WHILE most people were still in bed on a Saturday morning, Roughyeds assembled early for the long coach ride to Llanelli where they will play West Wales Raiders (3pm) after a 225-mile drive down the M6, M5 and then west to Llanelli on the M4.
When the sides met at the Vestacare Stadium in April, Stu Littler’s men won 100-4, scoring 18 tries and 14 goals by Martyn Ridyard to equal Bernard Ganley’s 14 against Liverpool City in 1959, a record that had remained intact for more than 60 years.
Since then, Roughyeds have hit a wobbly patch, winning only one of their last eight games. Raiders have won one of 14 games played, away at Cornwall, and are currently bottom of the Betfred League One table on the same number of points as Cornwall — two — but with an inferior for-and-against record.
Raiders have by far the worst for and against figures in the whole of the division, scoring only 192 points and conceding 796.
By comparison, Roughyeds have scored 348 points and conceded 390.
Roughyeds were to line up without most of their young on-loan players, who are expected back next week after turning out today for their Super League clubs in reserve-team competition.
A notable exception was Oliver Field of Leeds Rhinos, who suitably impressed head coach Littler when he made his debut against Doncaster.
Said Littler:
“We need to be positive on the bus going down. Raiders may be bottom of the table, but they will be determined to give us a game, especially after what we did to them at our place.
“The lads who are coming into our side will have a great opportunity to make their mark and to show what they can do.”
Oldham-born Phil Cowburn, who used to be a Roughyeds ball boy when he was at primary school in Shaw, has joined Raiders on loan from Midlands Hurricanes and looks certain to play at full-back or centre against the side his father, George, has supported all his life.
Don’t forget we have only three home games left, the first of which is next Sunday (July 31) at the Vestacare Stadium, kick-off 3pm.
