Back in March Skolars hosted Crusaders in the first home league match of the season and recorded an impressive 66-16 win. It’s fair to say that Crusaders have improved greatly since that defeat and they, like Skolars, now find themselves fighting for one of the play-off places, along with Oldham and Rochdale.
North Wales Crusaders coach Clive Griffiths does not expect to have any new faces in Sunday’s squad for the visit of in-form Skolars at The Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium (kick-off 2.30pm).
Griffiths had hoped to make at least one signing for the final few weeks of the season, but he said: “I don’t think anything’s going to happen now. All the clubs are keeping players for the play-offs, so it’s unlikely we’ll get anything done.”
Last week Crusaders beat Welsh rivals South Wales Scorpions for the second time this season, but the former Wales coach admits Sunday’s match is likely to be an even tougher affair.
Skolars climbed up to fifth place in the Co-operative Championship One table last week a resounding victory over Rochdale Hornets, which was the third week in a row that they’d scored over 50 points.
Griffiths said: “They’re absolutely flying, and we’re under no illusions about the size of our task. They beat us quite comfortably when we went down to their place. Our players are determined to put it right this time.
“We’ve six wins this season and three games to go. This is our last home match of the season so we want to put on a good performance for the fans. We know that we can leapfrog London if we win on Sunday and that will put us in the play-off positions with two matches to go.
“It’s been a memorable first season for us and we’re supported by the best fans in the league. I know they’ll give us their all on Sunday, they’re like an extra man for us at The Racecourse.”
Skolars coach Joe Mbu is aiming to back up the impressive win over Rochdale with a victory that would keep Skolars in fifth place.
Mbu said: “The players worked very hard (last week) and our discipline was spot on.” The squad travel to North Wales with no major injury concerns.
