Round 24
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 46 d. Celtic Crusaders 12

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

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

Wakefield snare important win in bid for play-off place
Mon August 17, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Wakefield Wildcats grabbed two more precious points in their bid to cement an engage Super League play-off place at the Hearwell Stadium.

Both the Wildcats and Celtic Crusaders went into today's clash following a rest due to last week's Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-finals, but it was the hosts who looked the fresher.

Luke George (2), Sean Gleeson, Danny Brough, James Stosic, Tevita Leo-Latu (2) and Jason Demetriou all crossed for the Wildcats with Brough, who was sent off late in the game, managing to convert seven of his side's eight scores for a convincing win.

Wakefield coach John Kear included George and Kyle Bibb in his squad after George recovered from an eye injury and Bibb ended his loan spell at Hull KR.

Damien Quinn (foot) was not ready to return but Mark Dalle Cort, Jace Van Dijk and Josh Hannay all returned for the Crusaders.

After going close through Michael Korkidas early on, it was just a matter of time until the opening score arrived and it was right wing George, who went over with 11 minutes on the clock.

Stand-off Sam Obst made the initial half break, taking on his opposite number Matt Smith from the play-the-ball.

Quick out of dummy half Brad Drew combined with Brough to find George. He did well to finish, stooping in advance to avoid a last-ditch tackle in the corner.

Brough tagged on the extras before the hosts posted a second score in the 14th minute - again down the right-hand channel.

Drew took the ball away from the centre and managed to find Gleeson with a floated pass. There was no stopping the centre as he forced his way over from close range.

Brough was off target with the conversion this time but deservedly got his name on the score-sheet in the 23rd minute when he intercepted a misplaced pass from Crusaders prop Mark Bryant.

The Wildcats scrum-half needed no second invitation and raced 40 metres to touch down under the posts, passing the injured Hannay, who could do nothing as he limped off the field, on his way.

Brough tagged on extras but Wakefield's lead grew to 22 points in the 32nd minute.

Ryan Atkins and Scott Grix began to throw the ball around more and as they examined the Crusaders defence, Obst took two men out of the game and slipped James Stosic through with a well-timed short pass.

Just three minutes after the interval Tevita Leo-Latu bulldozed his way over following a good spell from the Wakefield pack.

The ball went down the short side and replacement Leo-Latu finished well, while Brough continued his good form with the boot.

The Wildcats' sixth score of the afternoon came in the 53rd minute when a superb break from Brough resulted in Demetriou crossing and Brough converting.

Brough was yellow-carded during a spell which saw the Crusaders improve considerably as they went about trying to limit the scoreline.

A Van Dijk break saw Dalle Cort race 35 metres for the try line just after the hour mark for the Crusaders' first.

Leo-Latu helped himself to his second of the afternoon 10 minutes before the final hooter when he ran a good line and Brough found him from the play-the-ball, while George crossed again following a good pass from Richard Moore.

Brough converted both, before he was dismissed for dissent, while Steven Tyrer scored a late converted try for the visitors.


Celtic team news v Wakefield
Sat August 15, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

Celtic Crusaders' utility man Damien Quinn is facing something that he's never experience before in his four-year spell at the Welsh club - a fair length of time out of the side through injury.

Quinn still hasn't recovered from a foot injury, one of two ailments that kept him out of Crusaders' last match, a defeat at Catalans Dragons two weeks ago.

However the man who has played more times and scored more points than any other Crusaders player, hopes to be back on the field for the match against Leeds Rhinos in Newport on Saturday 22nd August.

"I really do want to play against Leeds Rhinos," said Quinn. "I've enjoyed playing against them twice in the last two seasons and I'd like to be fit again to play them."

Sunday's match away to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (kick-off 3.30pm) will be the first time that he has missed two matches in a row through injury. With 58 tries and 190 goals, totalling 612 points, in 112 appearances, Quinn, who will be leaving for French Elite side Lezignan at the season, wants to leave Wales on a high.

"I'm seeing a specialist next week," Quinn said. "I hope that I will be back for the Leeds game but I'll find out more next week. If not, I should definitely be back for the last two games in September as I'd have had well over a month's rest then."

Tony Duggan could also be back for Crusaders' last home game of the season in September. But for now, he, along with Peter Lupton, Adam Peek, Darren Mapp, Aled James and Lincoln Withers remain on the injury list with Lupton, Mapp and James out for the season.

However the Crusaders are still able to name a strong squad for the Wakefield trip. Mark Dalle Cort, Jace Van Dijk, Josh Hannay and Chris Beasley could all potentially return after pulling out injured for the Catalans game, the latter in a fitness test at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Crusaders (from): 18 Mark Lennon, 2 Luke Dyer, 3 Josh Hannay, 4 Mark Dalle Cort, 22 Ste Tyrer, 5 Anthony Blackwood, 27 Lloyd White, 14 Matty Smith, 7 Jace Van Dijk, 8 Ryan O'Hara, 10 Mark Bryant, 13 Marshall Chalk, 19 Jason Chan, 17 Jordan James, 23 Neil Budworth, 16 Ben Flower, 20 David Tangata Toa, 21 Chris Beasley, 25 Geraint Davies.

Wakefield squad and team news to follow.

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