HEAD coach Tim Rumford is urging his Oxford Rugby League players to embrace the challenge of having to scrap for points in Kingstone Press League 1.

The Blues welcome Hemel Stags to Iffley Road on Sunday and are looking for their first win of the season after defeats to Coventry Bears and York City Knights.

Hemel have two points after tasting victory against London Skolars on the opening day of the season, before losing to Keighley Cougars a week later.

Oxford have already beaten Hemel this year in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup and Rumford is expecting a tough assignment.

“The Hemel game is a big challenge for us because we are among the same group as them who are hungry for points,” he said.

“We’re getting into a situation where everybody’s targeting each other in that area of the league.

“That brings its own challenges – it’s a bit dog eat dog.

“It’s a situation we ultimately want to get out of, but while we’re in it we need to embrace that challenge and meet it head on.”