Au Revoir

By Chris,
September 6 2009

If fans need justification of the club’s decision to quit the Brewery Field, Saturday evening’s paltry crowd of 1,988 was testimony enough. As the Crusaders bid an emotional farewell to their Bridgend home with a 16-42 reverse against the Huddersfield Giants, the terraces were largely uninhabited as the club looks forward to a controversial but exciting new chapter in Newport.

Prior to Saturday's game, I was lucky enough to have a lengthy phone conversation with chief executive Mike Turner. I'll write more on the discussion soon - but he was kind enough to get me to call him after I'd voiced some concerns over the club's future via e-mail.

He told me he'd be delighted if 1,500 home fans paid on the gate for the Giants game. This shocked me. Crowds have been low this season but I hoped a decent gate could be expected for the Brewery's swansong Super League clash.

Turner's forecast turned out to be accurate. Only thanks to an impressively healthy away following from South Yorkshire did the gate reach 1,988. Clearly, the start of the union season took its toll, alongside outrage at the deportation of the six and the club's consistently poor form. Cru needs an injection of impetus - and hopefully the controversial switch to Rodney Parade will provide just that.

As for the game, and it looked like being another hugely disappointing evening for the Saders' loyal support. Huddersfield absolutely dominated for an hour and looked on course to secure a whitewash and a half century of points. However, a late flurry of tries from the home side gave us something to cheer and handed fans another fond memory of RL at the Brewery.

The Giants, showing no signs of weakness from last weekend's Challenge Cup Final defeat, absolutely bossed the opening period. The Crusaders struggled to carry the ball into opposition territory, made sloppy handling errors and were alarmingly one-dimensional.

Huddersfield, by contrast, showed creativity, guile and raw power to claim three first-half tries and accumulate an 18-0 lead at the break. David Hodgson forced his way over the line after only four minutes, Liam Fulton soon followed and Larne Patrick put the visitors in firm control with an effort six minutes before half-time. Leroy Cudjoe, meanwhile, was on immaculate form with the boot and was successful with each conversion attempt throughout the eighty minutes.

With the wind to their backs, the small number of home fans hoped for a second-half fightback - but the Giants continued to dominate and the result was put beyond doubt as Paul Whaturia crossed before Lunt sealed a quick-fire brace.

Huddersfield looked on course to seal fifty points before the Saders showed some fight to get on the scoresheet. A workmanlike Anthony Blackwood crossed to reduce the arrears by four, though a Fulton try and another Cudjoe conversion extended the Giants' lead soon after.

However, John Dixon's men were determined to earn some pride and scored what could be the final two Super League tries at the Brewery Field. Some excellent handy-work from the impressive Steve Tyrer saw the Saders cross in the corner. The former Widnes man then duly obliged with the boot, and did so again moments later after Mark Lennon burst through the Huddersfield backline to score underneath the posts.

Despite late endeavours and scores from Blackwood, Tyrer and Lennon - this was an eighty minutes to forget. The abysmal crowd underlined the club's necessity to sadly move on. An altered badge, a tinkered name, a new home and the prospect of a completely new squad are daunting but are probably necessary steps if rugby league is to succeed in South Wales and the Crusaders are to succeed in Super League.

Castleford next, then the play-offs from the comfort of our arm-chairs and an autumn/winter of contemplation.

Full Time - Celtic Crusaders 16-42 Huddersfield Giants
Attendance - 1,988

Celtic Crusaders 16-42 H'field Giants - Bye Bye, Brewery

Discussion started by CruXIII (IP Logged), 06/09/2009 23:57

CruXIII
06/09/2009 23:57

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