Round 23
Les Catalans Dragons 34 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

Catalans too good for Celtic
Mon August 3, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Catalans Dragons moved within two points of the engage Super League play-off places with a convincing seven-try win over Celtic Crusaders.

Seven different players scored tries for the French side and the result was rarely in doubt from the moment Dimitri Pelo claimed the first of them after 10 minutes in Perpignan.

Casey McGuire, Clint Greenshields, Greg Bird and Kane Bentley followed him over to make it 26-0 at the break while Jason Croker and Steven Bell touched down in the second half.

Thomas Bosc was able to add only three conversions but the Crusaders were overpowered as they went down to a 23rd league defeat of the season.

The Crusaders, already without a host of players through injury, suffered a further blow before kick-off as Chris Beasley failed a fitness test.

Peter Lupton, after playing in pain for six weeks, also revealed beforehand that the game would be his last before season-ending knee surgery.

The hosts were soon into their stride as Pelo found his way to the line and McGuire added a second try six minutes later.

Lupton was stopped just short as the Crusaders tried to respond but Catalans virtually made the game safe with three tries in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Greenshields went over under the posts, captain Bird claimed another soon after the kick-off and Bentley touched down just before the hooter.

The Dragons further stamped their authority on the game 11 minutes after the restart as Croker ran through on the overlap for a try in the corner.

Jean-Philippe Baile should have added another but knocked on attempting to touch down.

Try-saving tackles by Steve Tyrer and Mark Lennon managed to limit further damage but Bell ran over from a scrum with four minutes remaining to complete the rout.


Catalans Dragons v Celtic Crusaders team news
Fri July 31, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

Celtic Crusaders have been boosted for their trip to France to face Catalans Dragons this Saturday by the return of Jason Chan and Marshall Chalk from injury.

Both players missed last week's game at home to Bradford Bulls with back and knee injuries respectively and are looking forward to taking the field against Catalans Dragons in Perpignan this Saturday.

Chan and Chalk have been revelations in the side since coming over from Australia at the start of the year. Chan, a Papua New Guinean international has secured a regular place in the starting line-up after a number of good performances while Chalk, although plagued by injury which included a broken jaw that left him on the sidelines for three months, has also been one of the season's stars.

Their returns are very welcome as the Crusaders have been hit by a number of injuries this week, which is just in addition to Aled James, Tony Duggan and Darren Mapp, who are on the long term injury list. Mapp and James are out for the season but Duggan hopes to be fit for the Crusaders' last two games in September.

Paul Ballard, who has been starring at Championship side Whitehaven on a loan spell, picked up an ankle injury in their win over Doncaster last week.

Mark Dalle Cort will lose his 2009 ever present tag after picking up a back injury. He has been referred for specialist treatment.

Josh Hannay was brought back into the team last week for the visit of Bradford Bulls but has re-injured his shoulder injury and can't be risked this week.

Damien Quinn has injuries to both his foot and groin and was due to have an orthopaedic review this Thursday.

Jace Van Dijk has had a reoccurrence of his ankle injury and has been unable to train all week. According to Crusaders physio Ben Stirling, Van Dijk will need surgery at the end of the season.

In contrast, Catalans Dragons, who need to win if they always want to be in with a chance of qualifying for the play-offs, can count on an almost completely fit squad. They have reinstated Kane Bentley and Sebastien Martins to replace Shane Perry and David Ferriol.

Crusaders coach John Dixon said: "There is a severe injury crisis at our club right now and as we have a small squad, we have to manage the injury toll as best we can. We felt that taking these five players to France when they are all attempting to recover from injuries would be counterproductive. We have a 15-day break between matches due to the Challenge Cup semi-finals being on August 8th so we felt that this extra time out would help them.

"It also gives us a chance to name Lloyd White in the squad for only his second appearance. He impressed everyone when he made his debut at St Helens a few weeks ago and I'm pleased that he's being given a chance to shine in Perpignan. Geraint Davies will also get a chance to appear and I'm pleased to say that Ashley Bateman, who has done so well in our reserves over the last two years, has been named in the 19-man squad for the first time.

"Players like Lloyd, Geraint and Ashley are the future of this club and Welsh Rugby League. To further their development, our under 18 side is also travelling to France and playing against Catalans' under 18 side in the curtain raiser. This will be an enormous test for them and one that I'm sure that they're all looking forward to."

It is only the third game for Catalans' under 18 side, who lost their the first two matches, at St Helens 28-22 and at Warrington Wolves 34-12. Their clash against the Crusaders will be their first ever game on home turf.

Kick-off at the Stade Gilbert Brutus is 8pm BST (9pm CET) and the match can be officially viewed online via Orange Sport at http://team.sports.orange.fr/videos/orange-sports-tv/lives/43.php. The under 18 game kicks off at 6.45pm CET.

Celtic Crusaders' reserves are also struggling with selection worries as they prepare for their game against Hull FC in Maesteg this Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm). Tom Burnell, Chris Vitalini and Jamie Tibbs are all injured while Mark Wool and Rhys Fenton are absent due to Great Britain under 18 commitments.

Coach Dan Clements is also unable to bring in Crusaders under 18 players in as they are already booked to go to France. He has selected some of the best Welsh Conference players to fill the gaps.

CRUSADERS (from): 31 Ashley Bateman, 21 Chris Beasley, 5 Anthony Blackwood, 10 Mark Bryant, 23 Neil Budworth, 13 Marshall Chalk, 19 Jason Chan, 25 Geraint Davies, 2 Luke Dyer, 16 Ben Flower, 17 Jordan James, 18 Mark Lennon, 15 Peter Lupton, 8 Ryan O'Hara, 14 Matty Smith, 22 Ste Tyrer, 20 David Tangata Toa, 27 Lloyd White, 9 Lincoln Withers.

CATALANS (from): 15 Jean-Phillipe Baile, 3 Steve Bell, 20 Kane Bentley, 26 Greg Bird, 6 Thomas Bosc, 14 Dane Carlaw, 24 Remi Casty, 12 Jason Croker, 16 Olivier Elima, 22 Jamal Fakir, 10 Jerome Guisset, 17 Cyrille Gossard, 1 Clint Greenshields, 27 Sebastien Martins, 9 Casey McGuire, 4 Adam Mogg, 13 Gregory Mounis, 5 Dimitri Pelo, 23 Jason Ryles.

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