photo by Ian Lovell

Crusaders Colts consolidated their position at the top of the Conference National after beating Liverpool Buccaneers 34-16 at Blackwood Bulldogs’ Glan-yr-Afon Park.

Liverpool must be commended for simply turning up. Late withdrawals and injuries left them with just 12 fit players for their hardest trip of the season.

They were able to call on Blackwood Bulldogs’ Anthony Symons to make up the numbers but they were still left without any substitutes making playing a full 80 minutes exceptionally hard in the July heat.

However they held up well, battled hard and the predicted onslaught of tries didn’t happen.

Both sides had early opportunities. Colts’ Greg Callow was stopped shot of the line while Liverpool’s James Lacey would have scored had he not mishandled the ball following good work from Joel Parker and Mike Forber.

The visitors’ hard work turned into a try on 18 minutes when prop Alex Williams, a new signing for Leigh Miners for 2008-09, made a 30-metre run to score. Lacey converted.

Crusaders hit back five minutes later after Mark Wool went over. Lloyd White converted.

Lacey missed an opportunity to put his side in the lead again when his penalty fell short of the posts, and Crusaders made them pay as they went up the field straight away, Jamie I’Anson scoring under the sticks. White had no problem making the score 12-6.

A fine passing move set up Terry Martin to follow him over three minutes later

with White adding the extras again.

It took the Colts 13 minutes to score after the interval – White breaking through to go under the sticks converting it himself.

He replicated that try and goal straight from kick-off to put the score on 30-6

Scottish A and student international Mark Webster forced his way over for a try back for Liverpool with Lacey converting.

And when Lacey caught an inch-perfect bomb from Jon Chamberlain to score an excellent try, the visitors were back in the game. However the full-back sliced the conversion so Liverpool were just 14-points behind.

However Elliot Kear set up Ashley Griffiths to run a try in the corner with seven minutes to go to secure the win.

CRUSADERS COLTS
1. Ellot Kear
2. Greg Callow
3. Gary Williams
4. Owen Lewis
5. Ashley Griffiths
6. Lloyd White
7. Steve Williams
8. Jamie I’Anson
9. Tom Burnell
10. Gil Dudson
11. Barrie Phillips
12. Terry Martin
13. Mark Wool
14. Lewis Mills
15. Chris Holcombe
16. Christopher Watts
17. Lewis Fox
Tries: Wool (23), I’Anson (29), Martin (32), White (53, 56), Griffiths (73)
Goals: White 5/6

LIVERPOOL BUCCANEERS
1. James Lacey
2. Ben Toleman
3. Keiron Roberts
4. Mark Webster
5. Rich Bryant
6. Scott Porteous
7. Jon Chamberlain
8. Alex Williams
9. Mike Forber
10. Kevin Howells
11. Anthony Symons
18. Chris Chamberlain
13. Joel Parker
Tries: Williams (18), Webster (62), Lacey (67)
Goals: Lacey 2/4

article by Ian Golden
26 July 2008