Hunslet v Barrow Raiders - Parksiders' boss Gary Thornton expecting tough pre-season test

The Parksiders beat North Wales Crusaders 34-18 last weekend in their first game for 13 months and coach Gary Thornton is looking for a better start.

Hunslet scored three late tries to defeat Crusaders 34-18, after trailing 18-16 and Thornton said: “We started slowly against North Wales, which was perhaps understandable as it was our first game for over a year because of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

“That’s something we will be aiming to rectify - and while I was happy enough with our display overall against the Crusaders, I’ll be looking for improvements in certain areas against a Barrow outfit that has strengthened under coach Paul Crarey.”

Thornton insisted: “It will be a tough challenge for us, particularly up front, against a side being tipped as one of the promotion favourites.

“Barrow have signed such as Ben Harrison from Warrington and Harry Swarbrick, from Salford and have a number of other big men in the pack, such as Carl Forster.

“It will be a good test. We’ve a few injury doubts, nothing major and scrum-half Dom Brambani, who missed the North Wales game as a precaution, is fit again.”

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