Spence: We'll come out fighting PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 02 May 2008 23:03

COACH Tony Spence is adamant Skirlaugh will not give up their Grand Final title without a fight.

The champions are 80 minutes away from reaching their second consecutive showdown and travel to Leigh Miners Rangers tomorrow.

Their further incentive is Lee Radford's East Hull are waiting for the winners in next week's final at Featherstone.

Skirlaugh took the title in 2007 by beating Miners in the final, so this is a massive game for both sides.

The Villagers are certainly going to have to be at their best if they are to beat Miners, who lost at home to East Hull last week.

This is a one-off game with no second chance, but Skirlaugh coach Tony Spence is confident his side can go to Miners and grind out the right result.

"We are the champions and we're not going to give up our title without a real fight" he said.

"We are going with a fully fit squad so there will be no excuses if we fail and come up short.

"The players know what is expected of them in what will be a pressure game.

"When we took on Mayfield last weekend we didn't play well and will have to perform a lot better.

"Miners are our old enemy and they know we always seem to come out on top when we play.

"What we have to do is to treat it like any other game and have to make sure our preparation is first class.

"We have the players who can put in a big-game performance so I know we can win.

"Confidence has never been an issue for us as we play with plenty of it and back it up with a great enthusiasm.

"But we have to also be aware Miners are a very good side and haven't finished as Minor Premiers for nothing."

Skirlaugh had only one doubt going into this game, which was over international prop forward Trevor Penrose.

But his neck injury has cleared up so selection headaches are of the nicest kind for the coaching staff this weekend.

They will be looking to the power of forwards Mark Spence and Sean Wildbore to break down the Miners' defence.

Half-back Chris Brown and points machine Jordan Precious will also have a prominent part to play.

Miners have their own potential danger men with Darren Pilkington coming into the line from full back.

Andrew Sarsfield also possesses a threat at half-back after their big pack of forwards have made the big yards.

 

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