North Wales Crusaders Preview

Coventry Bears v North Wales Crusaders  

Sunday 26th May 3pm Ko

Broadstreet RFC

The Bears responded well to their enforced change of habitat, comfortably beating Workington at Broadstreet RFC a couple of weeks ago.

Beating established Northern sides is something that the Bears now do, especially at home, and over the last couple of years there have been notable victories against sides such as Newcastle, Keighley and Hunslet at home.

Meanwhile, victories have been recorded against 'expansion' sides such as the South/West Wales teams, and sadly defunct sides such as Gloucester, Hemel and Oxford.

However, North Wales Crusaders are an enigma for the Bears, and they have never beaten them in Coventry, despite  beating them on their own turf.

The Crusaders are a comparatively new side, yet they are formed from the ashes of a defunct SuperLeague side, and are only a few miles away from RL powerhouses such as Warrington and Widnes.

They beat the Bears 12-36 last time at the Butts with a scoreline similar to the previous one of 13-36 !!

They sit below the Bears in the League table, which either bodes well for the Bears, or gives the visitors a little extra incentive.

And if that wasn't enough to spice up this encounter, look out for familiar faces in their line-up. 

Bears Squad: