30-05-2025
Crusaders determined they're not stung by the Hornets
Crusaders, leading the way in League One, will play host to Rochdale Hornets at Colwyn Bay's Stadiwm CSM on Sunday and this will be game nine of North Wales' 18-match campaign.
The front-runners go into the match-up on the back of a hard-fought 30-6 success at Keighley Cougars and head coach Forster is geared up for a testing afternoon.
He told Cru TV: 'It's going to be a tough one. I think in terms of brand of rugby, I think Rochdale are playing up there with the best.
'They've got some great halves, good full-backs, Martyn (Ridyard), (Gregg) McNally, Lewis Else.
'We're going to have to do our homework. It's going to be a really tough game.
'In the last couple of years, we've really struggled against Rochdale. So, that's something that we want to put right and a bit like this place (Keighley).
'We've not come here for 11 years and come here and won. So, I've just said to the lads that, you know, they're the group of people that's done that and hopefully we go and repeat that against Rochdale.'
Crusaders' players may have been guilty of trying to force the issue in their win against Keighley and Forster wants his players to make sure they play in the right areas of the pitch.
He stressed: 'I feel like we've got quality players and we've got great strike (players), if we get down in their half, I feel like we need to score points and I think lads get a bit frustrated.
'I keep saying, my message is, just be happy to be playing in those areas of the field, sustain pressure and that's what we did, and the points will follow.
'You've seen (Sam) Wildey on an edge there. I thought Pat Ah Van in the centre... he was a forced decision.
'You know, I'm not going to turn around and say it was a coaching masterclass decision. It wasn't, it was a forced one.
'Pat put his hand up to play centre, we knew Jack (Houghton) would do a great job. I thought Jack was outstanding... and that's kind of solved the problem for us at the minute.'
It's turning out to be an intriguing League One campaign and just five points separate the sides in the top seven positions.
Rochdale find themselves in fourth spot and they are four points adrift of the pace being set by Crusaders.
Just a point behind North Wales in second and third are Workington Town and Midlands Hurricanes.
Workington have home advantage versus Dewsbury Rams on Sunday, while Midlands welcome Swinton Lions.
The other match-up sees Keighley heading to Newcastle Thunder.
