R League: Crusaders in positive mood for Blackpool trip

Jul 21 2007 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

CELTIC Crusaders are hot favourites to beat the Blackpool Panthers at the Woodlands Memorial Ground in their Co-operative National League Two tomorrow (3pm).

A Crusaders triumph will inflict a 30th successive defeat on the seaside club as it has now been more than a year since the Panthers last won a match, when they defeated Gateshead Thunder.

A week later they lost 52-0 at home to the Crusaders, the match that started their remarkable downfall. They should have broken their losing streak back at the Thunderdome two weeks ago when they led Gateshead 22-4 at half-time, only to lose 28-26.

However, last week they were brought back down to earth with an 86-6 defeat at Workington Town.

The man put in charge of lifting the Panthers’ fortunes is former Great Britain scrum-half Andy Gregory, who was appointed head coach a month ago, and Crusaders’ coach John Dixon spoke highly of him, saying: “I think that if clubs are able to attract top people into their organisations, and Andy Gregory has a wonderful record as a player, then his experience can only help Blackpool in their endeavours.

Crusaders have just two injury worries, Anthony Blackwood and Rob Toshack, both of whom missed last week’s dramatic 26-20 win at Swinton Lions, and they will both sit out the clash at Blackpool.

Dixon is unlikely to make any major changes to his side this week.

Crusaders: (from) Tony Duggan, Grant Epton, Richard Johnston, Mark Dalle Cort, Paul Ballard, Damien Quinn, Jace Van Dijk, Josh Cale, Neil Budworth, Gareth Dean, Darren Mapp, Neale Wyatt, Terry Martin, Hywel Davies, Jamie I’Anson, Dean Fitzgerald, Luke Young, Geraint Davies, Josh Cale, Chris Beasley, Phil Cushion, Aurélien Cologni.