R League: Crusaders' Duggan honoured

Oct 3 2007 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

CELTIC Crusaders’ star full-back Tony Duggan scooped the top honour at the National League awards ceremony in Leeds last night.

The country’s top try scorer won the Co-operative National League Two Player of the Year award mainly thanks to his 40 touchdowns throughout the season.

Duggan is currently on holiday in Australia so Crusaders’ assistant coach Kevin Ellis accepted the award on his behalf.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon said: “This honour is just reward for Tony’s efforts throughout 2007. I’m sure he’d say thanks to his team-mates as you don’t achieve awards like these without help from your players around you.”

Jace Van Dijk, Neale Wyatt, Damien Quinn, Mark Dalle Cort, Neil Budworth, all joined Duggan in the National League Two all-star team.

London Skolars’ Latham Tawhai picked up Coach of the Year award after leading his team to within a whisker of the play-offs on a limited budget.