R League: Crusaders out to rewrite records

Aug 11 2007 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

CELTIC Crusaders will break a club record for consecutive wins and move a step closer to the Co-operative National League Two title if they beat Hunslet Hawks at the Brewery Field tonight (6pm).

Including today’s game, the Crusaders have just five matches left in their National League Two campaign and if they win the lot, they will clinch the championship and be promoted to National League One, just a level below the likes of Wigan and St Helens in Super League.

The Crusaders, after knocking the Hawks out of the Northern Rail Cup in April, suffered a shock 16-23 defeat at the John Charles Stadium two months later.

But since then they have failed to lose a game, knocking up seven wins on the trot and scoring 244 points in the process.

Their winning run has included defeats of their nearest rivals, Workington Town, Featherstone Rovers and Barrow Raiders, the latter two away from home and destroying their previously unbeaten 2007 home records, while they have completed doubles over Featherstone, Barrow, York, London, Swinton and Blackpool.

Hunslet’s form hasn’t been good since their defeat of the Crusaders, with just two wins from their last seven games.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon is in a dream position having no injuries going into the clash with the Hawks.

But having beaten closest rivals Featherstone (32-12) and Barrow (26-24) away from home in the last two weeks with an unchanged side, Dixon’s dilemma will be who to leave out with Anthony Blackwood, Josh Cale, Richard Johnston and Aurélien Cologni are all returning from injury.

Crusaders (from): 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, L Young, J I’Anson, P Cushion, H Davies, A Blackwood, J Cale, R Johnston, A Cologni.