Cas: Andy Henderson Mac Has To Bounce Back After Grand Final Heartache
By GW - October 11 2005
Scotland coach Steve McCormack will have little chance to get over the disappointment of losing a second successive National League Grand Final with his club side, Whitehaven, before facing his tormentors. >
McCormack’s missed out on Super League after the 36-8 defeat to Cas at Widnes on Sunday and he will now lead Scotland – with two Castleford players in its ranks against two more after Wales announced their squad for Sunday’s European Nations Cup opener in Bridgend.

Welshmen Byron Smith and Jordan James will face club-mates Andrew Henderson and Richard Fletcher – while McCormack also includes Haven’s top tryscorer Mick Nanyn in the Scotland squad.

Among the major names in the Wales squad are St Helens’ forward Keith Mason, half-back Neil Lennon who plays in Australia’s NRl with Manly Sea Eagles and skipper Lee Briers, who partnered Andrew Johns in Warrington’s recent play-off campaign.

Wales are without Great Britain stars Keiron Cunningham and Iestyn Harris on Great Britain duty. Harris also plays in the Super League Grand Final for Bradford Bulls against Leeds Rhinos on Saturday night, a game which has denied Scotland the opportunity to cap his Bradford team-mate, in-form hooker Ian Henderson, brother of Andrew. Wales winger Hefin O’Hare is unavailable to face Scotland because he will be playing for Glasgow rugby union, but should return against Ireland a fortnight later.

Scotland play Ireland at Glasgow Hawks on Sunday 23 October.

Wales squad (to play Scotland on Sunday in Bridgend): Lee Briers (Warrington, Cap), Damien Gibson (Halifax), Anthony Blackwood (Halifax), Nick Royle (Rochdale), Mark Lennon (Manly, Australia), Bryn Powell (Featherstone), Aled James (Sheffield), Byron Smith (Castleford), Gareth Dean (Carcassonne, France), David Mills (Widnes), Gareth Price (Rochdale), Ian Watson (Swinton), Jordan James (Castleford), Phil Joseph (Swinton), Chris Morley (Halifax), Adam Hughes (Widnes), Gary Hulse (Widnes), Keith Mason (St Helens), Jon Breakingbury (Valley Cougars), Damien Hudd (Torfaen), Nathan Strong (Bridgend), Karl Hocking (Bridgend), Andy Llewellyn (Aberavon), Neil Davies (Aberavon), Scott O’Kelly (Aberavon), Lee Williams (Aberavon), Mark Burke (Aberavon

This article was posted on 12-Oct-2005, 08:55 by Hugh Barrow.