Gareth Hock: Widnes Vikings forward banned for four games

Widnes Vikings forward Gareth Hock has received a four-match ban for making deliberate contact with a referee.

He was punished for coming into contact with referee George Stokes in Widnes's 36-0 win over Workington on Sunday.

The Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee heard the clash was "unnecessary and avoidable" and also fined the 29-year-old £300.

Hull KR's Cory Paterson was also banned for four games for a reckless strike on Wigan stand-off Blake Green.

The Australian was found guilty of a grade D offence during his side's 46-14 Challenge Cup defeat by Wigan.

Leeds Rhinos half-back Danny McGuire avoided a ban for punching during his team's 24-8 defeat by Huddersfield but was fined £300 and given a warning.

Hock, who is on a at Widnes from Wigan and will join NRL side Parramatta Eels at the end of the season, received a five-match ban for committing a similar offence while playing for Wigan in 2008.

He was also banned for one game in March for using abusive language towards a match official.

Wardle was sent off in Huddersfield's Challenge Cup win against Leeds Rhinos on Saturday

Meanwhile, Huddersfield Giants centre Joe Wardle, who was sent off for throwing several punches at Carl Ablett during their 24-8 victory over Leeds, submitted an early guilty plea to his charge and has been banned for two matches.

Team-mate Leroy Cudjoe did likewise but has avoided a suspension as he was charged with a lesser punching offence.

Both Antonio Kaufusi of London Broncos and Salford's Jordan James submitted early guilty pleas to their charges.

Kaufusi received a two-match suspension for reckless striking in London's 25-16 win against Bradford, while James will miss one Super League fixture after being charged with dangerous contact during Salford's 52-6 loss at Warrington.