Round 27
Castleford Tigers 35 d. Celtic Crusaders 22

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

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

Sherwin guides Tigers to second half victory
Mon September 14, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Castleford Tigers turned in a below-par performance as Celtic Crusaders brought down the curtain on an unhappy debut Super League season with a brave performance.

The Welsh club's display summed up their season, promising at times but lacking in real quality, while the manner of Castleford's win should prove a timely wake-up call ahead of the play-offs.

A nip and tuck first period saw Lloyd White and Lincoln Withers (2) cross for the Crusaders, while Kirk Dixon, Mitchell Sargent and Michael Wainwright all went over for Castleford - Joe Westerman's poor kicking handing the visitors a half-time lead.

Big Ryan O'Hara added a converted score just after the break, but Richard Owen got the hosts back in it before a Michael Shenton double and late Craig Huby score settled the fixture.

The visitors took at shock lead in the seventh minute with prop O'Hara giving them the momentum with a bulldozing run.

Scrum-half Matt Smith put in a high, hanging kick, the Tigers knocked on and White eventually went in for a try in the corner with Ash Bateman laying it on for him.

Steve Tyrer missed a difficult conversion before the home side's response came in the 16th minute as they worked the ball wide following some powerful forward play.

Stand-off Rangi Chase took the ball on in open play and combined with Ryan McGoldrick to send Dixon racing down the touchline for a score.

Westerman failed to add the extras but just four minutes later they crossed again when Brent Sherwin popped the ball up for Sargent to take at speed and slice through the Crusaders defence to score.

But Crusaders showed real fighting spirit and Withers reacted well to a Smith grubber in the 23rd minute and scooped the ball from the surface before dropping over the line. Tyrer was on target this time with the boot.

And another came in 25th minute when Ben Flower went racing through a gaping hole and unselfishly passed it to Withers who raced between the sticks unopposed.

Again Tyrer tagged on the extras but the hosts reduced the gap to two points three minutes later after Brett Ferres took a huge crash ball before fast hands saw Wainwright squeeze over.

Just moments into the second half O'Hara took a nice inside pass and went in for Crusaders' fourth score which left Tyrer a simple conversion right in front of the posts.

Owen scored for the Tigers in the 45th minute after Huby floated a great pass on to the replacement.

Minutes later they crossed again, Chase made the initial half break before the ball was worked wide and centre Shenton cantered over in the corner. Westerman was wide with the conversion to give himself figures of four from five.

Cas took the lead for first time in the second period when Shenton helped himself to his second of the afternoon in the 61st minute when a McGoldrick kick was knocked down for him. A change of kicker brought about a change of fortune as Dixon nailed the conversion.

Sherwin added a drop goal and Huby piled over at the death to put the game beyond doubt as the Crusaders inherited the wooden spoon from the vastly improved Tigers.


Celtic fall short in determined effort to send coach out a winner
Mon September 14, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

Celtic Crusaders played arguably their most determined performance of the season as they fought hard to try and see John Dixon off with a win in their final game of 2009.

It was a game that was slightly reminiscent of Wales' performance against Australia in 2000 where for an hour the challengers ran on pure adrenalin but in the end the technically better team secured the victory.

Played in an electric atmosphere, the game was one of the most entertaining that Crusaders have been in all season even if the rugby itself wasn't technically perfect.

This game completed the Crusaders' grand tour of all the professional rugby league grounds in England. The only teams that we haven't played in a league match in four years are Rochdale and Doncaster but Challenge Cup and Northern Rail Cup games respectively at their stadiums ensured the set.

The Crusaders were denied an early try due to a forward pass. Elliot Kear and Lloyd White were involved setting up Steve Tyrer for a clear run at the line until the referee halted proceedings.

Tigers were denied at the other end after Kear forced Joe Westerman to drop the ball as the loose forward dived for the line. Another try saving tackle from the youngster.

Crusaders took a deserved lead on 11 minutes. Matty Smith laid the ball off to Mark Lennon who played it inside to Lloyd White who ran over for his first ever first team try. Steve Tyrer missed the kick.

Cas equalised eight minutes later as two penalties helped them make their way upfield. In the end it was Ryan McGoldrick who set up Kirk Dixon to go over in the corner. Westerman failed to convert.

Four minutes later, they took the lead. Miscommunication from Anthony Blackwood and Ashley Bateman caused a poor Tigers penalty to find touch. From the final play in the resulting set, McGoldrick released Mitchell Sargent to score under the sticks. Westerman converted to make the score 10-4.

The Crusaders levelled from their next set. Matty Smith kicked a grubber through and Lincoln Withers sprinted to meet the ball. Tyrer kicked the easy goal - the 500th in Crusaders' history.

From kick-off, Crusaders scored again. Ben Flower broke through the pack and Withers was in acres of space to score his second in the space of three minutes. Tyrer converted.

However a poor error from kick-off let Tigers back in again. The Crusaders froze as the ball bounced over the dead ball line from kick-off. Crusaders were forced to drop out and from the resulting set, Michael Wainwright scored in the corner. Westerman missed the kick and Crusaders were still two points ahead.

Michael Shenton was sinbinned just before the interval and Crusaders almost took advantage of the extra man straight away. Jason Chan was stopped short and from the next tackle, Smith looked to have scored but was judged to have dropped the ball as he dived for the line.

Brent Sherwin was also stopped in his tracks at the other end just before the hooter went as Crusaders pressure forced him to drop the ball. 14-16 at half-time.

An unusual substitution occurred at half-time when referee James Child was told to run the line following a controversial first half performance, that received a lot of backlash from the home supporters.

Crusaders were first on the board in the second half as Ryan O'Hara scored under the posts with Tyrer easily converted.

But it was long before Cas were back on the scoresheet. Following an interception, Brett Ferres set up Richard Owen in the corner. Westerman missed the kick.

They levelled things with a try in exactly the same place with Michael Shenton the man touching down on this occasion. Again Westerman, who hadn't kicked a goal from the touchline all match, couldn't land the extras.

Mark Bryant thought he'd given Crusaders the lead back on the hour but his score under the sticks was ruled out due to a forward pass.

Castleford took advantage of their good fortune and worked their way upfield to regain the lead. McGoldrick created the try with a neat chip, Ferres passed to Shenton who was unmarked for a try. Dixon converted to make the score 28-22.

A Sherwin field-goal minutes later gave the home side breathing space.

Crusaders had their chances to get back into the game. O'Hara knocked on as he was near to the line while Kear got to within ten metres but play was taken back for a forward pass.

It was a very spirited performance from the Crusaders, arguably the best in a number of weeks, but in the end the home side had just about enough to hold on for an uninspiring victory. The win was sealed with a try in the final minute as Craig Huby scored under the sticks with Dixon's conversion completing the scoring.

Castleford: 23 Ryan McGoldrick, 2 Kirk Dixon, 3 Michael Shenton, 4 James Evans, 5 Michael Wainwright, 6 Rangi Chase, 7 Brent Sherwin, 8 Mitchell Sargent, 14 Stuart Jones, 15 Liam Higgins, 11 Brett Ferres, 12 Ryan Clayton, 13 Joe Westerman. Subs: 10 Craig Huby, 16 Chris Feather, 19 Kirk Netherton, 1 Richard Owen.

Tries: Dixon (19), Sargent (23), Wainwright (32), Owen (45), Shenton (49, 62), Huby (79)
Goals: Westerman 1/5, Dixon 2/2
Field-goals: Sherwin

Crusaders: 31 Elliot Kear, 32 Ashley Bateman, 5 Anthony Blackwood, 22 Steve Tyrer, 18 Mark Lennon, 9 Lincoln Withers, 14 Matty Smith, 8 Ryan O'Hara, 23 Neil Budworth, 10 Mark Bryant, 17 Jordan James, 19 Jason Chan, 27 Lloyd White. Subs: 16 Ben Flower, 20 David Tangata-Toa, 25 Geraint Rhys Davies, 30 Lewis Mills.

Tries: White (11), Withers (27, 29), O'Hara (42)
Goals: Tyrer 3/4

Sun September 13, 2009
• Celtic looking for new Super League coach
  
Sat September 12, 2009
• Castleford v Crusaders team news
  

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