GARY THORNTON expects North Wales Crusaders to head to Hunslet “eager for revenge”.

Thornton’s Hunslet knocked the Welsh outfit out of the Challenge Cup on home soil as they secured a 22-18 away win last month.

And Hunslet head coach Thornton told the club’s official website: “North Wales will be eager for revenge, and we can’t afford any slip-ups.

“North Wales are a good side, well-coached by Anthony Murray.”

Murray’s men shrugged off their cup exit to kick-off their League One campaign with a 40-16 success at London Skolars on Sunday.

It was a win that Murray felt proved Crusaders are capable of challenging for a play-off place.

“We earmarked winning here if we were serious about trying to go one better than we did last year,” he said. “A couple of games cost us last year with small margins going against us, so it was really good we won and we were able to start our league campaign how we wanted.”

The game was in the balance at the break in English capital with the score at 18-16, but Crusaders scored 22 unanswered points to run out convincing winners.

“I wasn’t happy in the first-half, the only positive that we were in-front 18-16,” said Murray.

“I spoke to the guys at half-time about a high penalty count, which was seven, and a really low completion rate, where we gifted field position to London. That’s why it was so close at half-time.

“We got ourselves together, we spoke about upping our completion rate and trying to give less penalties away, which we did - four penalties and 83 per cent completion - and we ran out worthy winners. I was really pleased with the response I got.”

West Wales Raiders forward Chris Davies has been banned for six matches for gouging.

Davies was charged by the Rugby Football League’s match review panel over an incident towards the end of his club’s 30-8 home defeat by amateurs Underbank Rangers in the third round of the Challenge Cup on February 16.

Raiders head to Doncaster on Sunday without Davies.

Newcastle host Workington with both teams winning their opening game of the season, while Barrow entertain Coventry and Rochdale face visiting Keighley.