R League: Duggan lands top award

Jul 31 2007 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

CELTIC Crusaders have crowned a magnificent month by seeing full-back Tony Duggan awarded the Co-operative National League Two Player of the Month for July.

Duggan will receive his trophy before the Crusaders’ next home game against Hunslet Hawks on Saturday, August 11 (6pm).

Duggan has been a prolific try scorer and shows no signs of slowing down.

He was the country’s top scorer last season with 37 tries and leads the scoring charts again this year with 28 so far.

He scored seven tries during July, as the Crusaders notched up four wins out of four with the team scoring 162 points in the process.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon said: “Tony brings real bite to us. If we achieve something in the line and poke our nose through, you can be certain he will be there to finish it off.

“He can also make the break himself, he’s got enough speed and evasion. He has great awareness of where the ball is.”

Duggan was joined in the Co-operative National League Two Team of the Month by second-rowers Neale Wyatt and winger Paul Ballard, while Neil Budworth was just beaten by Swinton Lions’ Phil Wood in the best hooker spot.