TWO EXPANSION clubs will meet in Colwyn Bay on Easter Sunday when the Crusaders and Hurricanes clash in a game that is likely to be closely fought, with both teams having been in League 1 last year, but both having play-off ambitions in 2026.

Crusaders coach Krisnan Inu (pictured above, when he was an assistant at Salford) only took charge at North Wales a little over a week ago, taking over from Dean Muir, but he coached his team to a 52-20 victory over Whitehaven in his first game in charge and his team sits just outside the play-off positions in eleventh place with three wins from seven matches. He has lost Jayden Hatton and Jake Spedding for this game, but recalls Pat Moran and introduces newcomer Lucas Tyrer into his squad.

Hurricanes coach Matt Dunning, whose team lies in third place with eleven points from eight games, makes just one change to the squad that won 20-12 at Keighley last Sunday, bringing in Elliott Morris for Zach Jebson.

SQUADS

Crusaders: 5 Luke Forber, 6 Declan Patton, 7 Jordan Gibson, 8 Ant Walker, 9 Josh Eaves, 11 Brad England, 12 Cole Oakley, 13 Pat Moran, 14 Joe Baldwin, 16 Mark Ioane, 17 Ashton Robinson, 18 Junior Westwood, 21 Huw Worthington, 22 Jake Nottingham, 23 Greg Eden, 26 Pat Ah Van, 27 Bailey Pemberton, Thomas Clarke, Maciu Nagobi, Lucas Tyrer
Outs: 3 Jayden Hatton, 4 Jake Spedding,
Ins: 13 Pat Moran, Lucas Tyrer

Hurricanes: 1 Todd Horner, 2 Matty Chrimes, 3 Ryan Johnson, 5 Luis Roberts, 7 Lewis Else, 8 Jon Luke Kirby, 9 Aiden Roden, 10 Tyler Dickinson, 11 Tom Wilkinson, 12 Oliver Roberts, 13 Mikey Wood, 14 Brandon Moore, 15 Elliott Morris, 16 Zeus Silk, 17 Kieran Moran, 18 Owen Restall, 19 Sully Medforth, 20 Toby Warren, 23 Aidan McGowan, 26 Ethan Newboult, 28 Isaac Shaw,
Outs: 21 Zach Jebson,
Ins: 15 Elliott Morris,

Referee: Matty Lynn

STATS

Last ten meetings:
North Wales 14, Midlands Hurricanes 4 (L1R12, 15/6/25)
Midlands Hurricanes 18, North Wales 31 (L1R6, 19/4/25)
(at Alexander Stadium)
North Wales 18, Midlands Hurricanes 32 (L1R15, 7/7/24)
Midlands Hurricanes 18, North Wales 10 (L1R10, 26/5/24)
(at Alexander Stadium)
North Wales 20, Midlands Hurricanes 14 (L1R3, 31/3/24)
North Wales 62, Midlands Hurricanes 24 (L1R13, 18/6/23)
(at Nant Conwy RU)
Midlands Hurricanes 14, North Wales 42 (L1R9, 21/5/23)
(at Alexander Stadium)
Midlands Hurricanes 16, North Wales 46 (L1R14, 9/7/22)
(at Portway Stadium)
North Wales 22, Midlands Hurricanes 18 (L1R5, 24/4/22)
Coventry Bears 16, North Wales 32 (L1R13, 8/8/21)
(at Butts Park Arena)