photo by Dave Williams

Celtic Crusaders are in the National League One Grand Final in Warrington on September 28th after they hammered Salford City Reds 44-18 at The Willows on Thursday night.

The Welsh win means that games between the two sides are now tied at two wins apiece this season with a possible decider to come on the 28th. Salford will now host Halifax or Whitehaven in a week’s time to decide the other finalist.

The Crusaders played entertaining rugby from start to finish and took the lead in under two minutes after back to back penalties in the first 40 seconds gave them strong territorial advantage. Darren Mapp was stopped after surging forward and from the next tackle, Jace Van Dijk set up Luke Dyer to go over in the corner. Mark Lennon’s conversion looked to have gone through the sticks but both touchjudges ruled the goal out and the score remained at 4-0.

The lead was extended two minutes later after Salford kicked the ball out on the full on kick-off. From the penalty, Tony Duggan ran 30 metres through the defence to score after a passing move involving Neil Budworth, Damien Quinn and Van Dijk. Lennon’s kick made the score 10-0.

Crusaders were denied two more tries in the first 15 minutes. Duggan was clear but had received a forward pass from Mark Dalle Cort, while a chance also went amiss following a Salford error. Paul White dropped a high bomb which was picked up by Darren Mapp, who was already excelling in the back-line. Terry Martin and Chris Beasley created the chance with Lennon palming the ball out wide to Dyer who fumbled what would have been a certain try.

Salford looked to have taken full advantage of their good fortune, promptly charging up the field. They looked to have scored when full-back Karl Fitzpatrick did well to force his way through after receiving the ball from Malcolm Alker at dummy half. However the try was ruled out for an obstruction.

From the penalty, Crusaders scored a third, Damien Quinn pouncing on a loose ball from his own grubber kick after Matt Gardner fumbled. Lennon made the score 16-0.

Salford, now three tries down, again attempted to fight back. Beasley continued his excellent performance with a try saving tackle on John Wilshire.

They were denied again minutes later. It was difficult to see whether Wilshire made a pass or knocked on when aiming for Bannister. The substitute missed the ball and Wilshire kept his wits about him, played to the whistle and ran after the ball to ground. Video referee Ben Thaler took almost three minutes to decide that it was a knock-on.

Following a penalty, Reds finally went over the line on 27 minutes, Robbie Paul laying the ball off to Bannister who forced his way through. Wilshire converted.

Luke Dyer was quick to prevent a Stefan Ratchford 40-20 which could have led to a further Reds try and Crusaders used their set of six well and turned defence into attack.

The try that resulted was another well-worked classic. Quinn created the opportunity and Duggan created the gap for Ian Webster to run through. Lennon l

had an easy kick and Crusaders looked to have regained their 16-point advantage at the interval.

But in the final move of the first half, Salford scored their second. Robbie Paul started the move, then Ratchford created the chance with a fine pass to Richard Myler who ran home. Bannister converted.

Crusaders had a dream start to the second half with a try in under three minutes. Darren Mapp made the metres with a dominating run and from the next tackle, Dalle Cort set up Anthony Blackwood in the corner.

Salford attacked but were again denied. Van Dijk, Quinn, Dalle Cort, Webster and Ben Flower all had a hand in stopping a potential Wilshire try. Luke Dyer put pressure on Paul White in the next attack, forcing him to drop the ball when diving for the try-line.

Dyer was immediately a hero at the other end, again getting the better of White by outjumping him to pick up a high Van Dijk kick and score in the corner. Lennon’s kick gave the Crusaders a 20-point lead.

Salford wasted another chance to get back into the game. Ratchford burst through the defence but his pass to an unmarked White was poor.

However they did score on 59 minutes. Duggan denied Wilshire following a fine run but from the next play, Myler scraped the ball over the line despite pressure from Ben Flower. Bannister converted.

Salford pressed to keep the game alive but the Crusaders backline was a match for them. Flower, Dyer and Van Dijk between them denied Myler a hat-trick with a joint try-saving tackle while Phil Leuluai was prevented from scoring by Quinn and Beasley.

And with nine minutes remaining Tony Duggan gave the Crusaders their Grand Final place with a 45-metre individual try, his 98th for the club. Lennon converted.

Jordan James rubbed salt into Reds’ wounds with a final try that Lennon converted.

Crusaders coach John Dixon said: “Credit to the players that they were able build on such a good start. Salford came back at the end of the first half and the game could have gone either way then because they were within striking distance but we pushed on really well in the second half, established a good lead and maintained it.

“It was important to keep cool, we did that and played some wonderful rugby league. It was a really good performance from us today. We’ve got a core of good players who play very exciting rugby league.”

Crusaders Colts will hope to join their first team on Finals day when they travel to Bramley Buffaloes on Sunday in the Conference National qualifying semi-final.

Salford: Karl Fitzpatrick, Matt Gardner, Stuart Littler, John Wilshere, Paul White, Stefan Ratchford, Richard Myler, Paul Highton, Malcolm Alker, Craig Stapleton, Ian Sibbit, Luke Adamson, Jordan Turner. Subs: Stephen Bannister, Robbie Paul, Adam Sidlow, Phil Leuluai.
Tries: Bannister (27), Myler (39, 59)
Goals: Wilshire 1/1, Bannister 2/2

Crusaders: Tony Duggan, Luke Dyer, Mark Lennon, Mark Dalle Cort, Anthony Blackwood, Damien Quinn, Jace Van Dijk, Jordan James, Neil Budworth, Gareth Dean, Chris Beasley, Darren Mapp, Terry Martin. Subs: Ian Webster, Ben Flower, Aaron Summers, Neale Wyatt.
Tries: Dyer (2, 50), Duggan (4, 71), Quinn (18), Webster (35), Blackwood (42), James (77)
Goals: Lennon 6/8

article by Ian Golden
11 September 2008