Dewsbury fear South Wales clash
Dewsbury Rams’ coach Warren Jowitt says that he’s not looking forward to coming down to South Wales Scorpions this Sunday as the two sides clash at The Gnoll in Neath in the Third Round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.
The 2009 Championship 1 Coach of the Year speaks highly of Rugby League in Wales and says that he is happy that the 13 man game has now expanded to all over the UK but he fears a possible giant killing especially as his side will have to make an 11 hour round trip this weekend. The Scorpions’ opposition travel down to South Wales on Saturday and will stay in Bridgend before journeying to Neath on the Sunday.
“It’s a tough draw for us,” he said. “It’s a very tricky fixture and it’s a long way to go. It’s five and a half hours on a bus so we’re not looking forward to the trip and I’m certainly not looking forward to the game as the Scorpions are no mugs. They did well last year, I’ve watched some videos of them and they’ve some good players in there.
“Aled James is quite experienced and been around Super League and the Championship and Loz Wildbore is very good at unlocking defences. This is a game that we can’t take lightly and we need to be on our guard. They’ll do well again this year in their division.”
The Rams have had an excellent start to their season winning three out of four Northern Rail Cup games but Jowitt says this means nothing when it comes to the Challenge Cup despite Dewsbury playing in a division higher than the Scorpions.
“Anything can happen in a cup tie,” he said. “As for us, there are still things that we have to put right and still things that we’re working on towards the start of the Championship season.
“I can confirm that Ben Bolger will not be playing in this match as Harlequins don’t want him cup tied and Rob Roberts will also not be in the side as he’s out with a back injury.
“Rugby League in Wales is trying to take off isn’t it? With the Crusaders and now the Scorpions. Things are happening down there and people may expect us to win but that certainly isn’t the case with me and my players. We’ve got to get our job done and we’ve got a job to do.
“If it can work in Wales, it’ll be good for the game. For too long, Rugby League has been a game seen as close knit to the north but all that is changing now. I wish we’d cottoned on to it and started expanding years ago but I’m really glad that there is Rugby League in Wales now.”
South Wales Scorpions’ season tickets for 2011 include free entry to the Challenge Cup game against Dewsbury. Priced at £35 for concessions and £80 for adults, these, along with advance sale tickets for the game, can be bought by going to www.scorpionsrl.com.