Round 1
Salford City Reds 28 d. Celtic Crusaders 16

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Another poor 1st half costs Celtic as Salford win upon return
Mon February 16, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Australian full-back Tony Duggan scored his 100th try in English rugby league but it was not enough to prevent engage Super League new boys Celtic Crusaders going down to a second successive defeat.

The 30-year-old Duggan, who scored the Crusaders' first-ever try in their inaugural game three years ago, touched down twice in a six-minute spell early in the second half to reach the landmark on his 85th appearance.

The tries briefly brought the Welsh side back into the game but in the end they were made to pay for another sluggish start in which they conceded three tries in the first 11 minutes.

The Crusaders trailed 22-0 at half-time in their opening game at Leeds Rhinos before finding their form and a similar start against the Reds killed the game off as a contest.

Salford City Reds, who had the disadvantage of starting the season a week later than their fellow newcomers, had six men on debut, including new captain Rob Parker, but they quickly found a rhythm, with front rowers Ray Cashmere and Craig Stapleton setting a superb example.

Axed captain Malcolm Alker was the architect of the game's first try on five minutes, putting full-back Karl Fitzpatrick into a gap for the supporting Stapleton to touch down.

The Crusaders barely had time to recover when teenage half-back Richard Myler added a second try straight from a scrum 30 metres out and it got even worse for the Welsh side when Alker took a return pass from Willie Talau and got winger Mark Henry over for a third try.

John Wilshere kicked all three conversions, including one from the touchline, and added a penalty midway through the first half to put his side into a 20-0 lead.

It looked like being a Valentine's Day massacre but loose forward Peter Lupton pulled a try back on 25 minutes, touching the ball down after Myler unluckily deflected Jace Van Dijk's grubber kick into his path.

The Crusaders, who gave a debut to Papua New Guinea World Cup forward Jason Chan, continued their improvement in the second half, despite losing skipper Van Dijk with concussion.

Second rower Darren Mapp went close before Hannay released his winger Luke Dyer and Duggan was in support to register his 99th try.

And it took the little Australian just six more minutes to bring up his century after taking Damien Quinn's pass and skipping out of Wilshere's attempted tackle.

Hannay converted both of Duggan's tries to cut the gap to just four points as the game went into the final quarter but the 4,026 crowd were able to breathe more easily when Salford hit back to score their fourth try.

Scrum-half Jeremy Smith released substitute Ian Sibbit and his pace took him to the corner, too far out for Wilshere to add the goal.

Wilshere then made amends by landing two penalties to complete the scoring and ensure a winning start for Shaun McRae's men on their return to engage Super League.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk


Celtic team for Salford clash
Fri February 13, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

Celtic Crusaders coach John Dixon has named his squad of 19 for their second engage Super League game of the season away at Salford City Reds on Saturday evening (kick-off 7:30pm).

This game, like last week's clash at World Champions Leeds Rhinos, is being shown live on Sky Sports.

Dixon's squad contains just two changes to the 19 he named last week with Papua New Guinean international Jason Chan named for the first time.

Former Canberra Raiders duo Lincoln Withers and Marshall Chalk are still yet to make their Crusaders' debuts. Withers is still carrying an injury from last season, while Chalk, who was in the 19 last week but didn't play due to picking up a virus, is omitted on this occasion.

The squad will be reduced to 17 on Saturday.

Dixon said: "We're going up there looking to win on Saturday. In 2008 Salford were on their way down from Super League and we were on the way up from National League Two. We had some wonderful tussles in 2008 and in the Grand Final there were only two points in it with 30 seconds to go in normal time. In 2009 we're both new teams in Super League so there'll be some serious rivalry again.

"Salford have recruited well with players like Willie Talau, Ray Cashmere and Jeremy Smith. I think we've recruited well too so there won't be a whole lot of difference between the two squads and I think it'll be down to who plays better on the day."

Dixon believes that a win will be a massive boost to the club, who open their home Super League account against Hull FC on Saturday 21st February.

"It will help everybody in the club if we can get a victory on Saturday," he said.

"It would help the players, coaches and supporters. We're going there to show people that we can play in this League. Win, lose or draw we want to be competitive, that's they key for us, but to win on Saturday would be a nice step. It's good that we're on TV again as those who couldn't make it Salford will be able to watch us and hopefully say 'this is a team that's worth supporting, this is a good footy team' and hopefully it'll encourage them to come and watch us at the Brewery Field on Saturday 21st February against Hull."

Crusaders Squad: 1. Tony Duggan, 2. Luke Dyer, 3. Josh Hannay, 4. Mark Dalle Cort, 5. Anthony Blackwood, 6. Damien Quinn, 7. Jace Van Dijk, 8. Ryan O'Hara, 10. Mark Bryant, 11. Adam Peek, 12. Darren Mapp, 14. Matt Smith, 15. Peter Lupton, 17. Jordan James, 18. Mark Lennon, 19. Jason Chan, 20. David Tangata Toa, 21. Chris Beasley, 23. Neil Budworth.

News Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

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