Crusaders return to South Wales with super Gnoll win
By Chris O'Brien,
July 25 2010
The Celtic, err, I mean Crusaders returned to South Wales with a bang as they claimed a jaw-dropping 30-24 win over the Castleford Tigers at the Gnoll. Cru's late comeback was fantastic – though the crowd of only 1,495 won't encourage the club's backers to bring too many more games to South Wales next season.
For many, this will have been a first Crusaders game since John Dixon's men said goodbye to the Brewery Field almost twelve months ago.
The Saders said goodbye to their Bridgend home with a whimper – a heavy defeat against the Huddersfield Giants with a crowd of only 1,988 watching the action.
On their return to South Wales, the crowd was even worse. Cas did not bring the big away following that Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield did last September. About 150 Yorkshiremen swelled the attendance up to 1,495 – hardly a crowd that will entice the Wrexham-based Saders' backers to bring too many more games to the Gnoll next season.
However, though the gate was disappointing, the players were fantastic and produced a sterling late comeback which will delight followers of Brian Noble's side.
Early tries from Joe Westerman and Dean Widders crossed put the away side in control - but the Saders eventually settled and staged a fine comeback before the interval as Rhys Hanbury and Jordan James bagged tries.
The Saders kept up the momentum after the break and Weller Hauraki handed them the lead, but Michael Shenton soon restored parity and - after Cas missed a penalty - Rangi Chase's effort gave the Tigers the lead as the clock ticked down.
However, in the closing stages, the Welsh side sealed a tremendous late comeback to keep hopes of a top eight finish on course. Roared on by a vocal following, Cru exerted plenty of pressure in front of the terrace and it finally told as Tony Martin grabbed a neat grubber kick to cross and Clinton Schifcofske's absolutely superb long-range conversion made it 24-24.
There was more to come, however, as Cas collapsed. After a poor first-half, Sammut always looked dangerous after the break and bagged a much-deserved four points as he crossed under the line. He celebrated with a stunning series of backflips as Cru's fans bounced. The conversion floated over seconds later.
Cas nearly levelled in the closing stages as fans faced an agonising wait for the hooter – but Cru held firm for two big points.
The Crusaders return to the Gnoll in a fortnight's time for a "local derby" against the Harlequins. Before that, Noble's men face another big test against the Salford City Red. Winnable games are in the pipeline and a play-off place is still very possible. Well done Cru.
Full Time – Crusaders RL 30-24 Castleford Tigers
Attendance - 1,495
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Looking forward to the Quins game...
Wrexham ANZACS vs Quins is not.
When will the WA stop wearing the putrefied skin of the long dead Celtic Crusaders?
It appears you spend much of your time trying to find out what the people you don't particularly like are up to...and as ever, getting it wrong.
And no I don't spend a lot of time focussing on what the ANZACs are doing. A few minutes here and there is all when someone posts rubbish about what wonders they are performing.
My latest bout of postings on League (not just your gog team) are my first in a few months, spurred on because a few clowns were praising the ANZAC's derisory efforts in S Wales.
WOOOHOOOOOO a few crumbs from the master's table. All hail the benevolent Mr Turner!
Will you be praising him next year when there are NO matches in S Wales? Oh I know we've been told there will be, but we were ALSO told that this season was to be played in Nooport.
That would surely help the attendance / interest etc?
The kick off time was stupid though even though I brought six new people along. I could have doubled that with a 7:30 kick off. Saying that, the way the cru played on Friday, might have been better that I only brought six new people as there wasn't much to excite them about league on that performance, after I had been "bigging it up" all the way down on the train.
Though I take your points and think better advertising / smarter venue / more reasonable kick-off times wolud up attendances, I honestly believe there are not many more attendees to be had by the Crusaders. I honestly think CELTIC Crusaders had all the fans that were to be had at the time in S Wales 2009. If they had stayed and had found a way to get a new owner other than that dickhead Samuel, more would have turned to the game.
HOWEVER that is NOT what happened and many of the supporters gave up on the team and the game. To all but the handful that turned up, "The" Crusaders is not really a desirable fixture. Not necessarily a popular fact on this board, but an indisputable fact nonetheless.
If RL is to make it in S Wales it will be because of the Scorps and despite the Crusaders. I KNOW there are a handful of Crusaders fans who frequent this site, but other than here and CTID they don't really exist. That handful are not really representative of Wales. The Cardiff Devils have more s Wales fans than "The" Crusaders.
I have lived here for 35 years and haven't been to a Devils game!
I would have loved to have seen RL at Rodney Parade this year. But it wasn't to be.