photo by Ian Lovell

Celtic Crusaders kept up their recent impressive record by beating Batley Bulldogs 56-28 in a pulsating match in Bridgend.

The fans and S4C viewers alike were entertained by a try-fest that saw the sides cross 15 times during the game, nine in the second half alone.

Despite pockets of try-scoring from the Bulldogs, including three tries from successive sets in the second half, the Crusaders never looked like losing the game and they took the lead on seven minutes when Neale Wyatt slipped the ball to Luke Dyer who ran half the length of the field to ground. Mark Lennon converted.

Dyer created the second try straight from kick-off passing to wingman Lennon and the Welsh international ran 30 metres to score before converting it himself.

Batley struck back on 16 minutes when Ian Preece picked up a loose pass and broke through the Crusaders’ back line.

But the home side regained their advantage straight when, from a scrum, Paul Ballard ran over and Lennon added the extras.

It was 24-6 moments later when Jace Van Dijk eased his way under the posts and Lennon converted again.

The Bulldogs brought the score back to 24-12 ten minutes before the interval when former Crusader Andy Boothroyd, who was welcomed handsomely by the home fans, forced his way over on the final tackle and Kings’ kicked the goal.

Crusaders opened the second half by scoring within five minutes. Following a long kick by Van Dijk, Preece missed the ball following an awkward bounce, Jordan James took advantage and placed the ball under the sticks. Lennon converted.

Batley’s Danny Maun was red-carded moments later for a high challenge on Van Dijk and Crusaders took advantage of the extra man straight way when, from the resulting penalty, Tony Duggan ran in his side’s sixth try of the evening. Lennon kept up his 100% record to make the score 36-12 and effectively seal the game.

Dyer ran in Crusaders’ seventh try on 54 minutes with Lennon converting again.

Eight minutes later it was 46-12. Damien Quinn created the chance by intercepting on his own ten metre line while Mark Dalle Cort and Paul Ballard made more metres. Jordan James laid a cheeky kick onto the right wing and fellow Welsh international Ian Webster ran unmarked to the line.

But Batley weren’t finished yet as they ran in three tries in the space of seven minutes.

Anthony Henderson scored first after they regained possession straight after Webster’s try. Kings converted.

And straight from kick-off Kings went

over for their fourth try of the evening, converting it himself before Paul Mennell scored their fifth.

But Crusaders scored again straight away when Luke Dyer ran over 60 metres to secure his hat-trick which Lennon converted.

An excellent run from Lennon in the final minute gave Paul Ballard an easy try to wrap things up.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon was happy with the win but is obviously worried about the injury to Van Dijk caused by Maun’s high challenge.

“I was pleased with the score-line more than the performance, because we had some scratchy bits in us today,” he said. “It was a good result but it was tampered by the injury to Jace Van Dijk that will be a major concern for us. We'll see how Jace goes and we certainly hope the injury isn’t to bad. If it is, it will be a major set-back for us but as a team we’ll go on from there. For Jace as a young man, who's a good player on our team, it’s a dampener on a good score-line.”

CELTIC CRUSADERS
1. Tony Duggan
2. Paul Ballard
3. Luke Dyer
4. Mark Dalle Cort
5. Mark Lennon
6. Damien Quinn
7. Jace Van Dijk
8. Jordan James
9. Neil Budworth
10. Gareth Dean
11. Chris Beasley
12. Darren Mapp
13. Neale Wyatt
Subs:
14. Ian Webster
15. Aaron Summers
16. Jamie I’Anson
17. David Tangata-Toa
Tries: Dyer (7, 54, 73), Lennon (10), Ballard (19), Van Dijk (22), James (45), Duggan (48), Webster (62), Ballard (79)
Goals: Lennon 8/10

BATLEY BULLDOGS
1. Ian Preece
2. Ollie Marns
3. Kevin Kings
4. Danny Maun
5. Ashley Lindsay
6. Mark Toohey
7. Paul Mennell
8. Luke Stenchion
9. Kris Lythe
10. Anthony Henderson
11. Andy Jarrett
12. Tim Spears
13. Craig Farrell
Subs:
14. Stephen Brook
15. Andy Boothroyd
16. Byron Smith
17. Jon Simpson
Tries: Preece (16), Boothroyd (30), Henderson (65), Kings (68), Mennell (71)
Goals: Kings 4/5
Sent Off: Maun (46, high challenge)

Referee: Ian Smith (Rotherham)
Attendance: 1,336
Men of the Match: Crusaders – Dyer, Bulldogs - Mennell
Penalties: 7-5
Scoring Sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 18-6, 24-6, 24-12, 30-12, 36-12, 42-12, 46-12, 46-18, 46-24, 46-28, 52-28, 56-28
Half-time: 24-12
Gamestar: Luke Dyer with a fine hat-trick of tries.
Gamebreaker: Tony Duggan’s try on 48 minutes following Maun’s sending off gave the Crusaders a 24 point gap.
Weather: Cloudy but bright
Match Rating: 4/5

article by Ian Golden
31 May 2008