Celtic Crusaders earned a positive 32-10 win over bottom side Dewsbury Rams on Sunday but they know that their second game in five days, against Widnes Vikings at the Brewery Field in Bridgend this Thursday evening (kick-off 7.30pm) will be a lot harder.

The Vikings earned a close win over Salford City Reds last Thursday, but they will take on a Crusaders side in the live Sky Sports clash who will be buoyant after their fifth league win in the last six games.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon was happy at his team’s performance on Sunday but realises that Crusaders have a very short turnaround before their next encounter.

“Widnes are really first class opponents and they’re in good form as they showed against Salford last Thursday,” he said. “It is a short turnaround but that’s they way things go at times, we’ll just have to make sure we turn up and play well.

“Today’s game was tough because conditions were adverse to playing rugby league. The gale that blew through the ground for the entire match made things difficult for both teams and we did well, especially through our defending in the second half.

“We were 18-4 up at half-time after playing with the breeze and after that it was tough. They scored with a kick through at the top of the second half but we scored the next try which was crucial and it gave us breathing space.”

The Crusaders took an early lead through a seventh minute Mark Lennon penalty goal and then made use of the wind behind their backs to score a try straight away. Tom Colleran missed a long kick forward and Paul Ballard took advantage to run home in the corner. Lennon did well to kick the tricky conversion to make the score 8-0.

Two more Lennon penalties on 21 and 29 minutes increased the lead even further before the Welsh international added to his already impressive tally with the boot

by scoring an impressive individual try under the sticks straight from kick-off, converting it himself.

Rams hit back almost straight away through a well worked Chris Langley try and they opened the second half in style, taking advantage of the wind to score through Chris Hall with Patrick Walker converting.

However the Crusaders were always the better team, performed well in attack and defence, and it never looked like the win was going to slip away from them.

Tony Duggan scored his 90th try for the club on 57 minutes in the corner from close range to give the Crusaders a two-try cushion.

Man of the match Jordan James forced his way through seven minutes later to make the win safe with Lennon converting.

And substitute Neil Budworth rounded things off with a try with five minutes remaining to complete one of the most positive weeks in Welsh Rugby League history.

RAMS: Tom Colleran, Bryn Powell, Chris Langley, Chris Hall, Austin Buchanan, Ryan Smith, Liam Finn, Aaron Trinder, Pat Walker, Dominic Maloney, Chris Charles, Taran Wildey, Tere Glassie. Subs: Andy Bostock, Martin Robinson, Jimmy Elston, Kane Epati.
Tries: Langley (34), Hall (43)
Goals: Walker 1/2

CRUSADERS: Tony Duggan, Paul Ballard, Josh Hannay, Mark Dalle Cort, Anthony Blackwood, Damien Quinn, Mark Lennon, Jordan James, Ian Webster, Aaron Summers, Chris Beasley, Darren Mapp, Luke Dyer. Subs: Geraint Davies, Neil Budworth, Ben Flower, David Tangata-Toa.
Tries: Ballard (10), Lennon (31), Duggan (57), James (64), Budworth (75)
Goals: Lennon 6/8

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham)
Half-time: 4-18

article by Ian Golden
22 June 2008