Amateur RL: Home advantage will play into Lions' hands warns Rooney

The National Conference Division One amateurs will face South Wales Scorpions, of Kingstone Press League One, at Millpond Stadium tomorrow (3pm). The RFL are now allowing community clubs to play ties on their own turf and Lions coach Jamie Rooney, the former Featherstone Rovers, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Castleford Tigers and England half-back, feels that gives his team a real chance.

He said: “Rovers’ field is a bit worse for wear with the weather and they have a game on Sunday. The club have had to do a lot of work behind the scenes, the committee have done a good job and the RFL have allowed it.

“Last year we played York at Rovers, it is a really big field and York blew us away. Our field’s smaller, the crowd are on top of you and it is an intimidating place to come.”

Rooney played six matches for Scorpions in 2012 and he said: “I played with their coach Phil Carleton and I’ve played against a few of their players. I have done quite a bit of homework on them and looked at their strengths and weaknesses and, if the lads play how they’ve trained this week, I think we can get the job done.”

Admission tomorrow is £5 for adults and £3 concessions.

Castleford amateurs Lock Lane are in Cup action on Sunday, when they face Oxford at Maidenhead Rugby Union Club (2.30pm).