Last updated at 13:51, Sunday, 08 November 2009

A TRIO of Barrow Raiders will be helping Scotland invade Wales tomorrow in the hope of picking up the country’s first-ever RL silverware.

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Coach Steve McCormack, winger James Nixon and new signing Andy Henderson will all be part of the Scots set-up as they go up against the host nation in the European Cup final in Bridgend (4pm kick-off on Sky Sports).

And there will be one more Barrow player relishing his international debut in South Wales – with Brett McDermott pulling on the Ireland shirt for the first time as they play Lebanon in the third-place play-off.

Scotland have reached their first final after thrashing Italy and beating Lebanon in the group stages of the competition, but McCormack – in charge at Craven Park for only two weeks and of Scotland for five years – knows his side face a stiff challenge.

“I’m really excited about it. You don’t get many opportunities to be involved in games like this – the European Cup final against Wales at Wales,” he said.

“Everything would seem to be against us. But it’s a challenge which I am sure we will thrive on and I can’t wait for it.”

Nixon will be winning only his third international cap when he pulls on the blue jersey tomorrow, having already scored five tries in his two appearances in the competition so far. Contrarily, Henderson – whose brother Kevin is also likely to feature – has been captain of the side for the past five years under McCormack and led the team to their greatest victory, against Fiji in last year’s World Cup in Australia.

Both Nixon and Henderson are set to play key roles tomorrow and their coach is happy with the overall progress of the team since he took over.

“I don’t think the team has ever had three consecutive wins, but we have come a long way,” he said. “Five years ago when we first took over, Scotland struggled to win a game, but since then we have qualified for the World Cup.

“We are pleased to get to the final, we have worked very hard to get there. Wales are on their home ground and they will have a partisan crowd, but that is the type of challenge we thrive on.”

The Wales v Scotland game will be preceded at Bridgend by Ireland’s clash with Lebanon. As well as McDermott, Barrow’s James Coyle and Dave Allen included in the Ireland squad.

But the game will be extra-special for the Raiders veteran forward, who will make his international debut at the age of 31.

The late call-up – which came during his morning coal rounds yesterday – had McDermott dashing down the motorway to join up with the squad, but he was more than happy to do so.

He joked: “It’s better late than never! I’m over the moon. I was at work carrying coal and I got phone call asking if I was available for Sunday and I said ‘for sure’.

“It’s not something I was expecting at all, they have already played the two games, but I am pleased with the opportunity.”

McDermott admits he does not know what to expect from the encounter with Lebanon – even what tactics the team will deploy – but he is still looking forward to the whole experience.“I don't know much about the game plan or anything, I will just have to get there and do my best,” he added.

“It's a real honour. They know they can count on me to do my best.”

l The Raiders Bar will be open tomorrow to show the Wales v Scotland game. The bar opens half-an-hour ahead of kick-off at 3.30pm.

First published at 13:17, Friday, 06 November 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk