MIDLANDS Hurricanes put their injury woes behind them to beat struggling West Wales Raiders 36-4 thanks to two tries apiece from Tyler Hepple and Liam Welham.
Hurricanes were only able to name a 15-player squad for the trip to Wales but still managed to cross for six tries with Hepple and Welham’s tries supported by Jack Wallis and Adam Reed who both notched a try each on debut at Stebonheath Park,
The result means Hurricanes sit eighth in the Betfred League 1 table with two matches left to play.
Head Coach Rich Squires said: “It was a very scrappy performance across the board, which was expected after the preparation we had during the week.
“Up until Thursday we only had 13 fit players available and we managed to get two amateur players into the squad.
“The team really stuck together and looked comfortable throughout.”
After a scrappy opening quarter, Hurricanes broke the deadlock on 24 minutes when Welham touched down the first of his two tries.
However, Raiders hit back on the half hour mark through Callum Merret as he raced the length of the field to score what would prove to be the home side’s only points of the match.
The visitors restored their lead when Welham grabbed his second try of the half after both teams had a player sent to the sin bin.
And Hurricanes pulled away from Raiders when Hepple finished from close range after the home winger fluffed his lines when attempting to gather a high kick.
The first half ended in bizarre fashion as Wallis scored a debut try despite the Raiders defence having stopped, after the touch judge entered the pitch to stop play, only for the referee to play on and issue a red card to a Raiders player after the try had been awarded.
Despite having a man advantage, Hurricanes were unable to add to their tally until the 76th minute when Hepple grabbed his second of the game.
And there was still time to add some final gloss to the scoreline when debutant Reed finished off a kick to the corner to complete the scoring.
Hurricanes are next in action away at London Skolars on Saturday, August 27 with kick-off at 3pm at New River Stadium.
