Newcastle Thunder v North Wales Crusaders – League 1 Shield Final match preview

North Wales Crusaders are aiming for just their fourth trophy in their five-year existence this Sunday when they travel to Kingston Park to take on Newcastle Thunder in the Kingstone Press League 1 Shield Final (kick-off 5.15pm).

 

The Crusaders have won two similar trophies in the past, the Northern Rail Bowl and iPro Sport Cup, whilst they were also League 1 Champions in 2013.

 

This Sunday’s match is the second in a double header of dual code rugby action in Newcastle, the first being the rugby union Premiership match between Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers.

 

It’s also the second game in Wales’ Cup Final weekend, which starts on Saturday, when Valley Cougars take on London Chargers in the Conference South Grand Final at Hemel Stags (kick-off 3pm).

 

Thunder, who qualified to host the Shield final after coming top of the Shield table, come into the game on the back of a week’s break. They successfully beat Coventry Bears 46-10 the weekend earlier.

 

Newcastle coach Mick Mantelli said: “I thought we played well. We’ve still got areas in our game that we need to improve but I was really happy with the way it went.

 

“The rest week has helped us as we’ve had a couple of injuries that have had time to recover. We’ve prepared pretty well and the boys are excited for it. I think it’d be a fitting end to the season and the work the boys have done.”

 

North Wales Crusaders have prepared well for the Final, securing a 37-6 win over Oxford RL last weekend.

 

Crusaders’ coach Anthony Murray said, “I thought it was a good professional performance. No disrespect to Oxford but it was a bit of a nothing game for us, we couldn’t finish any higher in the table and we already knew we were in the final against Newcastle.

 

“We still wanted to put in a performance and it was a win we needed to give our supporters something back for travelling with us up and down the country. To only concede one try and score thirty-seven points was really pleasing.

 

“We certainly know our defence needs to be better for Newcastle. We focused on that in our past two games because we know that Newcastle can play and they’ve put a lot of points on other teams in the Shield.

 

“It would be a fantastic achievement for us to win this weekend. No matter what happens everyone needs to look back at what this team has overcome this year.

 

“We’re going to have to perform against Newcastle as they’ve earned the right to go in as favourites. I think we come alive in cup rugby though.”

 

Earl Hurst is likely to miss the final due to a groin injury.

 

THUNDER (from):

Aaron Teroi

Ali Blair

Benn Hardcastle

Corbyn Kilday

Dan Parker

Evan Simons

Harry Aldous

Jason Payne

Joe Brown

Josh Stoker

Lee Paterson

Lewis Young

Matty Barron

Peter Fox

Rhys Clarke

Sam Luckley

Tom Ruediger

Vincent Rennie

Zach Clark

 

CRUSADERS (from):

Tommy Johnson

Rob Massam

Simon Atherton

Alex Thompson

Andrew Oakden

Ryan Smith

Jack Hansen

Jonny Walker

Lee Hudson

Tommy Holland

Luke Warburton

Stephen Wild

Billy Brickhill

Andy Moulsdale

Liam Bent

Jordan Andrade

Kenny Baker

Mark Thomas

Matt Wilkinson