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Loganair Squad Announcement for Hunslet Clash
August 9, 2024
Cornwall RLFC head coach Mike Abbott has named his 21-man squad for Saturday’s Betfred League 1 clash at home to Hunslet.
The Choughs will be looking to finish the season with a flourish as the Parksiders chase a third placed finish in the standings.
Dean Muir’s side were not in action during round 19 and they were leapfrogged in the table by Rochdale Hornets, who defeated Cornwall 46-32 in a Spotland points fest.
Cornwall were staring down the barrel of a heavy reverse last Sunday when Rochdale opened up a 46-6 lead 10 minutes into the second stanza.
But Cornwall, led by a brace of tries from Harry Aaronson, scored 26 unanswered points to almost pull of an unlikely comeback.
Earlier in the year, the Choughs pushed Hunslet close at the South Leeds Stadium and led the match 6-0, going into the final play of the half.
But Hunslet restored parity on the siren and despite Nathan Conroy scoring first for Cornwall after the break, the hosts eventually took control and prevailed 42-16.
Injury wise, Cornwall are without Darcy Simpson, who will miss his first game of the season.
However, Kaine Dimech, who was forced off the field after suffering an eye injury inside the first 20 seconds against Rochdale, has been declared fit to face Hunslet.
Bradford loan duo Jacob Bateman and Jamie Gill are once again included, although the recent trio of permanent signings from the Bulls, Bailey Arnold, Waldimar Matahwa and Harry Gray, are not included.
Morgan Punchard misses out through suspension after playing for amateur side Castleford Lock Lane, on dual-registration last month.
“We will look to build on that final 30 minutes of the game against Rochdale,” head coach Mike Abbott told cornwallrlfc.co.uk.
“It was a very dominant end to a game which looked like it might get away from us. But one thing I have said to the players this week is that we can’t afford to keep giving teams a big lead, because that makes getting a result an uphill task from our point of view.
“Hunslet are one of those teams that over the course of our short history, we have had spells of dominance against, but we haven’t been able to sustain that for long enough in matches.
“If we can do that this time around then a very close game, against a very strong and powerful opponent, should entail.”
Cornwall from: Aaronson, Abbott, Ashton, Bannister, Bateman, Black, Boots, Brown, Collins, Conroy, Cullen, Dimech, Gill, Lloyd, Marvin, Mitchell, Ross, Rusling, Small, Trerise, Weetman.