Arena Essex stage the first leg of the Knockout Cup replay when they meet Rye House at the Purfleet Raceway this Friday starting at 8.00 p.m.

When the clubs first met in this year's competition, the Rockets gained a 46-44 success at Arena on Good Friday to gain the initiative but in the return fixture the following night, the Hammers put up a resilient performance to turn the tables on their opponents by the same score.

There is likely to be little between the teams this time around as they battle for the right to meet Newcastle in the Quarter Final with Hammers promoter and team manager Ronnie Russell stating, "It's going to be a close run affair."

Russell who has suffered financial losses after being forced to call off three of the club's last four meetings because of the weather admitted that he was desperate for a good cup run for a number of reasons.

"The main reason is that I want to be a winner for this club and we've worked hard to put the formula in place to be a successful side.

"The cup was always on my target of achievable trophies but then no more so than the league. To win the league, you do need the fortune to avoid long term injuries but I haven't seen anything to make me doubt that the Hammers have the ability to do well in both competitions."

Russell believes that his side can shade their opponents explaining, "We didn't have Joonas Kylmakorpi when we rode on Good Friday and we missed him and I think he could make the important difference this time around."

Published Thursday, May 22, 2003

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