Championship 1 Preview: Gloucestershire All Golds v North Wales Crusaders (Sun)

North Wales Crusaders coach Clive Griffiths wants to see a response from his side’s first defeat of the season at Hemel Stags last weekend.

Griffiths saw his table-topping side slip to an 18-10 defeat and is looking for them to bounce straight back at Gloucestershire All Golds.

Griffiths said: “We’re a bit wounded from last week – I don’t think we’d have scored again if we were still playing now.

“It was a day that we didn’t want to happen, but one that had to happen at some point, and if it motivates us to better things then it will have been a worthwhile exercise.

“I’m looking for a massive reaction.

“We know Gloucestershire have recruited some good players from the Scorpions and we won’t be taking them lightly.”

Griffiths’ only absentee is winger Lewys Weaver, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines with appendicitis.

All Gold coach Brad Hepi is looking for his side to continue their recent improvement, despite their 38-22 loss at London Skolars on Sunday.

Hepi said: “We performed for 60 minutes (against Skolars), last weekend it was 40, so it was an improvement.

“It was a real arm wrestle in the middle 60.”