Round 18
St Helens 30 d. Celtic Crusaders 0

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

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

Saints keep Celtic scoreless
Sun June 28, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

St Helens produced a first-half masterclass with four tries to move a step closer towards finishing top of the engage Super League for the fifth successive year.

Bottom club Celtic Crusaders, who were missing several first-choice players through injury but lacked nothing in spirit, began brightly but had no answer to their hosts' superior class.

Leon Pryce was pivotal in the opening two scores, created for Lee Gilmour and Paul Wellens, before hulking prop Tony Puletua stepped off the bench to add a third shortly before the half-hour mark.

Matt Gidley crossed in the right corner shortly before the interval hooter and Sean Long converted all four scores to put his side 24-0 up and out of sight.

Rookie centre Chris Dean claimed a fifth try with six minutes remaining, which Long again converted, but Celtic emerged with much credit after reducing Saints to a largely frustrating second half.

Yet the Welshmen had long since surrendered the points after Saints ran riot in the opening period.

Celtic were actually the more purposeful side in the opening exchanges but they could not make their pressure pay and were outclassed in the 16th minute.

Pryce collected Long's rapier-like pass and produced a smart offload to send Gilmour powering clear from 10 metres out.

Moments later another piece of magic from Pryce saw him break the visitors' line and send Wellens scampering over the line on the overlap.

The full-back dived over the line and just managed to evade the desperate attempts of Ste Tyrer ? his St Helens team-mate currently on loan at Celtic ? whose efforts proved in vain.

The hosts began to turn the screw and extended their lead in the 28th minute when James Roby and Long combined to tee up Puletua to power his way over the line.

And it came as no surprise when Gidley found the space to squeeze in at the corner for a fourth score which Long converted with aplomb.

The second half was a scrappy affair and both sides struggled to complete their sets, ensuring tryscoring opportunities were at a premium.

St Helens should have have their fifth try two minutes after the break but Ade Gardner knocked on horribly with the line at this mercy.

It was indicative of the malaise which developed but the Crusaders showed admirable spirit to reduce Saints to so few genuine chances.

However, Saints finally had their fifth score in the 74th minute when Dean showed impressive strength to burrow his way over in the left corner and Long again converted in style from the touchline.


St Helens v Celtic Crusaders Match Preview
Thu June 25, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

St Helens duo Matty Smith and Steve Tyrer, who are currently on a year-long loan spell at Celtic Crusaders, have been named in the Welsh side's 19 man squad to face Saints at Knowsley Road on Friday night (kick-off 8pm).

The duo have both been on the injury list for over a month. Smith picked up a knock in the defeat to Catalans Dragons on May 23rd while Tyrer was injured when on loan to Widnes Vikings during the same period.

Smith will be a welcome return to the side. While only making eight appearances so far this season due to injuries, when he has played he has formed a formidable partnership with Jace Van Dijk in the halves.

Tyrer has made just one first team appearance this season but, despite his injury woes, he is still top scorer for the Crusaders reserves side. Both would love the chance of a return against their home town side.

Tony Duggan, Darren Mapp, Josh Hannay, Aled James, David Tangata Toa, Chris Beasley and Marshall Chalk still remain on Crusaders' longest injury list of the season but Chalk, who has been out for two months with a broken jaw, returns to training next week.

Last year's Crusaders Colts top scorer Lloyd White, who has been exceptional in Super League Reserves this season, has been promoted to the first team and is included in the 19 for the first time.

St Helens Centre Matt Gidley faces a check on Thursday, with a knee problem making him a slight doubt for Friday's fixture but he is included in Mick Potter's 19-man squad.

The two sides last met in round three back in March where Saints won a close match 4-0 in front of a record crowd at the Brewery Field.

Potter said: "Celtic gave us a big game down at Brewery Field where defences were on top and the conditions weren't great to play rugby. They play a good brand of rugby similar to the way Castleford are set up and they can frustrate you and control the ball very well. Wigan found that to their cost down in Wales.

Saints are the form side in Super League having just notched their 16th consecutive away win after their 44-18 demolition of Bradford Bulls last Sunday.

Friday's match is the second of a double header with the two club's reserves sides facing off at 5.45pm.

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, 17. Jordan James, 18. Mark Lennon, 15. Peter Lupton, 8. Ryan O'Hara, 11. Adam Peek, 6. Damien Quinn, 14. Matt Smith, 22. Steve Tyrer, 7. Jace Van Dijk, 9. Lincoln Withers, 28. Lloyd White.

St Helens: 1. Paul Wellens, 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 10. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 14. James Roby, 15. Bryn Hargreaves, 16. Tony Puletua, 17. Paul Clough, 18. Kyle Eastmond, 19. Chris Dean, 23. Maurie Fa'asavalu, 28. Matty Ashurst.

Advanced Search