photo by Ian Lovell

Celtic Crusaders Colts ensured that next Sunday’s Co-operative Grand Finals day in Warrington will be a Welsh sporting day to remember after they beat holders Featherstone Lions 44-12 at the Brewery Field on Saturday afternoon to secure their place in the opening match of the day.

The Welsh youngsters will face last season’s runners up Bramley Buffaloes with an 11am kick-off, the National League Two Final follows at 1.30pm with the Crusaders first team taking on Salford City Reds in the National League One event at 4. Tickets priced £15 for adults and £8 for all concessions are available from www.crusadersrfl.com.

It was the Lions’ second visit to the Brewery Field in the space of a week. Last Sunday their under 18s side battled to a 24-18 win over the Welsh in the host’s first ever match at that level. This time however the roles were reversed with the Crusaders putting in an outstanding team performance, with eight different try scorers, to secure the win.

Lions’ indiscipline cost them early on in the game with two sinbinnings in the first 20 minutes. The first was just five minutes in when Simon Child went off for dissent and the Crusaders took advantage straight away when Lloyd White broke through the defence setting up Greg Callow who went over in the corner. White kicked the tricky conversion.

Featherstone equalised five minutes later. Richard Frankland kicked an inch perfect grubber under the sticks and Stuart Davis outran his markers to pounce on it and score. Danny Giles levelled things with the easy kick.

Philippe Gardent was close to a second Crusaders try but dropped the ball when under pressure as he was near to the line.

No sooner was Child back on, Lions were inconvenienced again when loose forward Jamie Nicholson was sinbinned for dissent by referee Ian Jefferson.

And once again the Colts worked their way up the field to take the lead, this time Tom Burnell forcing his way over.

They extended their advantage to 10 points after Gil Dudson scored under the sticks with White converting.

Straight after the interval it was 22-6. Neale Wyatt palmed the ball to Lloyd White who opened up a gap for Chris Vitalini who ran 30 metres to score. White converted again.

White beautifully set up the next try, straight from kick off, with another majestic run. This time it was Elliot Kear who ran the ball home with White kicking the goal.

Lions battled their way to a try back on 56 minutes following a period of intense pressure by both sides. Winger Ben Smith

was the man who finally found the gap with Giles kicking the extras.

Crusaders kept attacking. Lewis Mills was denied a try after the referee blew for a knock-on. Phil Cushion and Elliot Kear, both outstanding throughout the game, were book also close to scoring.

But Mills finally got over the line with 11 minutes remaining following a skilful set of six. Kear made the initial metres while Vitalini, Wool and Burnell also had a hand in the creation. White converted.

Two excellent individual tries from Mark Wool and Lee Williams in the last ten minutes sealed things. White converted the second.

Crusaders Colts’ coach Dan Clements said: “This is what we’ve been aiming for all season. We’re delighted that the whole club will be in Warrington next week and we hope it’ll be a day to remember. It was an excellent team performance today, we were focussed and we’re looking forward to taking on Bramley for a final time this season.”

CRUSADERS
1. Elliot Kear
2. Ashley Bateman
3. Chris Vitalini
4. Lee Williams
5. Greg Callow
6. Lloyd White
7. Aled James
8. Jamie I’Anson
9. Tom Burnell
10. Geraint Davies
11. Phil Gardent
12. Mark Wool
13. Neale Wyatt
Subs:
14. Gil Dudson
15. Lewis Mills
16. Barrie Phillips
17. Phil Cushion
Tries: Callow (7), Burnell (26), Dudson (32), Vitalini (42), Kear (45), Mills (69), Wool (72), Williams (76)
Goals: White 6/8

LIONS
1. Byron Cooper
2. Davi Garahan
3. Stuart Davis
4. Brian Sutton
5. Ben Smith
6. Richard Frankland
7. Danny Giles
8. Simon Child
9. Dean Gamble
10. Bart Thomsen
11. Danny Huby
12. Craig Barker
13. Jamie Nicholson
Subs:
14. Mick Wykes
15. Matt Godber
16. Mark Richardson
17. Jon Agar
Tries: Davis (12), Smith (56)
Goals: Giles 2/2
Sinbinned: Child (5, dissent), Nicholson (18, ungentlemanly conduct).

Referee: Ian Jefferson (Castleford)
Half-time: 16-6
Men of the Match:
Crusaders – Lloyd White
Lions – Richard Frankland
Gamebreaker: Two quick tries for the Crusaders just after the interval opened up a four-try cushion.
Gamestar: In the midst of an excellent team performance by the Welsh, Lloyd White was outstanding. While he wasn’t one of the eight try scorers, he certainly had a hand in a number of them

article by Ian Golden
20 September 2008