18 Mar 2022

National Conference League Round Three Preview

This weekend sees another attractive list of fixtures throughout the National Conference League, perhaps none more so than the Grand Final rematch between Thatto Heath Crusaders and Wath Brow Hornets.

The two clubs fought it out last October with Thatto victorious by 18-10.

It's a result that will have no bearing on this weekend, insists Wath Brow boss Ian Rooney.

"History will play no part in this game, it will be on the day, but they're at home and without doubt, they are favourites. Everyone wants to win their home games and if you do that then you will be in the league for the next year. We have eleven home games, that's twenty-two points and if you get that, you are assured of being in the league."

He continued in his praise for Thatto. "They are the best in the comp and they rightly have that mantle because they won the Grand Final and are really consistent. They are a great club, ran by great people like Mick Denning and Mike Woods at the moment, and it was Rich Owen before that."

"Their catchment area in comparison to ours is phenomenal. We're a really small village in Cumbria and they've got St Helens! For us to compete against them, and I know we generally do, they are a great club and the benchmark at the moment, with strength in depth. I know they have lost a couple of players, but they have absolute quality to come in. That's credit to them and their production line.

"It will be a challenge, it's always a challenge against Thatto Heath. We'll be underdogs, but if we can be competitive, the scoreboard will look after itself."

"It's a mouth-watering game for the neutral."

Brow have won both their opening games of the season against Lock Lane and, last weekend, Thornhill Trojans. Rooney reflected,"We played a really good Lock Lane side that has done fantastically well at representing the NCL in the Challenge Cup."

"To get a win against them was really good, it was a tight game - they are well coached by Paul Couch. I've known him a long time. They've got some good players and it was a real solid performance from us."

"Against Thornhill we were slightly off the pace and didn't perform quite as well. Thornhill were suffering from a number of injuries and suspensions, so you could say that they dug real deep, their effort was tremendous. They are a competitive side."

Looking at Thatto, their start to the season has also been challenging, securing a home win over Siddal before notching an impressive 18-0 win at Hunslet Club Parkside last weekend.

Speaking of their start to the year, coach Mike Woods said, "I'll be honest, when the fixtures came out, I knew that we were only coming back in January and we ease our way back in - I've always been like that. I was like, oh! Siddal, Hunslet Club Parkside, Wath Brow! It's daunting. We've now got two of those games out of the way, and if you come away with six points, you are on a roll but it could have easily gone the other way."

"I'm looking forward to playing at home against Wath Brow and hopefully putting a good show on. The Grand Final was a great game and they are a good team, you've just got to be careful of them."

"The top four or five teams in the competition all have some good players, it's why they have been there for the last few years."

"Last Saturday I pushed the guys a lot. We only ended with one sub again, we got three injuries. There was a couple of players playing out of position during the game just to help the team. You want to get those away wins - you need them."

Further reflecting on last weeks victory, Woods said, "You know you are up against it going there, but if your defence is on top you have a chance. The effort in defence was second to none, even on the last set of the game. Nilling anyone home or away, at this standard of rugby is a good effort."

"We'll probably approach Wath Brow in the same way we have for the last couple of weeks. We have a certain way of playing, we've tweaked it a bit this year, but it doesn't mean that we are going to play the same every game, you've just got to take it week by week."

"It's going to be a big game this week! Wath Brow will want to prove a point and it's another really tough game for us. It'll be really interesting."

Other games to look forward to this week include Saddleworth Rangers v Oulton Raiders in Division One, Hunslet Warriors v Normanton in Division Two and Shaw Cross Sharks host Batley Boys in a Division Three derby.

National Conference League Fixtures:

Saturday 19 March

Premier Division