Giants ready for start

AMBITIOUS Rotherham Giants kick off their new Rugby League Conference season tomorrow—and club chairman Chris Bell reckons it’ll be one of the toughest challenges the club has faced.

The Herringthorpe outfit will compete in the Yorkshire Premier League—just one tier away from the National League’s third division—after being fast-tracked by Conference chiefs.

They’ll have to do it without some players who have moved on, such as the influential Bryn Evans who is en-route to the RAF, but Bell is confident the side can up their game, starting with tomorrow’s visit of old foes Moorends-Thorne Marauders (2.30pm).

“There has been a lot of interest and we’re keen to put on a good show from the start,” says Bell.

“It’s potentially a very tough division. When we were in the inaugural Conference ten years ago the club got to the grand final, but the competition has moved on a lot since then.

“The equivalent for us is when we were in the Pennine League Division One. That’s the standard we’re at now, if not higher.

“But we are in good shape and we’re ready for the challenge.”