Round 17
Celtic Crusaders 18 l. Hull KR 32

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

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

Hull KR overpower Celtic
Sun June 21, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Hull KR came from behind to overpower Celtic Crusaders 32-18 and secure a welcome engage Super League victory in Bridgend.

Hull KR boss Justin Morgan, who is assistant Wales national coach to Crusaders supremo John Dixon, had seen his side already beat the Crusaders twice this season at Craven Park.

The Crusaders were in buoyant mood and eager for a second consecutive Super League win in two weekends after shocked many across the sport by dumping mighty Wigan Warriors seven days earlier. By half-time, Hull KR were on course to make it a third triumph over the Welsh club this season.

It was not the greatest 40 minutes of rugby league seen this campaign as a lack of ideas and the whistle of referee James Child featured prominently. The Crusaders went 4-0 up after 12 minutes as their former Hull KR half-back Mark Lennon banged over two penalties, the first booted by the Welshmen this season. And they had a couple of chances to break the Hull line, particularly when wing Luke Dyer went over only for the move to be called back for a knock-on.

Rovers, though, had the first breakthrough when pressure inside the home 25 saw scrum-half Michael Dobson feed second row Clint Newton for an easy try. Newton turned provider just before the break when he set up replacement Jason Netherton to score near the posts, both touchdowns converted by Dobson.

Crusaders full-back Damien Quinn scored an amazing solo try by rounding man after man down the middle on a 60 yard break that took him over in the left corner. And the Welshmen found themselves level when a cross-kick saw wing Anthony Blackwood flip a scoring pass to prop Ryan O'Hara.

However, Rovers hit back when centre Kris Welham went over in the corner as the visitors piled on the pressure. That signalled the end of the Crusaders' fightback as they turned the screw and cracked the home resistence further. Newton went over for a second try of the match and, from there, it was clear there would be only one winner. Dobson raced over for the clincher when he intercepted a loose pass on halfway and sprinted under the posts.

And, despite a consolation touchdown from Crusaders' hooker Lincoln Withers with six minutes left, there would be no sensational comeback this time. Full-back Shaun Briscoe reached out to ground the ball and take Hull over the 30-points mark for a satisfying victory.


Celtic Crusaders v Hull Kingston Rovers Match Preview
Fri June 19, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

Celtic Crusaders have named Josh Hannay and Aled James in their 19-man squad to face Hull Kingston Rovers this Saturday at the Brewery Field (kick-off 6pm) as the Welsh side aim for two home engage Super League wins in a row.

Hannay has missed the last two games but John Dixon is hoping he will be fit to play this Saturday.

"Josh has trained this week so there's some optimism that he will play," said Dixon. "We don't want to bring him back before he's ready but he has started running this week so hopefully he will be fine for Saturday."

Aled James returns after missing last week's

Geraint Davies is also named in the 19-man squad but Darren Mapp and Chris Beasley miss out through injury.

Beasley's knock is said to be minor and the club are hopeful that he will only be out for a week but Mapp could be out for a long period after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the win over Wigan Warriors last week.

"We're not sure how long Darren will be out," said Dixon. "We'll know more after he has his scan."

The Crusaders beat Wigan 22-16 but Dixon knows that this week's test will be just as tough despite Rovers coming into the game on the back of two successive defeats.

"When we see Hull KR, we see that they're one of the form teams in the comp," Dixon said. "Certainly they started the season very well. We're expecting a stern test again this week."

Hull Kingston Rovers' Stanley Gene, who made his debut for the club in Port Talbot in 1996 against the old South Wales team in a National League Two game, won't get a chance to return to Wales.

He is ruled out for eight weeks after breaking his wrist in Rovers' 40-10 defeat at home to Harlequins last week.

However Rovers' captain Mick Vella, who has been out with a knee injury, is one of four players back in Justin Morgan's squad. Peter Fox and Shaun Briscoe, who played for England against France last week, return as does Ben Cockayne who served a one match ban last weekend.

Wales' captain David Mills, who didn't play against the Crusaders in the Super League game at New Craven Park earlier this season but did turn out in the Challenge Cup game, is also named by Morgan.

"Mick Vella is a big game player," said Morgan. "It's time for the big guns to stand up and be counted.

"Having Mick and Nick Fozzard playing together was something I was looking forward to at the start of the season. Fingers crossed, they can both make a positive contribution."

The two clubs' reserves sides meet at Maesteg RFC on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).

CRUSADERS (from): 5 Anthony Blackwood, 10 Mark Bryant, 23 Neil Budworth, 19 Jason Chan, 4 Mark Dalle Cort, 25 Geraint Davies, 2 Luke Dyer, 16 Ben Flower, 3 Josh Hannay, 24 Aled James, 17 Jordan James, 18 Mark Lennon, 15 Peter Lupton, 8 Ryan O'Hara, 11 Adam Peek, 6 Damien Quinn, 20 David Tangata Toa, 7 Jace Van Dijk, 9 Lincoln Withers.

HULL KINGSTON ROVERS (from): Shaun Briscoe, Ben Galea, Peter Fox, Chaz I'Anson, Kris Welham, Chev Walker, Jake Webster, Jason Netherton, Ben Cockayne, Nick Fozzard, Paul Cooke, Clint Newton, Michael Dobson, Scott Murrell, Ben Fisher, Scott Wheeldon, Mick Vella, Makali Aizue, David Mills.

Thu June 18, 2009
• Lupton says mood is good in Crusaders training
  

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