Tala to make his debut for Hornets in cup clash with Knights
ROCHDALE take on National Conference Premier Division Side Normanton Knights in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup this afternoon, in a match that will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website.
The match, a 2pm kick-off, will see a first Hornets’ appearance for Seta Tala – the Fijian forward who has been a mainstay of amateurs Rochdale Mayfield for several years.
Coach Alan Kilshaw said: “Seta is someone we have watched from afar for a while. He’s fast and powerful with a lot of natural skill and he’s impressed me in training.”
Callum Mulkeen is also expected to feature after signing a permanent contract at the club this week, but Pat Moran and Morgan Smith are not available as parent club Warrington do not want them to become cup-tied.
LEIGH have included Nick Gregson, Ricky Bailey and Jordan Dezaria in their squad for the trip to Batley tomorrow, but owner Derek Beaumont admitted this week that the club’s focus is on achieving a spot in the Super 8 Qualifiers, rather than progressing in the Challenge Cup.
There has been a late switch of venue for SWINTON’S match against York tomorrow afternoon – that will now take place at Featherstone Rovers’ LD Nutrition Stadium because Bootham Crescent is waterlogged, 3pm kick-off.
OLDHAM ROUGHYEDS coach Scott Naylor has 22 players to choose from for his side’s fourth-round clash with Halifax, just Adam Jones and Ben Davies miss out through injury. Salford are not making dual-registration players available.