuire believes his clubs early exit from the Challenge Cup could prove to be a blessing in disguise as they look to start their climb up the Super League ladder. The Rhinos ailing fortunes hit rock bottom with their 36-22 sixth-round defeat at Huddersfield last Friday but, after playing virtually every week of the season during their two-year Cup reign, it will at least offer them some respite with three blank weekends to come over the next three months.Maybe that is a little bit of a blessing, said McGuire, who is expected to return from injury to lead the side against Castleford at Headingley on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 7.30pm. We can get a couple of weekends off here and there and rest players and focus on the league competition.Wed still love to be in the Challenge Cup because we know how special it is, but its not to be this year so we have to focus on playing well in the league.McGuires sentiments are echoed by his long-serving team-mate Rob Burrow, who is one of only three ever-presents in Leeds injury-ravaged season so far. Although were sitting bottom of the league, we still feel were capable of a good run. Danny McGuire The cup is a real distraction, he said. Weve enjoyed being involved with that and wed love to have been there again this year but weve got to forget about that now.We need to put all our eggs in the one basket and climb up the league and get into that top eight.We say it every week that we need to do it quick because the games are running out. Jake Webster scored twice in Castlefords win over Leeds on March 24 If the bottom-of-the-table reigning champions are to reach the Super 8s, Castleford are one of the teams they will need to overtake.The Tigers are five points ahead in eighth spot and although they have lost their last three league games, they bounced back to form with an impressive 32-18 Cup win over Salford last week and have their sights set on completing the double over their neighbours following their 18-14 win at the Jungle at Easter.Cas are a great side and they did really well at the weekend with some halves who dont usually play there, said Burrow. Theyre winning with injuries and were not. Castleford head coach Daryl Powell talks to Sky Sports about the season so far McGuire, who has missed Leeds last four matches with a nagging calf injury, insists spirits remain high at Headingley despite their troubles on the pitch.The mood is good to be honest, he said. Its tough when youre not winning and youre not playing well.It can be a tough environment to be around. But weve got a good set of lads in this team, all pulling in the right direction.Although were sitting bottom of the league, we still feel were capable of a good run. We just need to get some consistency and pick up some wins and then see where we are after 23 rounds. Highlights of Castlefords victory over Leeds earlier this season Castleford will give a debut to winger Paddy Flynn, who has joined them on loan from Widnes, and have full-back Luke Dorn and acting captain Luke Gale back from injury.Loose forward Nathan Massey has been included in coach Daryl Powells initial squad despite dislocating a kneecap in the win over Salford.Leeds Rhinos: Mitch Achurch, Luke Briscoe, Rob Burrow, Adam Cuthbertson, Brett Ferres, Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt, Ashton Golding, Ash Handley, Zak Hardaker, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jimmy Keinhorst, Jordan Lilley, Danny McGuire, Anthony Mullally, Brad Singleton, Liam Sutcliffe, Josh Walters, Kallum Watkins.Castleford Tigers: Matt Cook, Ben Crooks, Luke Dorn, Paddy Flynn, Luke Gale, Lee Jewitt, Will Maher, Nathan Massey, Mike McMeeken, Paul McShane, Grant Millington, Adam Milner, Junior Moors, Joel Monaghan, Larne Patrick, Gadwin Springer, Denny Solomona, Danny Tickle, Jake Webster.Watch Leeds v Castleford live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Thursday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass. Adidas NMD R2 Sale . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Best Fake NMD Human Race . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/wholesale-adidas-nmd-2019-china.html . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Adidas NMD R1 White . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Adidas NMD R1 Cheap . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era.CHICAGO -- The Washington Nationals offence came through for manager Davey Johnson on Wednesday night. Jayson Werth and Scott Hairston hit three-run homers to lead the Nationals to an 11-6 win over the Chicago Cubs. Washington had scored six runs over its past three games, but on Wednesday had its highest output since scoring 14 against the Mets on July 28. Werths three-run homer in the third inning off Jake Arrieta gave the Nationals a 6-1 lead and was his eighth since the All-Star break. Hairston, who was traded by the Cubs on July 8, was pinch-hitting for Tanner Roark and hit his off James Russell (1-4) with two outs in the seventh to give the Nationals a 9-6 lead after they had given up a 6-1 lead. That offence was a welcome sight for Johnson. "Eleven runs, I think its Christmas," Johnson said. The 11 runs helped Washington overcome Anthony Rizzos two homers and the Cubs five-run fifth when they had seven hits to tie the game at 6. Ross Ohlendorf was activated off the disabled list before Wednesdays game and allowed four runs and six hits and 4 1-3 innings. Ohlendorf had been on the DL since Aug. 1 with right shoulder inflammation and was making only his third start of the season and didnt get through the fifth, getting replaced one batter after Rizzos second homer cut the Washington lead to 6-3. "Glad to get back out there. I felt good," Ohlendorf said. "Wish I had pitched deeper into the game for us but our offence did an awesome job." Werth has been on a roll. He went 1 for 3 and has a .452 average in August, and has hit safely in 12 of his past 13 games. The Nationals broke the game open on Werths drive in the third, which came after Ryan Zimmerman singled and Bryce Harper walked. Werth hit a 3-0 pitch into the seats in left for his 18th homer of the season and a 6-1 lead. Arrieta had been solid in two starts for the Cubs since coming from Baltimore on July 2 as part of the trade for Scott Feldman, allowing one earned run in 13 innings, but struggled Wednesday. He went four innings and gave up six runs, including three in both the second and third innings. "I didnt do my job tonight," Arrieta said. "I had enough weapons to pitch deep into the game and get our team a win, and I wasnt able to do that tonight." The Cubs rallied in the fifth for five runs and seven hits, including six straight, to tie the game and chase Ohlendorf. Rizzo hit a toweringg drive into the right-field bleachers for his second homer of the night, cutting the Washington lead to 6-3.dddddddddddd. Starlin Castro reached on a fielders choice before Rizzos homer, which gave him his fourth multi-homer game of his career and the second of August, after hitting two against the Dodgers on Aug. 1. Ohlendorf allowed Junior Lake to single and was replaced by Roark (3-0), who gave up run-scoring singles to Donnie Murphy and Cole Gillespie, before Welington Castillos sacrifice fly to centre tied the game. Roark was charged with two runs in the fifth, but pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. "We out-hit them (14-11), but obviously two three-run homers, you aint gonna win too many games with two three-run homers in one game," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. The second three-run homer didnt come until the seventh, and it came from somebody familiar to Sveum and the Cubs. With two outs in the seventh, Hairston lined a 1-2 pitch into the seats for his three-run homer and ninth of the season. Russell had gotten the first two outs of the inning before Harper doubled and Werth was intentionally walked. Since coming to Washington, Hairston had struggled, hitting .200 with no home runs in 19 games. For at least one at-bat, those struggles ended against his former team. "It feels really good," Hairston said. "In that situation I wanted to capitalize. Theres runners on and early in that at-bat my weight was shifting forward and I just wanted to make sure I stayed back and give myself the best opportunity to get a hit." NOTES: Washington SS Ian Desmonds back tightened up during batting practice, but he stayed in the game until the fifth when he was replaced by Anthony Rendon as part of a double switch. "He wasnt his usual self," Johnson said. ... Johnson said "there have been discussions" about giving INF Danny Espinosa a September call-up. Espinosa was sent to Triple-A Syracuse on a rehab assignment June 12 and optioned there on June 19 and is hitting .202 in 64 games. He hit .158 in 44 games for Washington. . To make room for Ohlendorf, the Nationals optioned LHP Ian Krol to Triple-A Syracuse. ... At 24, Rizzo became the second-youngest Cubs left-handed hitter to hit 20 home runs. Billy Williams has the mark, set in 1961. ... Thursdays pitching matchup is Washingtons Stephen Strasburg (6-9, 2.93 ERA) against Chicagos Travis Wood (7-10, 3.13). ' ' '