Round 6
St Helens 37 d. Crusaders RL 30

2010 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Crusaders captain wants 80-minute performance
Mon March 15, 2010
Source: www.crusadersrfl.com

Crusaders captain Ryan O'Hara said his side must start competing for the full eighty minutes after giving high-flying St Helens a scare on Friday night.

New signing Gareth Thomas watched from the stands as he saw the North-Wales based outfit go down 37-30 to last year's grand finalists despite a spirited second-half fight back.

Crusaders looked like they were feeling the effects of the quick-turnaround from last Sunday's game against Warrington Wolves after going down 24-6 at half time at the GPW Recruitment Stadium.

But after a half time dressing down from Head Coach Brian Noble, Crusaders took the game to St Helens with tries from Lincoln Withers, Jamie Thackray, Gareth Raynor, Michael Witt and Anthony Blackwood adding to Vince Mellars first half effort.

It was a much-improved performance following last week's 46-12 loss at Warrington. But O'Hara, 28, felt his side left themselves too much to do going into half time.

O'Hara said:

"You can't give any team that kind of a head start, let alone St Helens, one of the best teams in the competition. They had an 18-point head start going into half time and we were never going to peg them back. Although we tried our best you cant give any team in this competition a start like that.

"The first half was very disappointing. We just couldn't stop their roll on or get any dominance in the ruck. They pretty much marched their way up field constantly in that first half which was very disappointing."

The former West Tigers and State of Origin prop revealed a half-time dressing down from Head Coach Brian Noble spurred the Crusaders on to an impressive second half performance, where they outscored St Helens five tries to two.

O'Hara added: "We sat down at half time and Nobby had a few stern words with us.

"We came out in the second half and completed our sets and we matched them set for set. We also started to get more dominant in the ruck. We were a lot better second half but we now have to do this for 80 minutes instead of just playing in patches."

Against Warrington, Crusaders struggled to control the ruck and play-the ball area. However they were much more successful this week in slowing the play-the-ball down, something O'Hara insists the team has been trying to do all season.

"We've been working on that for a while now, but again we do it well in patches but let ourselves down in 5 and 10 minute periods. We tend to get blown away in those periods so we need more of a collective effort to be dominant in the ruck so we can control the game and play it at our speed.

"But we made to many errors, which was very frustrating. They seemed to compound one after the other. If you keep making mistakes like that St Helens will put you to the sword."

Despite the result, there was a lot of encouraging signs for the Crusaders. Centre Tony Martin, drafted into the side as a late replacement for Tommy Lee, made his first appearance of the season following a knee injury. Michael Witt was once again outstanding, having a hand in several of his team's tries.

And O' Hara insists the team will take great encouragement from their second half performance before next Friday's clash against Catalans Dragons at The Racecourse Ground (kick-off 8pm)

He said:

"Not many sides come here and score thirty points. We know if we can get a fair share of the ball we can compete with these teams. We've got some talented players that can score tries, but like I said it's about dominating that ruck and making sure we can hang in their for 80 minutes."

Tickets for next Friday's game against Catalans Dragons, set to be Gareth Thomas' first game in a Crusaders shirt, are available by calling 01978 262129, visiting the club shop or online at www.crusadersrfl.com


Saints survive Crusaders comeback
Sun March 14, 2010
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Gareth Thomas watched a thrilling encounter as Crusaders RL gave St Helens a huge fright before leaving the GPW Recruitment Stadium with their pride intact and their reputation enhanced.

Thomas, who should make his debut for Crusaders in next Friday's home clash against Catalans Dragons, watched on from St Helens' main stand and saw his new team outscored by six tries to five.

Yet Brian Noble's men played some delightful stuff at times and never let their spirits sag, giving Saints several anxious moments with four second-half tries and leaving Thomas with much cause for optimism as he embarks on his new career.

Michael Witt was a prominent figure throughout for Crusaders at scrum-half, but Saints looked a class above the visitors for much of the opening period.

They led in the fifth minute when some slick handling in midfield culminated in Jon Wilkin sending James Roby scampering clear from 10 metres out.

Try number two arrived six minutes later when Roby and Leon Pryce combined effectively to find the outstanding Kyle Eastmond. The England scrum-half showed brilliant footwork to glide past Mark Bryant and cross the line.

Eastmond - deputising for the injured Paul Wellens at full-back - converted both scores and, 12-0 down, Crusaders seemed destined for a long night.

Yet the Welshmen, backed by a small but vociferous following, refused to lie down. They were right back in the match in the 19th minute when centre Vince Mellars grounded a high kick from Witt, who converted the try.

Crusaders continued to probe but St Helens underlined their greater cutting edge again in the 26th minute when Pryce found rookie centre Gary Wheeler and he raced down the left flank before sending Francis Meli in at the corner.

As Crusaders conceded a number of penalties in quick succession, St Helens continued to build up a head of steam and their fourth try arrived in the 36th minute when Eastmond's delightful kick was grounded by Chris Dean.

Eastmond added the conversion to maintain his 100% record with the boot and put Saints firmly in control at the break.

Crusaders took the game to St Helens in the second half and were rewarded in the 46th minute when Withers' rapier-like pass sent the onrushing Jamie Thackray over from close range.

Witt added the extras but Saints hit back immediately and claimed their fifth score when a horrendous defensive lapse allowed Paul Clough to collect possession and saunter over for the simplest of scores.

In the 55th minute Pryce got the try his work-rate deserved as a neat sidestep sent him clear and Eastmond added the extras.

Yet two minutes later Gareth Raynor raced 40 metres to touch down and 10 minutes later Witt went over for their fourth score.

Remarkably, Crusaders crossed for a fifth time with six minutes remaining when wing Anthony Blackwood touched down in the left corner.

Witt converted all of his side's tries and only a late drop-goal from Eastmond eased home nerves as the points went to St Helens but the plaudits to Crusaders.

Fri March 12, 2010
• Tommy Lee out of Saints clash
  
Fri March 12, 2010
• Quick turnaround not a problem insists Peek
  
Thu March 11, 2010
• Crusaders make one change to for Saints visit
  

Advanced Search