Round 5
Hull KR 48 d. Celtic Crusaders 18

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

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

Hull Kingston Rovers 48 Celtic Crusaders 18
Mon March 16, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

While Cardiff City were drawing at the other Robins, Bristol City, Celtic Crusaders, in our 100th game weren't able to go one better as we lost 48-18 at Hull Kingston Rovers following an outstanding second half from the home team.

A number of the Crusaders' fans were a few minutes late into the ground having stayed in the bar to witness Ross McCormack's dramatic equaliser live on Sky Sports.

But when they got into Craven Park, to sit in an away end that resembled Swindon Town more than Bristol City, they were treated to a plucky display that wasn't enough to get our first ever Super League win.

A victory over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats next Sunday at the Brewery Field (kick-off 7pm) is now essential to kick-start our inaugural campaign in top flight.

John Dixon knew what he was up against before the game started. In Sunday morning's "Wales on Sunday" newspaper he described Craven Park as:

"The wind howls straight across the sea and across the park and the debris blows straight at you.

"You've got to get out the passenger side of the car if it's blowing against you!

"The ground lies east-west, not north-south, so you're playing into the sunshine.

"And they've got the most warm and loving fans up there, so it's a terrific place to go and play footie!

"But seriously, we got a really warm welcome from Justin Morgan and his board when we went to look at how they ran their franchise last year.

"They'd been promoted from National League One and made some progress, so they were very good mentors for us in those early days of applying for Super League."

While John Dixon and Justin Morgan, a former Welsh international, may work together on the Wales set-up, they were rivals this afternoon and neither coach showed any mercy as the two sides fought out an even first 10 minutes.

We took the lead on 13 minutes with a try that just looked too easy. Matty Smith opened up a gap for Marshall Chalk. He in turn laid the ball off to Peter Lupton who had an easy run to the line to score the club's 600th try. Josh Hannay's kick made the score 6-0.

Rovers thought they'd levelled things on 18 minutes after Scott Wheeldon did well to catch a Scott Murrell chip but the referee disallowed the try for offiside.

However Kris Welham made up for it on the next play after picking up a loose ball on our 30 metre line and outran Damien Quinn, while using a series on hand-offs, to ground. Michael Dobson had an easy kick to make the score 6-6.

Crusaders attacked and were progressing well up the field with Matty Smith again excelling in the scrum-half position during Jace Van Dijk's absence. He set up Lincoln Withers but the former Canberra Raiders hooker fumbled and Rovers regained possession.

They didn't waste it and they forced a goal-line drop-out after Quinn was tackled following his observant collection of Dobson's clever back-foot grubber.

And from the next set, Rovers scored again after Mick Fozzard did get on the end of a successful grubber. Dobson kicked successfully again and Rovers were 12-6 up.

We fought back again. Mark Dalle Cort's pass to Anthony Blackwood was just too high for even the tall winger to catch. However it was the Rovers centre Welham who had knocked on and Darren Mapp raced in from the scrum to score. Hannay converted well and the scores were level again.

But Rovers went into half-time with a 16-12 lead. Dalle Cort had palmed down a chip kick and the referee was just about to blow for a knock on but Clint Newton picked up the loose ball and scored in the corner.

The home side started where they left off as Chev Walker picked up a loose ball following Dobson's chip and easily touched down. Dobson converted and Rovers were 10 points up.

Rovers were now fully in control. Ben Galea slipped his way through the Crusaders backline on 51 minutes. Dobson continued his superb game by kicking an excellent conversion.

Newton went over for his second just before the hour but Dalle Cort almost had a try back. He did well to catch Matty Smith's chip but his grounding was just over the deadball line.

Damien Quinn was also called back on the fifth tackle in the next set of six after he just failed to cleanly catch another Smith kick.

But it wasn't long before Rovers were back on the board, and it was Newton again, who completed his hat-trick in style as he fought off three men to squirm his way over. Dobson was again successful and the score was 38-12.

Dobson, who had well and truly masterminded the win from half-back deservedly scored a try on 73 minutes that he duly converted himself.

Ditto his opposite number Matty Smith who rounded off his fine performance with a consolation try three minutes later following excellent work from Dalle Cort who created the chance. Hannay completed his 100% kicking record.

But that wasn't the final score. Liam Colburn scored in the corner in the final play of the match after receiving a ball from Scott Murrell that looked a good foot or two forward. Dobson sliced the conversion to leave Rovers with a 30-point victory.

Hull Kingston Rovers: Ben Cockayne, Peter Fox, Chev Walker, Kris Welham, Liam Colbon, Chaz I'Anson, Michael Dobson, Nick Fozzard, Daniel Fitzhenry, Scott Wheeldon, Clint Newton, Ben Galea, Scott Murrell. Subs: Ben Fisher, Jake Netherton, Rhys Lovegrove, Jake Webster.

Tries: Welham (20), Fozzard (29), Newton (40, 59, 69), Walker (44), Galea (51), Dobson (73), Colburn (79)

Goals: Dobson 6/9

Celtic Crusaders: Marshall Chalk, Luke Dyer, Josh Hannay, Mark Dalle Cort, Anthony Blackwood, Damien Quinn, Matty Smith, Ryan O'Hara, Lincoln Withers, Mark Bryant, Chris Beasley, Darren Mapp, Peter Lupton. Subs: Neil Budworth, Adam Peek, Ben Flower, Jason Chan.

Tries: Lupton (13), Mapp (36), Smith (76)

Goals: Hannay 3/3

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 8,046

Half-time: 16-12


Crusader's searching for first win after Hull KR loss
Mon March 16, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Celtic Crusaders are still searching for their first engage Super League victory after they slipped to a resounding defeat at the hands of Hull KR.

The engage Super League new boys caused Rovers plenty of problems in the opening half and their 12th-minute lead came as little surprise, Matty Smith and Marshall Chalk combining to send in the supporting Peter Lupton. Josh Hannay added the conversion.

It took Rovers nine minutes to level things when Kris Welham jolted the ball loose in a tackle and fended off three desperate tackle attempts as he raced in to score. Michael Dobson converted.

Nick Fozzard scored his first try for the Robins since joining from St Helens on 28 minutes, with Dobson adding the extras.

Newton and Dobson both missed Darren Mapp on 28 minutes and Hannay's conversion squared things at 12-12.

But right on half-time Crusaders knocked a ball down in an interception attempt, Clint Newton hacked on into the corner and won the race to touch down and put Rovers into a 16-12 half-time lead.

It took just four minutes of the second half for Rovers to increase their lead. A Dobson bomb brought about a fumble by the Crusaders' defence and Chev Walker got the touchdown with Dobson converting.

Ben Galea profited from a missed tackle on 51 minutes and Dobson made it four successful kicks out of five. Newton added his second try on 58 minutes, which was converted by Dobson.

Newton bagged his hat-trick on 68 minutes and Dobson grabbed a solo try on 72 minutes, which he also converted.

Smith grabbed a consolation try for Crusaders on 76 minutes which was converted by Hannay, although Liam Colbon had the last laugh with a try right on the hooter.

Sat March 14, 2009
• Crusaders squad and preview for Sunday v Hull KR
  
Fri March 13, 2009
• Lennon disappointed to miss both Hull KR clashes
  

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