R League: Paul teaches Skolars a lesson

Jul 8 2007 by Ian Golden, Wales On Sunday

Celtic Crusaders 50-6 London Skolars

CELTIC Crusaders cruised to an eighth successive win over London Skolars last night, thanks to an outstanding second-half performance at the Brewery Field.

The Welsh side’s win puts them just one point behind second- placed Barrow Raiders, who face a tough game at York City Knights today.

Skolars, who arrived in Wales following a successful June, fought hard in the first half but realistically Crusaders were always in control.

Man-of-the-match Paul Ballard, who passed a fitness test to play just before kick-off, went over in the corner for the opening Crusaders’ try on four minutes.

Just handling errors prevented a quick second try and Ballard had a second ruled out on 13 minutes as Tony Duggan’s offload to him was forward.

Always in the action, Ballard also fumbled a Neale Wyatt pass 20 metres from the line.

Skolars were close to scoring but Joe Price’s kick went too far for anyone to latch on to, while Ashley Tozer failed to ground the ball properly as he dived on Jermaine Coleman’s kick.

It took a bit of magic from Duggan and Ballard again for the second try, Duggan again the provider as the winger scored in the corner again.

Damien Quinn’s grubber was picked up by Coleman, preventing a third try, but Neale Wyatt went over just before half-time with Jace Van Dijk converting to make the half-time score 14-0.

Crusaders extended their lead just two minutes after the interval after Van Dijk set up Darren Mapp to run in under the sticks. Van Dijk easily converted.

Ballard followed that up straight from the kick-off with a further try to bring up his hat-trick.

Van Dijk set up Mapp for his second on 52 minutes with Van Dijk’s goal putting the score on 30-0.

Wyatt fed Duggan to run in under the sticks for the Crusaders’ seventh try, with Van Dijk converting, and the Welsh side were home and dry.

They were now running riot as Mark Dalle Cort stormed over from the kick-off for his team’s eighth try.

Dean Fitzgerald had a try disallowed as the referee had already blown for a London infringement but justice was done as Van Dijk went over from the resulting scrum.

Following a short spell of Skolars pressure when Tryfan Edwards came closest to scoring, Ballard notched up his fourth try in exactly the same place as the previous three to bring up the 50. A round of applause broke out throughout the ground as London finally went over for their first try on 73 minutes through Chris Lynton, with Chris Thorman adding the extras.

Ballard was denied a fifth try twice before the final hooter after receiving a forward pass both times.

Crusaders now face four away matches before returning to the Brewery Field to face Hunslet on August 11.

Crusaders: Tries – Ballard (4, 32, 45, 68), Wyatt (39), Mapp (42, 52), Duggan (55), Dalle Cort (57), Van Dijk (60); goals – Van Dijk 5.

Skolars: Try – Lynton (73); goals – Thorman 1.