Rugby League: Crusaders’ win boosts promotion hopes

Jul 27 2007 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

CELTIC Crusaders are now in the driving seat in Co-operative National League Two after hammering Featherstone at the Chris Moyles Stadium last night.

Crusaders’ win puts them just two points behind Rovers in the table, but with a game in hand, meaning that if they win all six of their remaining games, they will be champions.

Rovers’ gameplan looked to be to outmuscle their Welsh opponents, but experienced referee Ashley Klein picked up on their tough tactics with a penalty count of 11-6 to Crusaders proving this.

Crusaders took the lead with a Jace Van Dijk penalty after three minutes after Jon Wittle obstructed Mark Dalle Cort, but Rovers then equalised in kind through Stuart Dickens.

Crusaders regained the lead on 21 minutes, Paul Ballard picking up the ball from the grubber kick and racing the length of the field for his 19th try of the season.

Van Dijk’s conversion made it 8-2.

The lead was extended to 14-2 five minutes later after Danny Kirmond dropped the ball on his own 10 metre line, and from there Damien Quinn found a gap and ran in under the sticks.

Van Dijk converted again.

But Rovers struck back straight away as Kirmond made up for his earlier error as he ran in from dummy half to ground in the corner.

From kick-off in the second half, Rob Toshack was heaved into touch by five Rovers’ players giving the home side an early chance to score, but a forward pass scuppered their attack.

But Rovers got another penalty back through Paul Handforth after Neale Wyatt obstructed Joe McLocklan.

Crusaders hit back straight away with their first real attack of the second half after Grant Epton scored in the corner following excellent work from Wyatt and Toshack.

The visitors then extended their lead via two further Van Dijk penalties to put them 22-8 in front.

Crusaders sealed the game on 64 minutes when Epton scored his second in the corner following a move involving Van Dijk, Duggan and Toshack.

For good measure Van Dijk then kicked the tricky conversion.

Rovers hit back after Loz Wildbore threw a dummy and weaved through to ground, but Crusaders scored straight from kick-off after Ballard went in for his second after being set up by Duggan.

Coach John Dixon said: “We’ve opened this competition up today.

“If Featherstone had won they’d had been assured of the title.

“Featherstone is an exciting place to come and play rugby league, we played well and did a good job getting the win.”

Rovers: Tries: Kirmond, Wildbore. Goals: Dickens, Handforth.

Crusaders: T Duggan, P Ballard, R Toshack, M Dalle Cort, G Epton, D Quinn, J Van Dijk, T Martin, N Budworth, G Dean, N Wyatt, D Mapp, C Beasley. Subs: L Young, J I’Anson, P Cushion, H Davies.

Tries: Ballard (2), Quinn, Epton (2). Goals: Van Dijk (6).

Referee: Ashley Klein (London).

Attendance: 2,993.

echo.sport@wme.co.uk