Senior was awesome

By Chris O'Brien
August 23 2009

On the back of deportations, dodgy visas and a new crest, the club had a game to play this weekend. The mighty Leeds Rhinos visited Rodney Parade and gave the Saders a 68-0 thumping. With three Welsh youngsters drafted into the squad, John Dixon’s men were outplayed from start to finish and rarely came close to the Leeds try-line.

Shirt on,optimistic 100/1 bet placed and off to.....Newport!The Crusaders took the Super League to Wales' third city on Saturdayevening in this "on the road" fixture that gave fans the chance to gain familiarity with next year's permanent base. 

Rodney Parade is one of the few sports stadia in Wales I hadn't visited prior to Saturday evening - and, my first impression was one of slight disappointment. However, future redevelopment aside - the bigger stands, the club house, improved access and so on are testimony to the better facilities fans can enjoy from next season. 

The crowd of 5,597 was poor. Leeds fans, despite being unusually quiet, travelled in large numbers and occupied around half of the attendance. Thus, the people of Newport clearly didn't come out in their droves to catch a glimpse of top-flight RL and that, perhaps, doesn't bode well for next summer. 

Despite aweek of jaw-dropping upheaval, the Saders hardcore were in strong voice on the Hazel Terrace. They paid tribute to the deported six and offered strong encouragement to an inexperienced Saders XIII who had the daunting task of doing battle with the full-strength reigning champions. 

Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes as thousands of Leeds fans battled withC ardiff-bound U2 fans in traffic jams in and around Newport. Leeds' team bus didn't even arrive until 5.35pm - but, whilst the lack of preparation time for the visitors weighed in favour of an upset, the Rhinos clearly weren't deterred. 

The deadlock was broken after only four minutes. Youngster Elliot Kear did well to drag down Lee Smith; but Keith Senior was given far too much space from the next tackle and he waltzed over the line to the delight of the travelling masses. 

The conversion was missed, but Leeds didn't haveto wait long to extend their lead with another try on eight minutes. Ryan Hallran over - again in the corner - before Scott Donald scored and Kevin Sinfield finally got it right with the boot to make it 14-0 on his way to kicking his 1,000^th Leeds goal. 

The excellent, diminutive half-back Rob Burrow was the brains behind Leeds' fourthas some excellent build-up play set-up Brent Webb before Senior's incredible power made it five tries for the Yorkshire side. He seemed to single-handedly hand-off four Crusaders defenders at once to rub salt into the South Walian wounds. 

Jamie Peacock was next to score as the Saders continued to look worryingly poor at the back. Sloppy errors and misjudged basics had helped Leeds rack up thirty-four first-half points - with Webb bagging the sixth and final try of a painful forty minutes for Celtic. 

Cru didat least battle for some pride in the opening exchanges of the second-half - holding out for seventeen minutes before Leeds scored again. Fatigue set in, however, and Peacock soon sealed his brace before Burrow bagged one for himself and Webb completed his hat-trick. 

The promising Kear gave us something to cheer as the clock ran down. Donald looked certain to score as he sprinted towards the try line; but Kear's last-ditch tackle dumped the player in touch and saw the youngster earn the congratulations of his team-mates. 

Normal service, however, was soon resumed as efforts from Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Matt Diskin and a hat-trick try from Peacock kept the scoreboard ticking over. Sinfield kept doing his bit with the boot as Leeds sealed a 68-0 win to take them back to the Super League summit on points difference. 

The club is going through a hugely difficult time - and whilst the fans must stay loyal to the cause; displays like this won't be attracting too many new recruits. Well done Leeds - who were respectful, but efficient as they fell twelve points short of the widest winning margin in Super League history. 

It's Huddersfield at home next - who could well have the Challenge Cup in tow by then - as fans prepare to bid an emotional and fond farewell to the Brewery Field. 

Full Time- Celtic Crusaders 0-68 Leeds Rhinos
Attendance- 5,597

Celtic Crusaders 0-68 Leeds Rhinos

Discussion started by CruXIII (IP Logged), 23/08/2009 10:46

CruXIII
23/08/2009 10:46

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Chris Hollett
23/08/2009 18:33

I'd say that's a very accurate assessment.

Gotta say though, some of the newcomers in the stands and even Leeds fans joined in our end of match rendition of "Justice for the Saders 6". That was MUCH appreciated.

I still want my Crusaders back in Bridgend, but for 2 seasons our home will be the Hazell Terrace at Dave Parade and whilst I don't see how it is better than BF, it's a nice enough ground that the Leeds fans said was no worse than about 3 of 4 other grounds in Superleague.

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