Challenge Cup third round preview: Kells v Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale coach Ian Talbot was pleased that the Hornets kept a clean sheet in their 40-0 victory over South Wales Scorpions in the iPro Sport Cup but won’t be taking community club Kells lightly.

“Kells have come up through the National Conference leagues with promotion after promotion and they’ve got some really good players led by Carl Sice,” he said.

“Cumbria are renowned for producing good players and I think one or two of them would do well in the professional game. Travelling up to Whitehaven at any point of the season is going to be tough. We are under no illusions it’s going to be a tough game.”