Rugby League match preview: Exeter Centurions v Devon Sharks

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Exeter Centurions coach Kyle Bonsor will be looking for revenge after Saturday’s first defeat of the season away to local rivals Devon Sharks.

Centurions went into the game against the defending champions undefeated but had several key players missing and suffered a 30-18 loss against the Torquay-based team.

The two sides meet again this weekend at Flowerpot Fields in the semi-final of the South West Cup.

Bonsor is hoping the return of a host of experienced players for the cup tie will make a difference for his side.

“I am disappointed with the result as I know that with a bit more experience available on the day the outcome could have been very different,” he said.

“We had key players away on representative duty, and a number of players unavailable due to short notice sickness and injury. I knew it wouldn’t be easy going to Sharks, and with a depleted squad it was always going to be even harder, but we still had enough talent on the field to win the game”

Alex Stevens was away playing in a forces rugby union game, and props Ben Cowley and Charlie Hinton were both ill, with Kieron Morris, Tony Emmins, Max Reitmeier, Richie Guy, Mike Richards and leading scorer Ed Powell already unavailable.

However, with Stevens, Morris, Richards and Emmins ready to return, player-coach Bonsor is set to field a stronger line-up against the Sharks at home.

“I was very impressed with the spirit shown by the lads that stepped in, both in attack and in defence, against a very strong Sharks side,” he said.

“I now have a near full-strength squad to select from, and there will be some tough selection headaches in training. It is my job to select the side that will take us into the South West Cup final.”

In last Saturday’s league game, the Centurions opened the scoring with an individual effort from Leo Hood, which Dan Mountstevens converted.

However, they trailed 14-6 at the break and were 30-6 down before Mark Toms exploited an overlap on the left to touch down and Sam Harris stepped inside five defenders to grab his first try for Exeter. Bonsor converted both.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23278085

Rugby League match preview: Exeter Centurions v Devon Sharks