Crusaders Colts completed another excellent week for Welsh Rugby League with a 30-12 defeat of Featherstone Lions at the Brewery Field on Saturday.

Both sides had chances to take the lead in the first 20 minutes. Colts wasted a chance with a poor penalty that didn’t make touch while a Lions penalty shot at goal by Danny Giles from 20 metres out went wide of the posts.

But Colts took the lead on 19 minutes when Lee Williams made a striding 50 metre run scoring under the posts. Lloyd White converted.

It was 12-0 three minutes later as a great pass by Owen Lewis to Gary Williams allowed the substitute to make a 55 metre run and score a try underneath the posts. Lloyd White again converted.

On 26 minutes it was 16-0 when through a lovely sidestepping try by Greg Callow in the right hand corner.

Lions could have had a try back moments later through Ben Hall but he put his foot into touch next to the Colts try line.

Colts made them pay on 32 minutes with a fourth try. A waited and timed pass by Owen Lewis to Gary Williams who did little side step and scored a try under the posts. White’s kick made it 22-0.

But Lions scored just before half-time when Ben Smith held onto the ball and with a well timed pass allowed Giles to score a try under the posts converting it himself to make the half-time score 22-6.

Colts were denied early second half tries twice for being offside and a forward pass respectively, and Lions got back into the game on 53 minutes when Brian Sutton made a thundering run through to score with Giles converting.

Colts had chances to extend their lead but didn’t take them. Lee Williams was five metres out from scoring a try but his pass was intercepted and Greg Callow was denied two tries thanks to some good defending.

But finally on 75 minutes, Callow had a try given in the right hand corner and on

79 minutes, Owen Lewis ran round the Lions backline to complete the scoring.

Crusader Colts
1. Elliot Kear
2. Lloyd Stapleton
3. Greg Callow
4. Lee Williams
5. Ashley Griffiths
6. Lloyd White
7. Owen Lewis
8. Geraint Davies
9. Tom Burnell
10. Lewis Mills
11. Barrie Phillips
12. Lewis Fox
13. Chris Vitalini
14. Chris Holcombe
15. Neil Davies
16. Gary Williams
17. Olly Hughes
Tries: L.Williams (19), G.Williams (22, 32), Callow (26, 75), Lewis (79)
Goals: White 3/6

Featherstone Lions
1. Dale Ferris
2. Adam Hinchliffe
3. Alan Thompson
4. Byron Cooper
5. Ben Hall
6. Richard Frankland
7. Danny Giles
8. Simon Child
9. Mick Wykes
10. Mark Topper
11. Ben Smith
12. Andy Huby
13. Brian Sutton
14. Simon Tuffs
15. Tony Smithson
16. Craig Barker
17. Kris Smith
Tries: Smith (37), Sutton (53)
Goals: Giles 2/3

Gamestar: Gary Williams. The match was won due to the combination of Owen Lewis who waited for the pass and always timed it magnificently to Williams whose speed was unstoppable. Debutant Lloyd Stapleton also injected pace into the game with his fast off the mark speed.
Gamebreaker: Two tries for the Colts in the last five minutes sealed things.
Referee: Richie Rees
Half-time: 22-6

article by Matt Pritchard
28 Juen 2008