Hunslet Rugby League’s head coach, Alan Kilshaw, has finalised his 21-man squad for their upcoming Betfred League 1 fixture against North Wales Crusaders. The much-anticipated match is scheduled to take place at Chester RUFC, Hare Lane, Littleton, Chester CH3 7DB on Sunday, 25th June, kicking off at 2:30 pm.
Unfortunately for Hunslet, loan winger Johnny Campbell will remain on the sidelines for another week due to a deadleg injury. Campbell’s absence was felt in the team’s previous home victory over Cornwall, where he was forced to withdraw at the last minute.
In preparation for the upcoming match, four players from Hunslet are set to feature for Castleford Reserves tomorrow. Among them is second-row forward Nathan Newbound, who is currently recovering from a back injury. The other players joining the reserves are Danny Barcoe, Brad Wheeler, and Liam Carr.
Addressing the squad selection, Kilshaw mentioned, “There will be some changes to last week’s side. We are trying to rotate and keep people fresh, and also make sure we have players game conditioned.” He further highlighted the depth of talent within the team, stating, “Several players are participating in Super League Reserves Rugby League this week to gain valuable game time, which demonstrates the healthy competition throughout the group.”
Hunslet heads into this fixture following a recent defeat against Oldham and a somewhat inconsistent performance against Cornwall. Kilshaw expressed his expectations, saying, “I am looking for a better performance than in our previous couple of games. We have the commitment and the hard work in place; it’s the attention to detail and the execution of plays, built from our discipline with and without the ball, that we need to attend to.”
Regarding their opponents, the Crusaders, Kilshaw acknowledged their recent resurgence, stating, “Crusaders have hit some form; they had a tough start and a couple of close losses but I always expected them to start picking up some wins.” He believes that Hunslet will present a tougher challenge compared to the teams the Crusaders have defeated in their last four games, adding that the match will provide an excellent indication of both teams’ current form.
In conclusion, Kilshaw emphasised the team’s dedication, stating, “We are committed and focused on the type of game we want to play and are aiming to deliver that on Sunday.”
Hunslet will have a strong selection to choose from, including players such as Jimmy Watson, Jack Render, Adam Ryder, Joe Burton, Nathan Conroy, Harvey Hallas, Sam Hallas, Steve Crossley, Josh Jordan-Roberts, Aaron York, Michael Knowles, Jordan Syme, Lewis Wray, Morgan Punchard, Alfie Goddard, Spencer Darley, Matty Beharrell, Marcus Green, Myles Lawford, Oli Burton, and Dan McGrath.
The Hunslet faithful are eagerly anticipating this crucial clash as both teams aim to secure a vital victory. Supporters can expect an exciting display of rugby league as the players take the field on Sunday afternoon.
