By Zippy
July 16 2006

Match review as the Celtic Crusaders kept up the pressure on the pace setters in NL2 with a 42-12 hammering of the Barrow Raiders at the Brewery Field, Bridgend.

CELTIC CRUSADERS 42 BARROW RAIDERS 12

By Ian Golden - http://www.sportingwales.com/artman/publish/article_8463.shtml

Messageboard Discussion Thread - http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s165.php?f=204&i=11712&t=11712&sid=165

Celtic Crusaders got their revenge on Barrow Raiders at Bridgend’s Brewery Field in Wales on Sunday as they easily beat the Cumbrians 42-12 to hit the 1,000 point mark in all competitions for the season.

When the teams last met, Raiders came out on top 32-16 and the score flattered the Crusaders. However this time out, it was the Raiders who were outclassed as the Crusaders constantly found holes in their defence and took them apart with a series of fine attacking moves and on this form, they will certainly be pushing Dewsbury all the way for the National League Two title. Raiders were also indisciplined as the penalty count proves – Crusaders taking that 14-6.

The Raiders fans, despite being the smallest away support to visit the Brewery Field this season, made up for it by being the loudest and cheered their team on from the outset as they started the stronger.

Darren Holt kicked a 40-20 in the first minute to set Barrow on the attack. But Crusaders defending well and an interception put them on the offensive almost scoring on five minutes, but James Nixon just got to the ball before Richard Johnson and kicked the ball into touch.

Crusaders took a 2-0 lead on eight minutes after a penalty was given for a spear tackle on Jace Van Dijk who successfully kicked it himself.

They extended their lead five minutes later. Hywel Davies made the charge and set up Michael Ryan who dived in under the posts. Van Dijk kicked the extras.

Raiders struck back straight away after Liam Harrison slid a try in the left corner but Darren Holt missed the conversion.

Both teams kept attacking. Raiders were constantly kept out by the strong Crusaders’ defence and when the Welsh eventually got back onto the attack, they scored almost straight away. Initially Nicky Beach kicked out from Johnson’s chase and Tony Duggan ran the ball in under the sticks following the try-line kick. Van Dijk converted to give the Crusaders a ten-point lead.

Crusaders attempted to score again but were kept out thanks to the good work of Brett McDermott, Dave Clark, Lee Dutton and Matt Blake who led the busy Raiders defensive line.

Raiders narrowed the gap to eight on 35 minutes after Crusaders were penalised for a high tackle on their 20 metre-line and Holt easily kicked the goal.

Johnson was tackled by Nixon as he agonisingly tried once again to get over the line but on the next play, Paul Morgan finished off a fine passing move by grounding under the sticks. Van Dijk converted to give the Crusaders a 20-6 half-time lead.

Crusaders started where they left off after just a minute into the second half after Aled James finished off another excellent passing sequence, easily running the ball into the corner.

Tony Duggan followed suit just five minutes later, exposing the weak Raiders defence and running straight through like it didn’t exist. Van Dijk converted to put the score on 30-6.

Things could have got worse for the Raiders on 50 minutes when Paul Wilcock was sinbinned for fighting. However they were given a penalty on the Crusaders’ 20-metre line but even that got wasted. Paul Raftery was given a perfect chance to run the ball in under the sticks but dropped the ball as he was crossing the line.

Following a good spell of Crusaders attacking, the 12-man Raiders went over for their second try as Nick Beech dived in at the corner. It took some time to give the try as the referee consulted with the touchjudge to see if he was held up but it was allowed. Holt kicked the tricky conversion and the score was back to 30-12.

But the Crusaders regained their advantage straight away after Damien Quinn easily ran around the Raiders back-line with Van Dijk converting once again.

Duggan exposed the same gap on 74 minutes scoring the try of the match for his hat-trick to earn himself the man of the match award. Receiving the ball of the 40 metre line he sold two dummies and ran through the place the ball under the posts. Van Dijk’s conversion brought the 1,000-point mark up for the Crusaders, and complete a poor day at the office for Barrow Raiders.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon said: “We played with some real determination today and I think we did a fine job to secure the win. The result was an indication of how we played and I’m very pleased with the team’s performance on what was a scorching hot day today.”

CELTIC CRUSADERS

1. Tony Duggan
2. Richard Johnson
3. Aled James
4. Damien Quinn
5. Paul Morgan
6. Luke Young
7. Jace Van Dijk
8. Hywel Davies
9. Michael Ryan
10. Phil Cushion
11. Gareth Dean
12. Matt Jobson
13. Matt Hill

Subs:
14. Lee Jones
15. Geraint Davies
16. Karl Hocking
17. Carl de Chenu

Tries: Ryan (13), Duggan (24, 46, 74), Morgan (38), James (41), Quinn (63)

Goals: Van Dijk 7/8

BARROW RAIDERS

1. Khamal Ganley
2. Nicky Beach
3. Andy McClure
4. Liam Harrison
5. James Nixon
6. Liam Finch
7. Darren Holt
8. Paul Raftery
9. Dave Clark
10. Matt Blake
11. Brett McDermott
12. Paul Wilcock
13. Mike Whitehead

Subs:
14. Chris Archer
15. Geoff Luxon
16. Jamie Butler
17. Lee Dutton

Tries: Harrison (16), Beach (59)

Goals: Holt 2/3

Sinbinned: Wilcock (fighting, 50)

Referee: Craig Halloran (Dewsbury)

Attendance: 650

Half-time: 20-6

Men of the Match: Crusaders – Duggan, Raiders - Holt

Scoring Sequence: 2-0, 8-0, 8-4, 14-4, 14-6, 20-6, 24-6, 30-6, 30-12, 36-12, 42-12

Penalties: 14-6

Gamebreaker: Tony Duggan’s second try to bring up the 30-point mark for the Crusaders meaning that Raiders had too big a mountain to climb.

Gamestar: Tony Duggan who played fantastic rugby throughout and deserved his hat-trick.

Weather: Very hot

Match Rating: 4/5

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Dewsbury	15	13	0	2	497	239	26
2	Sheffield	15	11	0	4	525	306	22
3	Celtic Crusaders	15	10	1	4	548	275	21
4	Swinton	15	10	0	5	441	339	20
5	Featherstone	15	9	1	5	432	367	19
6	Gateshead	15	8	0	7	399	362	16
7	Barrow	15	8	0	7	381	349	16
8	Workington	14	5	0	9	310	468	10
9	Hunslet	15	4	1	10	279	381	9
10	Blackpool	15	4	1	10	264	517	9
11	Keighley	15	2	1	12	284	474	5
12	London Skolars	14	2	1	11	245	528	5