South Wales Warriors Back On Duty With Revenge Mission In Their Sights

The South Wales Warriors are seeking to avenge an opening day defeat to the Ouse Valley Eagles when they play their first game in nearly a month.

The Warriors travel to Bedford on Sunday (1pm) for their first British American Football Association Division One Central fixture since a 17-6 defeat at division leaders Sussex Thunder on May 14.

That defeat left the Warriors winless after reaching the midway point of their 10 game season, but head coach Geraint Roberts is hoping the team can put the lessons of those five defeats to good use starting Sunday against the Eagles.

“The break in fixtures has given us an opportunity to rest and heal up after a hectic start to the season, ” said Roberts, whose side have conceded on average two touchdowns a game but only registered two scores themselves once – and that was against the Eagles in the 14-12 home defeat.

“As coaches we’ve also had a chance to review and take stock of what needs to be improved.

“We’ve not made changes, but just concentrated on improving the things that haven’t worked so well up to now.

“If we get things right we know we’re a capable team in this division.”

Against the Thunder, the Warriors showed their offense can be an attacking force but the team has so far failed to take scoring chances they’ve created.

The Eagles followed up their narrow win in Llanharan with a 27-19 victory over the Solent Thrashers, who inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season on the Warriors, a 20-point shutout.

But since that victory in Southampton the Eagles fell to defeats against the Oxford Saints and at home to the Thrashers, who won 44-22 in Bedford on May 21 in what was the Eagles’ most recent game.

Eagles coach Neale McMaster said the Eagles had been under-strength for their opening fixture at Llanharan.

But, crucially, the team travelled with dual threat US quarterback Justin LaRoda.

The New Jersey native has got himself a gun for a right arm and when necessary showed he was born to run out of trouble.