photo by Ian Lovell

Celtic Crusaders cruised to an eighth successive win over London Skolars on Saturday, thanks to an outstanding second half performance at the Brewery Field.

Skolars, who arrived in Wales following a successful month of June, fought hard in the first half but realistically Crusaders were always in control.

Man of the match Paul Ballard, who passed a fitness test to play just before kick-off, went over in the corner for the opening Crusaders try on four minutes.

Just handling errors prevented a quick second try and Ballard had a second ruled out on 13 minutes as Tony Duggan’s offload to him was forward. Always in the action, Ballard also fumbled a Neale Wyatt pass 20 metres from the line.

Skolars were close to scoring but Joe Price’s kick went too far for anyone to latch onto while Ashley Tozer failed to ground the ball properly as he dived on Jermaine Coleman’s kick.

It took a bit of magic from Duggan and Ballard again for the second try, Duggan the provider as the winger scored in the corner again.

Damien Quinn’s grubber was picked up by Coleman preventing a third try but Neale Wyatt went over just before half-time with Jace Van Dijk converting to make the half-time score 14-0.

Crusaders extended their lead just two minutes after the interval after Van Dijk set up Darren Mapp to run in under the sticks. Van Dijk easily converted.

Ballard followed that up straight from kick-off with a further try to bring up his hat-trick.

Van Dijk set up Mapp for his second on 52 minutes with Van Dijk’s goal putting the score on 30-0.

Wyatt fed Duggan to run in under the sticks for Crusaders’ seventh try with Van Dijk converting and the Welsh side were officially home and dry.

Crusaders were now running riot. Mark Dalle Cort stormed over from kick-off for his team’s eighth try.

Dean Fitzgerald had a try disallowed as the referee had already blown for a London infringement but justice was done as Van Dijk went over from the resulting scrum.

Following a short spell of Skolars pressure where Tryfan Edwards was closest to scoring, Ballard notched up his fourth try

in exactly the same place as the previous three to bring up the 50.

A round of applause broke out throughout the ground as London finally went over for their first try on 73 minutes through

Chris Lynton with Chris Thorman adding the extras.

Ballard was denied a fifth try twice before the final hooter after receiving a forward pass both times.

Crusaders’ Operations Manager Gerald McCarthy was happy at the win and praised London for their efforts.

“London Skolars are a good side this year,” he said. “They won three on the trot and held Featherstone well last week so they’re a tough old side. This was the hardest game they’ve given us and credit to our players who were superb tonight especially in the second half.”

CELTIC CRUSADERS
1. Tony Duggan
2. Anthony Blackwood
3. Rob Toshack
4. Mark Dalle Cort
5. Paul Ballard
6. Luke Young
7. Jace Van Dijk
8. Terry Martin
9. Neil Budworth
10. Gareth Dean
11. Neale Wyatt
12. Darren Mapp
13. Damien Quinn

Subs:
14. Grant Epton
15. Dean Fitzgerald
16. Jamie I’Anson
17. Hywel Davies

Tries: Ballard (4, 32, 45, 68), Wyatt (39), Mapp (42, 52), Duggan (55), Dalle Cort (57), Van Dijk (60)
Goals: Van Dijk 5/10

LONDON SKOLARS
1. Jermaine Coleman
2. Ashley Tozer
3. Pete Hodgkinson
4. Tryfan Edwards
5. Dene Miller
6. Paul Thorman
7. Gareth Honor
8. Martyn Benson
9. Frank Reid
10. Richard Louw
11. Joe Price
12. Lydan Maitua
13. Chris Lyndon

Subs:
14. Corey Simms
15. Chris Shears
16. Mike Castle
17. Alan Barker

Tries: Lynton (73)
Goals: Thorman 1/1

Referee: Chris Dean (Selby)
Attendance: 807
Men of the Match: Crusaders – Paul Ballard, Skolars – Jermaine Coleman
Penalties: 5-3
Half-time: 14-0

article by Ian Golden
7 July 2007