South Wales Scorpions vs North Wales Crusaders (Match Preview)

South Wales Scorpions v North Wales Crusaders (The Gnoll, Neath, Sunday, 3.00pm)

Both South Wales Scorpions and North Wales Crusaders will be missing players for the big Welsh Rugby League derby at The Gnoll in Neath this Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

Dalton Grant picked up a suspected broken ankle after stumbling on an allegedly uneven London Skolars pitch last week, and he is the biggest casualty for the South Wales side.

In addition, a couple of other players need to have late fitness tests to before they are cleared to play.

South Wales Scorpions coach Dave Clark is looking for a major improvement on last week’s display, when his side lost 64-6 at London Skolars.

Clark said: “We’re a little bit disappointed with what we achieved at London, but we did have a couple of 18-year-olds in the side who really played well and put their hands up and we’ll give them an opportunity against the Crusaders. It’s another opportunity for the young players to have a go and look towards next season.

“It’s a known fact that we’ve used a lot of players this year and this is something that we need to address for 2013.

“Having said that I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad fact that we’ve actually used 40 Welsh born and bred players in the first team. That can only be good for the future. We’ve had a chance to take a look at young Welsh players and see who can be trained and nurtured for next year.

“This Sunday’s game will be important to them as everyone will want to prove themselves. It’s a big game for everyone and I think that the passion in the players will come out more than in any other encounter.”

Jamie Clark is missing for Crusaders for personal reasons while Scottish international Dave McConnell’s availability due to work commitments needs to be checked.

North Wales Crusaders coach Clive Griffiths said: “It’s an exciting game. Both teams are desperate for a win for Welsh bragging rights.

“Scorpions are very strong out of dummy half, they’ve two good hookers in Mossop and Parry, and they’ve a couple of big boys in the middle as well as a couple of good rugby union recruits. I don’t think there’ll be much in it.

“They’ll be hurt by last week’s loss at London and any team worth their salt will come back and show some grit. They’re a wounded animal.”

Griffiths has praised the way that Welsh international Christiaan Roets by the way he has come back from injury.

“Roetsy is getting back to his best,” Griffiths said. “It’ll take him a while after the two hamstring pulls and running like the Roetsy of old, taking people on and being strong, because he takes some pulling down as we all know.

“He’s coming back to some form now so it’ll be a selection headache for me with Danny Hulme and Jamie Durbin being fit again. We’re coming down the day before so there’s no excuses. The boys know there’s contracts up for grabs and if they want to be in the mix next year, then they’ve got to put in the performances.”

The day’s events start at 11.30am with a four-team under 12 tournament between Neath and District Scorpions, Cardiff Barbarians, Wrexham Bradley Raiders and Halifax-based side Siddal Bulldogs.

Saturday’s South Wales Scorpions under 15 and 16 matches against Widnes Vikings have been cancelled as the Super League club are unable to travel down.

Tickets for the big Welsh derby – South Wales Scorpions v North Wales Crusaders on Sunday 5th August – are now on sale. They can be bought by going to www.scorpionsrl.com or in person from the Neath RFC club shop in Old Market Street, Neath on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week.