Celtic Crusaders are now able to concentrate solely on gaining promotion after going out of the Northern Rail Cup at Halifax on Saturday. The Welsh side, who resume with their National League Two campaign when they host league leaders Featherstone Rovers next Saturday, almost showed the form that enabled them to beat Leigh Centurions twice in the early rounds of the competition. But were unable to find that little bit extra to beat their National League One opponents this time round with Halifax battling their way to a 30-18 win.

The home side dominated in the early stages of the match but a resolute Crusaders back-line held them out.

Damien Quinn and Paul Ballard were both forced to give away drop outs when they were tackled over their own line, Craig Richards caught a Graham Holroyd bomb while some fine work by Grant Epton and Anthony Blackwood stopped Lee Greenwood from opening the scoring.

But the Yorkshiremen finally crossed over on 11 minutes when Richard Varkulis finished off a fine passing move to ground in the corner.

The Crusaders were back in the game five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks after Richards was held down. Damien Quinn made no mistake with the kick.

Halifax increased their lead just before the 20 minute mark when Sean Penkywicz weaved his way through for an excellent individual try. Tim Hartley made no mistake with the kick to put Halifax 10-2 up.

But Crusaders pulled a try back five minutes later when Andy Boothroyd scored under the sticks following excellent work from Luke Young. Quinn converted to bring the score back to 10-8.

And five minutes later, the Welsh side were in the lead. Neale Wyatt, in his first game back after three months on the injury list, did the good work to set up Blackwood who fed Epton to run in. Quinn’s tricky kick made the score 14-10.

Crusaders did well to stop a potential barrage of Halifax tries. Quinn knocked Frank Watene’s pass to Greenwood into touch while Mark Dalle Cort forced Crusaders’ sixth goal-line drop out when he did well to beat Marcus George to the ball. Paul Smith was held up over the line and Paul Ballard also stopped a certain try before being sinbinned for alleged persistent timewasting.

Greenwood was also stopped short of the line before successfully finding a gap on the left wing to score just before the hooter to put the scores level at the interval.

Halifax continued to make use of the extra man just when Hartley ran over to

score four minutes into the second half before hitting the post with his conversion.

Crusaders had a couple of chances to equalise. Epton had a try ruled out for a knock-on and Wyatt was just short of reaching a grubber kick before Dean Fitzgerald, who had just returned to the field after being substituted earlier, broke through on the hour to level things up again.

But Halifax regained the advantage almost immediately after former Wales captain Damian Gibson set up fellow countryman Phil Joseph who forced his way through for a try under the sticks with man of the match Holroyd converting.

They increased their lead to 26-18 when Holroyd kicked a penalty after Crusaders were caught offside near to their own line.

And they sealed the game on 75 minutes when Richards and Dalle Cort both failed to latch onto a kick that took an awkward bounce enabling Greenwood to run in for his second try of the match.

Crusaders’ coach John Dixon said: “I was very pleased with all of the players’ efforts today. The final scoreline went against us but we were competitive throughout the game. We’ve come here today without some of our key men and to see some of the players who are searching for a regular spot in the team like Dean Fitzgerald, Grant Epton and Hywel Davies play as well as they did today was terrific.”

Halifax: Damian Gibson, Marcus George, Tim Hartley, Richard Varkulis, Lee Greenwood, Graham Holroyd, Ian Watson, Paul Southern, Sean Penkywicz, Andy Shickell, Phil Joseph, Paul Smith, Damian Ball. Subs: Mark Roberts, Dave Larder, Dave Wrench, Frank Watene.

Tries: Varkulis (11), Penkywicz (19), Greenwood (40, 75), Hartley (44), Joseph (63)
Goals: Hartley 1/4, Holroyd 2/3

Crusaders: Paul Ballard, Grant Epton, Anthony Blackwood, Mark Dalle Cort, Craig Richards, Luke Young, Damien Quinn, Josh Cale, Andy Boothroyd, Hywel Davies, Geraint Davies, Chris Beasley, Dean Fitzgerald. Subs: Neale Wyatt, Jamie I’Anson, Lee Jones, Phil Cushion.

Tries: Boothroyd (24), Epton (30), Fitzgerald (60)
Goals: Quinn 3/4

Sinbinned: Ballard (36)

Referee: Dave Merrick (Pontefract)
Attendance: 1,086
Half-time: 14-14

article by Ian Golden
26 May 2007