As the Betfred League One season hits its business end, North Wales Crusaders head coach Carl Forster has issued a rallying call to North Wales to get behind his team ahead of a crucial clash against Hunslet in Colwyn Bay this Sunday.
“New or old, whether you’ve been to see a few games, never missed a game, or even this would be your first, we need you at Stadiwm CSM this Sunday, he said, speaking to the media.
“North Wales is an area extremely passionate about sport, with immense pride in its teams, and we need that right behind us on Sunday to push the lads on in what to me is a must win game when it comes to keeping our play-off hopes alive.”
Forster’s side were defeated 32-6 away to league leaders Oldham last weekend, however, Forster has seen positives from that game which he’s hoping to build upon this weekend: “For me, we sort of have to take last weekend as a standalone game.
“We’ve gone to an Oldham side packed with ex-Super League players, who will have spent probably four times what we have this year, and we’d struggled to get a side together due to the amount of injuries we had.
“So to have matched the best side in the league for large parts of that game, I actually take an immense amount of pride from.
“Don’t get me wrong, a defeat is never good, and ofcourse we’ll be looking at what went wrong, and where we can improve going into this weekend, but I think it’s about focusing on ourselves, getting some of the new faces like Kenny Baker into training this week so they can learn our plays, and making sure we get back on track against Hunslet.
“This isn’t going to be an easy test either, they’re a quality side, sit above us in the table and are going about their business largely unnoticed this season.
“For us, we should have a few bodies back, hopefully a few on dual-registration and we can get back to winning ways and be right in that dog fight for the final play-off place.
“Games are running out, we’re in a position to challenge to make sure we stay in the top six, but we’re there to be shot at as well.
“The lads know the expectations, and also the task ahead, but not one of them will want to end the season with regret of not finishing in the play-off places.”
On his side’s current injury crisis, Forster said: “It would probably be easier to sit here and name who’s not injured than is at the moment.
“That being said, it’s sport, we’ve been dealt a tough hand but we go out there and every player who pulls on the Crusaders shirt fights for this club and to do our amazing supporters proud.
“I’ve got lads out of position, players coming in who haven’t even trained yet and have put their hands up to take to the field and do a job for us.
“When it comes down to it, that spirit and character is exactly what you want in a dressing room, that’s the Crusaders way, and if we play with the heart, desire and effort which we showed away at Oldham, then we’ll come away with the win come Sunday.
“The injuries are an issue, but they’re never an excuse.
“We’re going into Sunday with confidence and a backs against the wall attitude whereby we’ll be playing for each other and our fans.”
Tickets for Sunday’s game are on sale now at the early bird price of £10 adults and free for under 16’s, you can secure your tickets by clicking HERE.
