By Ian Golden
March 19 2007

Celtic Crusaders completed a successful weekend in Welsh rugby after completing the double over former Super League side Leigh Centurions at the Brewery Field on Sunday to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Northern Rail Cup.

CELTIC CRUSADERS 22 LEIGH CENTURIONS 14

By Ian Golden at the Brewery Field - http://www.crusadersrl.com

Celtic Crusaders completed a successful weekend in Welsh rugby after completing the double over former Super League side Leigh Centurions at the Brewery Field on Sunday to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Northern Rail Cup.

On this performance, the Crusaders look a good bet for promotion this year as in their two matches against Leigh, they’ve proved that they can take on and beat one of the best sides NL1 can offer.

The Crusaders were the better side throughout both games and deserve their place in the last 16 of the Northern Rail Cup. Leigh, last year’s Northern Rail Cup winners may now miss out on the knockout stages. They need to beat London Skolars next week to have any chance of being one of the best three third placed sides.

The Crusaders now travel to Widnes Vikings next Sunday in the final group match to determine who finishes top of Group Six. The Vikings beat London Skolars 66-0 in the other group match played on Sunday.

The Crusaders looked to have taken the lead on six minutes when Rob Toshack set up Grant Epton to go over but the try was disallowed for a forward pass.

But the Welsh side’s next touchdown was fine. Man of the Match Mark Dalle Cort making a charging run through the Leigh back-line to ground.

Leigh were denied a try back not long after when Martin Ainscough’s hopeful grubber was picked up well by Dean Fitzgerald while from the next two sets, Crusaders were also unsuccessful when Damien Quinn’s kick aimed for Neil Budworth went over the dead ball line and Jace Van Dijk’s kick was picked up by Dave Alstead.

The visitors struck back just after the quarter hour. Ainscough and Aaron Heremaia combined brilliantly down the centre of the park with Ainscough running in unchallenged to score under the sticks. Welsh international Adam Hughes converted.

But the Crusaders went into the break with a 10-6 half-time lead following a try after a fine passing move. Damien Quinn exposed a gap on the left side of Leigh’s defence and set up Rob Toshack to run over unchallenged. Quinn added the extras.

Van Dijk was denied a try just after half-time after the referee looked to have ruled that the half-back knocked the ball out of Anthony Stewart’s hands rather than winning a one on one.

However the Crusaders weren’t to be denied and extended their lead on 58 minutes when Grant Epton ran through in the corner and Quinn excellently converted.

Rob Smyth got a try back for Leigh five minutes later but they couldn’t capitalise on this.

Leigh’s John Hill knocked on twice in five minutes, injuring himself on the second occasion with his error leading to a Crusaders attack and a fine Paul Ballard try, as the substitute broke through the middle to score under the posts.

Chris Hill got another consolation for Leigh with five minutes remaining but the Crusaders held on.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon is pleased at the Crusaders’ fifth win in a row.

“This all goes well for our team,” Dixon said. “Leigh were quality opposition, we played quality football and came up with a quality result. I’m very pleased with the way our players played. We’re making progress as team every day and things are looking better and better for us all the time.”

CELTIC CRUSADERS
1. Tony Duggan
2. Grant Epton
3. Rob Toshack
4. Mark Dalle Cort
5. Richard Johnston
6. Luke Young
7. Jace Van Dijk
8. Josh Cale
9. Neil Budworth
10. Gareth Dean
11. Terry Martin
12. Dean Fitzgerald
13. Damien Quinn
Subs:
14. Paul Ballard
15. Jamie I’Anson
16. Phil Cushion
17. Hywel Davies

Tries: Dalle Cort (16), Toshack (28), Epton (58), Ballard (68)
Goals: Quinn 3/4

LEIGH CENTURIONS
1. Miles Greenwood
2. Rob Smyth
3. Danny Speakman
4. Adam Hughes
5. Dave Alstead
6. Martin Ainscough
7. Aaron Heremaia
8. Warren Stevens
9. John Clough
10. John Hill
11. Tim Jonkers
12. Tommy Grundy
13. Anthony Stewart
Subs:
14. Sam Butterworth
15. Daryl Kay
16. Chris Hill
17. John Cookson

Tries: Ainscough (16), Smyth (63), C.Hill (75)
Goals: Hughes 1/3

Gamebreaker: The Crusaders’ final try from Paul Ballard
Gamestar: Mark Dalle Cort who scored his first ever Crusaders try

Half-time: 10-6
Men of the Match: Crusaders – Dalle Cort, Centurions - Ainscough
Referee: Craig Halloran (Dewsbury)
Scoring Sequence: 4-0, 4-6, 10-6, 16-6, 16-10, 22-10, 22-14
Attendance: 440
Penalty Count: 7-4
Weather: Cold, sunny, rain in places
Match Rating: 4/5