CARL FORSTER says North Wales Crusaders will learn from their mistakes as they return home on Sunday.

Crusaders’ unbeaten start to the League One season ended with a 22-6 loss at second-placed Keighley Cougars last time out and North Wales will be looking to return to winning ways when they play host to Rochdale Hornets on Sunday.

Head coach Forster admitted the players will learn plenty from the defeat to Keighley.

He told CruCast: “We’re not going to go through the season unbeaten, are we? So I said after the game, I said we’re all competitive and we don’t want to lose, it’s as simple as that.

“But you come to places like Keighley away and to Oldham away, Workington away, you know tough grounds... and you can accept defeat as long as you learn from it and I think we had so many learning points and learning curves (on Sunday) that we need to learn from, it’s as simple as that.

“We’ve got two big games coming up with teams that are in and around us.

“We’re all fighting for those play-off spots. So, as long as we learn from it, it’ll put us in good stead.

“If we keep repeating these mistakes that we are making, then it’s obviously something as a coach I’ve got to look at and speak to certain players.

“But, we all make mistakes, we’re all human and as long as we learn from it, I’m more than happy to move on.”

One pleasing aspect was the way Crusaders started the top-of-the-table encounter.

Chris Barratt (pictured right) scored a 13th minute try, converted by Owain Abel, as the visitors went ahead and it was tied at 6-6 at the midway point.

Reflecting on the first half, Forster added:”I think we delivered everything that we said we wanted to do.

“We stuck to the game plan, kept hold of the ball and I think when we do that, we’re a match for anyone and we proved that (on Sunday).

“I thought our start was outstanding and it’s something to build on.”

It was a viewpoint echoed by Cru player Ryan Ellis.

He said: “For large parts of the first half, I thought we dominated.

“I think, obviously, a couple of mistakes, giving the ball up in bad field position probably cost us a bit in that first half. Maybe, just got us trapped a bit. But then, other than that, I thought we pretty much dominated all the first half.”

Keighley Cougars will be strong favourites to stretch their winning start to the season on Sunday as they travel to Newcastle Thunder.

Cornwall will welcome Midlands Hurricanes and Workington Town head to Hunslet.