Celtic Crusaders put on an excellent display at Halton Stadium, arguably one their best and hardest fought of the season so far, as they beat one of the National League One favourites Widnes Vikings 16-14 in an exciting game that was a great advertisement for rugby league.

Crusaders and Widnes face each other at the Brewery Field on Saturday May 24th in the Northern Rail Cup, and if this game is anything to go by, it’s destined to be another exciting encounter between two well-matched sides.

A downpour just before the game left the Widnes pitch in a poor condition and made the ball very greasy. Neither side risked a lot of expansive play due to the conditions but Crusaders’ attacked and defended well and their ball handling was far superior to their opponents’

Paul Ballard almost scored a first minute try for the Crusaders after a mistake in the Widnes defensive line but he knocked on as he was diving for the line.

But from the next set, Mark Dalle Cort dived over the line after a fine passing move involving most of the backs.

Widnes could have struck back within five minutes but made a mess of a potential try with Jason Crookes’ pass aimed for Dean Gaskill going into touch.

Crusaders were unlucky not to get a further scoring chance on 10 minutes after Scott Yates dropped a bomb but knocked the ball back. After a quick recovery he was pushed into touch but the referee saved his blushes by blowing for an infringement.

At the other end Tommy Gallagher and Iain Morrison also knocked on when in good positions while Tony Duggan was quickest to reach a dangerous grubber kick saving a certain try.

Crusaders’ second try was scored on 17 minutes as they took advantage of another Vikings mistake. Yates knocked on in similar fashion to minutes before and from the scrum, Gareth Dean charged his way over. Lennon’s kick gave Crusaders a 10-0 lead.

Widnes struck back three minutes later as Yates, immediately after switching positions with winger Gavin Dodd, made up for his earlier errors by diving over in the corner.

Dodd also struggled with the high kicks that Crusaders were continuing to launch, but did well to save a certain try by blocking the ball, goalkeeper style, to Jace Van Dijk’s low ground kick.

Crusaders kept attacking and their good work was rewarded just before half-time when Anthony Blackwood rounded the defensive line and slid in for their third try. Lennon converted to give them a 12-point half-time lead.

Crusaders started the second half defending but did everything right.

Widnes could have scored an early try but Tommy Gallagher was stopped short of the line after an excellent tackle from Neale Wyatt.

Wyatt, along with Jamie I’Anson, stopped a further Widnes scoring chance, new signing Richard Fletcher losing out on this occasion, while at the other end, Crusaders forced a goal-line drop-out which they almost scored from.

Blackwood was unable to reach Van Dijk’s bomb because he was illegally held down.

From the resulting set following the penalty for that infringement, Crusaders were close to scoring on two occasions. Dalle Cort was held close to the line while Van Dijk’s grubber on the fifth tackle was defended well.

Widnes opened their second half account from the next set. Working their way up field well, Bob Beswick broke through the defense from short range and slid over. Tim Hartley added the extras.

Vikings kept attacking. Van Dijk did well to catch a Hartley bomb close to the line prevented a potential equalising score, Beswick was held close to the line soon after but from the next tackle the ball was worked over to Lee Paterson who dived over. Dodd’s kick hit the post and Crusaders held a slender two-point lead.

Widnes had a few chances to win the game but weren’t able to take them thanks to superb Crusaders defending and more Vikings ball-handling errors.

Ballard was slid over the goal-line by a number of Vikings’ forwards forcing a goal-line dropout and Crusaders defended well from the resulting set.

Lee Paterson’s knock-on with seconds to go sealed the Welsh side’s first National League One away win of the season.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon was a very happy man.

“We were strong today,” he smiled. “We were very good in attack in the first half and excellent in defence as well. In the second half against a strong penalty count, we defended really well. We defended our lead, got stuck in and were under the hammer for long periods of time. But we stood up as a team today and were a credit to the club.”

Dixon was also pleased to hear that the Colts side beat Hemel Stags 74-6 away from home at the same time.

“The Colts are going great,” he added. “Everything’s good about the Crusaders and the development of rugby league in Wales right now.”   

Crusaders Colts beat Hemel Stags 74-6. Report to follow when I receive it from Phil Caplan.

WIDNES VIKINGS: Scott Yates, Dean Gaskill, Jason Crookes, Tim Hartley, Gavin Dodd, Lee Paterson, John Duffy, Iain Morrison, Mark Smith, Jim Gannon, Danny Hill, Tommy Gallagher, Bob Beswick. Subs: Shane Grady, Rob Draper, Dayne Donoghue, Richard Fletcher.
Tries: Yates (20), Beswick (53), Paterson (72)
Goals: Dodd 0/2, Hartley 1/1

CELTIC CRUSADERS: Tony Duggan, Paul Ballard, Mark Lennon, Mark Dalle Cort, Anthony Blackwood, Damien Quinn, Jace Van Dijk, Aaron Summers, Neil Budworth, Gareth Dean, Chris Beasley, Darren Mapp, Neale Wyatt, Subs: Ian Webster, Ben Flower, Jamie I’Anson, David Tangata-Toa.
Tries: Dalle Cort (3), Dean (17), Blackwood (39)
Goals: Lennon 2/3

Referee: Thierry Alibert (France)
Half-time: 4-16
Attendance: 4,201

article by Ian Golden
27 April 2008