HEAD coach Tim Rumford believes Oxford Rugby League will have to improve against Newcastle Thunder on Sunday if they are to make it backto-back wins in Kingstone Press League 1.

The Blues picked up their first victory of the season with a 31-28 triumph over Hemel Stags at Iffley Road last weekend, lifting them to tenth in the table.

Newcastle are third after winning three of their opening four fixtures and Rumford expects a tough challenge at Kingston Park.

He said: “We’ll need to be better at Newcastle on Sunday.

“We know all about their side and the threats they pose – the big Papua New Guinea guys, the strong running back rowers on the edges and obviously the pace they’ve got out wide.”

Rumford continued: “I was happy with the win (against Hemel) but not the performance.

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“It was a real scrappy game.

“But we found a way to win, so we can take a lot out of that.

“It’s a big task for our guys, but we’re training hard this week and putting a few things right from the weekend.

“We’ll go there with our eyes wide open and we’ll have a dig, look to be competitive and see what comes out of it.”

Danny Allan and Andy Speake are ruled out through injury, while Ricky Hopwood and Henry Swailes are Oxford’s only long-term absentees (knee).