SOUTH Wales Scorpions travel to Featherstone Lions’ Millpond Stadium tomorrow in the Third Round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup (kick-off 3.00pm) knowing that one of their former players will have their opposition drilled well, writes Ian Golden.
Former England international Jamie Rooney had a spell with the Scorpions in 2012 and will be determined to cause a shock and knock his old club out of the Cup, having progressed from the First Round.
The Scorpions, in their first game in the Challenge Cup this year, will want to win this, and the next game, to try and bring a Super League club to Caerphilly.
Scorpions coach Phil Carleton said: “The last two weeks have been a mixed bag in terms of performance. In the friendly match against Hemel a fortnight ago, I was relatively happy considering the changes and side we went with. Last week, however, after a great start against London Skolars in the League 1 Cup, we let ourselves down and performed well below the standard we expect.
“The boys have had a really honest week in training and I look forward to seeing how they respond to their feedback. All week we have talked up the importance of not only starting well but maintaining that start.
“We are under no illusion to the task ahead of us. Featherstone Lions will be a quality outfit and will be looking to have a real go at us, I’m sure. Righting a few wrongs and a chance to progress to the next round of the Challenge Cup should be all the motivation the boys need to put in a tidy performance.”
Chris Leyshon and Kyle Scrivens have failed to recover from injuries picked up last week while Bradley Hill and Matty Wilcox are also still on the treatment table.
Tom Morgan and Ian Newbury return after missing last week’s defeat in London while youngster Sion Jones, on a season-long loan from Widnes Vikings, is also named in an extended 20-man squad which will be reduced to 17 on the day.
