By Zippy
July 31 2006

Match review as the Celtic Crusaders lost 38 - 18 at the Brewery Field to the Dewsbury Rams. The Crusaders fought well and should have confidence for the playoffs, for details read on.

By Ian Golden - http://www.sportingwales.com/artman/publish/article_8493.shtml

Messageboard discussion thread - http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s165.php?f=204&i=11754&t=11754&sid=165

CELTIC CRUSADERS 18 DEWSBURY RAMS 38

In front of 1,103 passionate fans, their highest crowd of the season, third-placed Celtic Crusaders pushed Dewsbury Rams all the way, but in the end the league leaders had that little bit extra at the end and ran out 38-18 winners.

Crusaders’ operations manager Gerald McCarthy said: “Naturally I’m disappointed but it’s not the end of our season by a long chalk. We’ll still be in the play-offs and our target now is to finish in second place to have an easier ride to the play-off final. The fans were fantastic today and I’m sure they’ll all be back next week when play Gateshead here at the Brewery Field.”

It may have been third versus first but the sides on the field were the top two in the division for most points scored and least conceded before the match. One of the aspects had to rule the game and predictably it was the defences that were on top - until the last ten minutes anyway, when Dewsbury scored three late tries to produce a scoreline that slightly flattered the LHF Healthplan League Two champions elect.

It was end to end action throughout as time after time, both teams got close to the line but blanket defensive work coupled with more handling errors than one would expect from sides competing for promotion, led to a low scoring first half.

Crusaders’ attacked from the outset and would have created a good scoring position but for a forward pass by Jace Van Dijk. An Aled James pass also went astray in the first five minutes as the Crusaders continued to go on the offensive. Dewsbury also had a chance to open the scoring but Kevin Crouthers fumbled the ball as he got close to the line.

But the Crusaders took the lead on 13 minutes after Jace Van Dijk pounced a grubber kick that had bobbled past the Dewsbury back-line, converting it himself.

Dewsbury got on the board on the 20 minute mark after Warren Jowitt fed Chris Hall who broke through the defence to touch down.

The Rams could have got a second soon after but Alex Bretherton was held up over the line.

Crusaders intercepted from the re-start and attacked fiercely. A Jace Van Dijk grubber was picked up by Eddie Mack, but Carl de Chenu brilliantly forced him behind the line allowed Crusaders to regain possession again.

Despite scoring attempts by Phil Cushion and Tony Duggan, Dewsbury won the ball back but a bomb kick on their final tackle was too high for Hall to latch onto.

However Hall made up for it just before half-time as he powered his way through for his second try of the game. This time Francis Maloney kicked the tricky conversion to give the Rams a 10-6 half-time lead.

They increased their advantage to ten points just after the interval. Warren Jowitt intercepted a pass and from the next play, Andy Bostock broke through with Maloney converting again.

They threatened to get a fourth but once again, their slippery fingers were their worst enemy as the Welsh regained possession on their own 20-metre line and they didn’t waste the opportunity. Jace Van Dijk’s well-kicked penalty gave the Crusaders the metres and a good set culminated in Hywel Davies sliding over. Van Dijk kicked the extras.

Michael Ryan scored a fine solo try on 55 minutes to level the scores with Van Dijk again showing his kicking skills by adding a tricky conversion.

However, Dewsbury fought back straight away as Frank Watene powered his way through. Richard Chapman followed him over eight minutes later with Maloney converting both to give the Rams their ten-point lead back.

Bostock took advantage of a gap in the Crusaders’ backline to add to score straight from kick-off. Maloney had no problem with the kick.

The Rams sealed their win with a try on 76 minutes. Chapman and Maun were the creators and Mack dived over in the corner.

But the Crusaders never gave up and showed the determination that should enable them to do well in the play-offs. De Chenu could have had a consolation try in the final seconds but was pushed into touch as he was diving for the line.

CELTIC CRUSADERS

1. Tony Duggan
21. Carl de Chenu
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 Hill
13. Neale Wyatt BF DEB
Subs (all used):
14. Chris Beasley BF DEB
15. Geraint Davies
16. Gareth Price DEB
17. Dean Fitzgerald

BF DEB = Brewery Field debut.
DEB = debut.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Dewsbury	17	15	0	2	571	265	30
2	Sheffield	17	13	0	4	589	320	26
3	Celtic Crusaders	17	11	1	5	618	313	23
4	Featherstone	17	11	1	5	490	397	23
5	Swinton	16	10	0	6	455	357	20
6	Barrow	17	9	0	8	427	395	18
7	Gateshead	17	8	0	9	429	424	16
8	Workington	16	6	0	10	380	507	12
9	Hunslet	16	4	1	11	295	405	9
10	Blackpool	17	4	1	12	284	627	9
11	Keighley	17	3	1	13	317	524	7
12	London Skolars	16	3	1	12	269	590	7