Edinburgh Eagles skipper Lewis Clarke is a fitness doubt for the rugby league side’s second round Betfred Challenge Cup clash at Castleford Lock Lane on Saturday and with any blame being laid squarely with storms Isha and Jocelyn!
The Scotland internationalist works as an electricity linesman with Scottish Power and says long hours repairing damaged cables has left him feeling a bit under the weather.
“Hopefully I will be okay but there have been one or two back-to-back shifts this week and I’m just feeling a bit below par” says hooker Lewis who will also have to contend with being on call over Friday night.
If this man-of-the-match in the previous round does make kick off in Yorkshire then he expects a step up compared to when Eagles excelled by overcoming Cumbrian opponents Lowca 28-22 a fortnight ago after trailing 10-4 at half-time.
Adds Clarke: “Lock Lane play a couple of leagues higher than Lowca and are known to have a couple of ex Super League players in their ranks with Halifax and Newcastle Thunder being mentioned.
“But we’ve always been underdogs (the win at Lowca was the first time they had broken the first round barrier in a decade) so we will give it our best shot with nothing to lose.
“Hopefully we can play a wider type of game this time which would help our chances.”
Colin Jarvis, described as a “hard carrying prop” by his captain is available again and once more Mark Robertson will be flying in from Malta for the tie. They will, however, be without Apenai Kororua due to suspension.
- Eagles are running a bus to Yorkshire and Clarke says supporters and well-wishers are welcome to travel in return for “a donation” to club funds. See Eagles social media for further details.
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
