Celtic Crusaders 20-28 Hull FC
Three SL defeats in a row
By Chris O'Brien
February 23 2009
The Celtic Crusaders, full of enthusiasm for their first home Super League outing, were denied an unexpected victory thanks to an impressive fightback from Hull. A decent crowd of 5,272, swelled by a large force of away fans, watched on as John Dixon's men got off to a fantastic start before being pegged back by the Humberside club.
| Celtic Crusaders | Hull FC |
| 20 | 28 |
| Attendance: 5,272 Saturday 21st February, Brewery Field | |
| The Crusaders marked the arrival of Super League in South Wales with a cracking start - and the Brewery Field was rocking after Damian Quinn and Marshall Chalk ran over early tries. Hull looked rattled, but soon settled after Shaun Berrigan's converted try reduced the deficit to four points. Danny Tickle then turned the game on his head with two tries before the interval, with the second-row completing his hat-trick soon after half-time. Tickle also bagged eight points with the boot and Mark Calderwood's try sealed victory for Hull - though a late Duggan try, his third of the campaign, kept the score very respectable from a Celtic view. The result was not the one Celtic fans were after - but the game acted as another example of how the club can be competitive this season. Three defeats from three is certainly a disappointing start - but the Crusaders gave a strong Hull outfit a scare and now just need to churn out a performance for the full eighty minutes. Celtic Crusaders: Duggan, Dyer, Hanna, Dalle Cort, Blackwood, Quinn, Van Disk, O'Hara, Budworth, Bryant, Peek, Chalk, Beasley. Replacements: Smith, Lupton, Flower, J James. Hull: Byrne, Calderwood, G Horne, Yeaman, Briscoe, R Horne, Thorman, Dowes, Berrigan, Cusack, Burnett, Tickle, Radford. Replacements: Washbrook, Thackray, Manu, Houghton. |