By Zippy
June 25 2006

Review of the action today as the Celtic Crusaders defeated struggling London Skolars 48 - 4 to keep the pressure on leaders Dewsbury for details read on.

LONDON SKOLARS 4 CELTIC CRUSADERS 48

Ian Golden - http://www.sportingwales.com/artman/publish/article_8419.shtml

Celtic Crusaders gained their fourth win in a row, and their fourth victory over London Skolars this season, after defeating the Londoners 48-4 at the New River Stadium on Sunday. It was a victory that cemented their position at second in the LHF Healthplan National League Two table, keeping up the pressure on Dewsbury who beat Hunslet to stay three points in front of the Crusaders. This win sets them up nicely for a top of the table clash against Swinton Lions at the Brewery Field next Sunday – a match that will be attended by rugby league and union internationals past and present in a special reunion day.

Crusaders’ assistant coach Kevin Ellis, who has organised next week’s reunion is looking forward to the day.

Ellis said: “It’s a massive game for us next week. We’re looking forward to Swinton coming down. Obviously they’re going to come to us all guns blazing after what we did them at their place a couple of weeks ago but our confidence is up and hopefully we’ll put in a good performance. We’ll have to sharpen on our ball handling from this week though. I don’t think John was happy at half-time as we spilled a lot of ball. It’s okay against sides from the lower half of the table – we can afford to make a few mistakes there – but if we do it next week, we’ll be in trouble.”

The victory in London was a solid performance from the Crusaders who were made to fight hard for the points against the league’s bottom club, but victory was secured in the first half as the Bridgend-based side scored five tries without reply.

Both teams battled to score in the first ten minutes. Jace Van Dijk had the first chance for the Crusaders but knocked on as he was tackled less than five metres from the line while at the other end, Paul Marsden laid a nice ball off to Austen Aggrey who dived for the line but pressure from the Crusaders backline caused him to hit the flag as he grounded.

But it was Crusaders who took the lead in the 12th minute. Following good work from Luke Young and Van Dijk, Neil Dixon, replacing the injured Tony Duggan and making only his second appearance of the season, charged over. Damien Quinn converted.

Shaun Ata had a chance to get one back but was pushed into touch by a number of Crusaders players.

Paul Morgan increased Crusaders’ lead after finishing off a fine move in the corner in the 20th minute. Quinn once again kicked the tricky conversion.

Morgan added another in similar fashion four minutes later to put the score onto 16-0 while Quinn got the Crusaders fourth try on the half-hour after being beautifully set up by Young who created a space that wasn’t there.

Crusaders weren’t finished yet in the first half. Gareth Dean barged through the middle offloading to Van Dijk who scored under the sticks. Quinn kicked the extras to put the half-time score on 26-0.

The Skolars deservedly got on the scoresheet six minutes into the second half after Austen Aggrey charged over the line. They were lifted by this and kept up the pressure but were constantly kept out by the Crusaders back-line.

Crusaders restored the balance in the 56th minute after Dixon set up Young to score. Man of the match Dixon scored another try of his own four minutes later with Quinn converting both to put the score on 38-4.

It was 42-4 on 64 minutes. Following some good work from Dean Fitzgerald and a pin-point kick from Van Dijk, Carl de Chenu knocked the ball down into the hands of Quinn who easily ran the ball over the line for his second try of the day.

Michael Ryan added another on 72 minutes as he ran virtually unchallenged from the behind the half-way line, easily sprinted past the tiring London defence to score in the corner. Quinn kicked the extras again to put the final score on 48-4.

London Skolars: Darryl Fisher, Dean Martin, Shaun Ata, Paul Marsden, Austen Aggrey, Jermaine Coleman, Kurt Pittman, Alan Barker, Gareth Honor, Powhiri Bidois, Mike Castle, Ben Joyce, Chris Sheari. Subs: Frank Reid, Dave Elton, Matt Pitman, Dave Brown.

Tries: Aggrey (46)

Celtic Crusaders: Neil Dixon, Carl de Chenu, Aled James, Damien Quinn, Paul Morgan, Luke Young, Jace Van Dijk, Hywel Davies, Michael Ryan, Shawn Van Rensburg, Ryan Barton, Matt Jobson, Dean Fitzgerald. Subs: Gareth Dean, Geraint Davies, Phil Cushion, Scott O’Kelly.

Tries: Dixon (12, 60), Morgan (20, 24), Quinn (30, 64), Van Dijk (36), Young (56), Ryan (72)

Goals: Quinn 6/9

Referee: Craig Halloran (Batley)

Half-time: 0-26

LHF Healthplan National League Two Table

25 June 2006

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Dewsbury	12	10	0	2	368	201	20
2	Celtic Crusaders	12	8	1	3	462	230	17
3	Sheffield	12	8	0	4	399	270	16
4	Swinton	12	8	0	4	380	283	16
5	Featherstone	12	7	1	4	306	295	15
6	Gateshead	12	7	0	5	317	270	14
7	Barrow	12	7	0	5	309	265	14
8	Hunslet	12	4	1	7	235	290	9
9	Workington	11	4	0	7	254	368	8
10	Keighley	12	2	1	9	234	357	5
11	Blackpool	12	2	1	9	202	399	5
12	London Skolars	11	1	1	9	194	432	3