CELTIC CRUSADERS 26 SWINTON LIONS 27

By Ian Golden - http://www.sportingwales.com/artman/publish/article_8630.shtml

The Welsh Crusade for 2006 ended in dramatic fashion at the Brewery Field on Sunday, when Chris Hough kicked a fieldgoal for Swinton Lions after 91 seconds of Golden Point extra-time after the scores were level at 26-26 after regular extra-time. Swinton now progress to the LHF National League Two play-off final against Sheffield Eagles next Sunday.

But Crusaders coach John Dixon believes that this is far from a low point in Celtic Crusaders’ history.

Dixon said: “This may be the best thing that ever happened to the Crusaders, to get another year under our belt in National League Two and to build a base. We need to be stronger next year and I think we will be because the development that’s happening in the game down here is excellent. The players are only one years of age as pro rugby league players and their performance at the second half of the season has been terrific – they’ve made huge progress and they’ll continue to make progress during the off-season. If we could have started out with this team today in April, I’m certain we’d have been in a stronger points position.”

Swinton came out strong from the outset and were rewarded with a third minute try despite an early Crusaders scrum. Darren Woods was stopped in his tracks following an excellent 40 metre run but from the next play, Paul Alcock forced his way through in the corner.

Their second came less than three minutes later when Tony Duggan’s pass was intercepted, leading to a Woods try in the opposite corner with Chris Hough converting.

Crusaders came close to the line with their first attack of the game after they regained the ball from kick-off. Duggan was stopped metres from the line by Marlon Billy and Jace Van Dijk’s attempted grubber on the fifth tackle was charged down.

It was then the Lions’ turn to come close again when Ian Sinfield laid a nice ball off to Alcock but Damien Quinn and Grant Epton forced him into the corner flag.

But the Crusaders got back into the game in their next set. After being awarded a penalty on the half-way line, Van Dijk fed Matt Hill who ran down the wing to score.

They were unlucky not to equalise three minutes later. Once again Duggan worked some of his usual magic, weaving his way through a tight defence, but he was stopped short of line and Van Dijk’s grubber from the next tackle came to nothing. Hough’s kick at the opposite end once Swinton regained the ball similarly went over the dead-ball line.

Crusaders equalised on 25 minutes. Alcock thought he made the perfect break for a long range try but was pulled back after receiving a forward pass. From the scrum, Van Dijk kicked through and Chris Beasley pounced. Van Dijk converted.

They had the chance to take the lead late on in the first half when Wayne English knocked on perilously close to his line but Crusaders failed to take advantage as Hywel Davies did likewise from the second play. A Tony Duggan run was also stopped short before the half-time hooter went.

The second half really was end to end stuff. Swinton kicked the ball straight into touch from kick-off and Crusaders didn’t waste their good fortune as Michael Ryan dived over after only 45 seconds of the half. They could have had another from kick-off. Hill made the metres with a fine run, Ryan was stopped short while Quinn and Paul Morgan both failed to latch onto Van Dijk’s grubber.

But the Lions equalised on 45 minutes after Lee Marsh pounced onto a Liam McGovern kick. Somehow, Hough failed to add the extras despite being almost directly in front of the posts.

Crusaders regained the lead on 52. Duggan played a beautiful one-two with Aled James before selling a dummy, ignoring Michael Ryan in support and sprinting for the line. Van Dijk converted.

But Swinton scored again on 58 after Marsh fed McGovern who scored under the sticks. Marsh added the extras to level things up.

Crusaders took a 24-20 lead on 62 after Hill grounded in the corner following a fine passing move involving Van Dijk, Duggan and James.

Both sides were frantic for the next score. Luke Young and McGovern both kicked grubbers to the line that weren’t picked up while Saywell saved a certain try by kicking into touch as James was diving for the loose ball. Swinton kicked the ball straight into touch from the re-start giving the Crusaders a penalty under the sticks that Van Dijk didn’t waste to put the score on 26-20.

But Swinton took the game into extra-time when Lee Marsh ran over on 78 minutes and McGovern converted.

With players tiring and going down with cramp in extra time, the winner was always going to come from the team who could stay on their feet long enough to score or make the least amount of errors.

Saywell was first over the line, grounding under the sticks midway through the first period but it was disallowed for off-side.

From then on, both sides went for the single point. Young’s hopeful attempt from the halfway line went wide while Marsh’s go from a similar position didn’t even reach the line and Young missed another with 20 seconds to go.

So the game went into Golden Point and Swinton were the strongest. Their strong attack led to a chance for Hough to kick the winning point from 15 metres out 91 seconds after the restart.

Man of the match Hough couldn’t believe how the game finished.

Hough said: “Words can’t explain the end of that match, it was fantastic. I was just thinking ‘put that ball through the middle’ so I could give it a go. We do this kind of thing in training and I was lucky that it came off. All the squad that’s played this season, the coaching staff and the board have been a credit this season – we’ve had a right good time and we hope we can do it next week in the final.”

CELTIC CRUSADERS
1. Tony Duggan
21. Grant Epton
3. Aled James
4. Damien Quinn
5. Matt Hill
6. Luke Young
7. Jace Van Dijk
8. Gareth Dean
9. Michael Ryan
10. Gareth Price
11. Ryan Barton
12. Chris Beasley
13. Neil Wyatt

Subs:
14. Paul Morgan
15. Geraint Davies
16. Hywel Davies
17. Anthony Seibold

Tries: Hill (13, 62), Beasley (25), Ryan (41), Duggan (52)

Goals: Van Dijk 3/6

SWINTON LIONS
1. Wayne English
2. Andy Saywell
3. Darren Woods
4. Paul Alcock
5. Marlon Billy
6. Martin Moana
7. Chris Hough
8. Bruce Johnson
9. Phil Wood
10. Dave Newton
11. Kris Smith
12. Ian Sinfield
13. Lee Marsh

Subs:
14. Liam McGovern
15. Chris Morley
16. Steve McCurrie
17. Ian Parry

Tries: Alcock (3), Woods (6), Marsh (45, 78), McGovern (58)
Goals: Hough 1/3, Marsh 1/1, McGovern 1/1
Field-goals: Hough

Attendance: 687

Half-time: 10-10
Normal-time: 26-26

Referee: J King (St Helens)

Men of the Match: Crusaders – Van Dijk, Lions - Hough

Scoring Sequence: 0-4, 0-10, 4-10, 10-10, 14-10, 14-14, 20-14, 20-20, 24-20, 26-20, 26-26, 27-26

Penalty Count: 9-5

Gamebreaker: Chris Hough’s fieldgoal after 91 seconds of Golden Point extra-time.

Gamestar: Chris Hough who made up for what could have been a crucial conversion miss with the winning point.

Weather: Cloudy, a little rain.

Match Rating: 5/5

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