A 77th minute try by Welsh international Grant Epton was enough to earn Celtic Crusaders a crucial bonus point at Workington Town’s Derwent Park on Sunday.

The Crusaders lost the hard-fought match 28-16 and dropped behind Town in the league table as a consequence but Crusaders’ coach John Dixon believes that the point that they earned was just reward for their efforts against a very strong home side.

Dixon said: “Workington led the game the whole way but we worked hard and were never completely out of the game. The bonus point was a reward for our effort which is what that system is all about. Credit to Workington – their defence was good and they were resolute for most of the match but we gave away too many penalties in this game and that was another factor that cost us today.”

This defeat was only the Crusaders’ second of their Co-operative National League Two season and it sends them down to fourth place. Featherstone Rovers, who Crusaders next face in the league at the Brewery Field in two weeks time, took top spot after their comprehensive 74-16 win at Gateshead Thunder while Barrow Raiders lost 50-18 at Oldham.

Carl Forber gave Town the lead with a sixth minute penalty goal before scoring a try in the 27th minute when he chipped to Franco Kmet who returned the ball to him to score. Forber converted it himself to make it 8-0.

Crusaders hit back with a Hywel Davies' try and a Quinn conversion but Stephen Dawes scored for Town just before the interval.

The Welsh side’s indiscipline was their major downfall during certain periods of the match. Just after the break this cost them dearly as Forber took Town ahead 18-6 with two penalty goals. However the fact that they were choosing to kick the goals rather than run the tries in was a credit to the strong Crusaders backline that Town were finding very hard to break.

Crusaders had their chances to get back into the match but failed to take

advantage. First, Anthony Blackwood fumbled Luke Young's excellent high kick into the goal area early in the second half then it took a try-saving tackle from Dawes to knock Paul Ballard into touch a metre from the line.

Town made Crusaders pay for these as they increased their lead on 68 minutes through a Shaun Lunt try after good work from Kmet again.

Crusaders fought back with a 74th minute try from Mark Dalle Cort before Epton’s fine individual effort three minutes later. Martyn Wilson got the final try for Town just before the end but it wasn’t enough to deny Crusaders the bonus point.

The Welsh side now take a break from league action as they travel to Halifax in the quarter-finals of the Northern Rail Cup next Saturday. Halifax, coached by Welsh boss Martin Hall, also lost today, going down 40-24 at Whitehaven.

Workington Town: Rob Lunt, Stephen Dawes, Andrew Beattie, Neil Frazer, Martyn Wilson, Carl Forber, Liam Campbell, Dean Vaughan, Darren King, Dean Burgess, Jamie Beaumont, Franco Kmet, Gary Purdham. Subs (all used): Shaun Lunt, Adam Sidlow, Steve Ormesher, Taani Lavulavu.
Tries: Forber (27), Dawes (38), S.Lunt (68), Wilson (80)
Goals: Forber 6/7

Celtic Crusaders: Tony Duggan, Richard Johnston, Anthony Blackwood, Mark Dalle Cort, Paul Ballard, Luke Young, Jace Van Dijk, Josh Cale, Neil Budworth, Phil Cushion, Chris Beasley, Darren Mapp, Damien Quinn. Subs (all used): Andy Boothroyd, Jamie I'Anson, Grant Epton, Hywel Davies.
Tries: Davies (33), Dalle Cort (74), Epton (77)
Goals: Quinn 2/3

Referee: Craig Halloran (Dewsbury).
HT score - 14-6.
Attendance: 896
Weather: Dry, sunny with a sharp breeze.
Match rating: 4/5

article by Ian Golden
20 May 2007