Jace VAN-DIJK [
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Mon April 13, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.comCeltic Crusaders could have Jace Van Dijk, Mark Bryant and Darren Mapp back for the Easter Monday encounter with Harlequins at the Brewery Field on Monday (kick-off 3pm).
Mapp has missed the last two games after picking up an injury late in the defeat at Warrington Wolves two weeks ago while Bryant missed Friday's match after his wife went into labour.
Van Dijk's return, his first game for eight weeks, is a welcome one after the Crusaders went into the last two games without a recognised scrum-half with Matty Smith and Mark Lennon still on the injury list.
The trio are named in a 19-man squad with Lincoln Withers dropping out after failing a fitness test on Sunday.
The Crusaders have faced the Quins twice in their history. They matched up against the Londoner's under 21 squad in their first ever game drawing 22-22 and the two side's first teams met in another friendly in 2008, again at the Brewery Field with the Crusaders winning 28-6.
Harlequins have added Danny Orr, Chad Robinson and Danny Ward to their squad. Just Joe Mbu misses out from the team that lost to Catalans Dragons on Thursday.
Crusaders squad: Chris Beasley, Anthony Blackwood, Mark Bryant, Neil Budworth, Marshall Chalk, Jason Chan, Mark Dalle Cort, Luke Dyer, Ben Flower, Josh Hannay, Aled James, Jordan James, Peter Lupton, Darren Mapp, Ryan O'Hara, Adam Peek, Damien Quinn, David Tangata Toa, Jace Van Dijk.
Harlequins Squad: Tony Clubb, Luke Dorn, Luke Gale, Matt Gardner, Jason Golden, Gareth Haggerty, Daniel Heckenburg, David Howell, Ben Kaye, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Chris Melling, Danny Orr, Robert Purdham, Chad Randall, Chad Robinson, Will Sharp, Karl Temata, Danny Ward, Luke Williamson.
The club are planning a day to remember for their Easter Monday engage Super League match at home to Harlequins on Monday 13th April (kick-off 3pm).
In CLUB RUGBY DAY, all local rugby clubs (both codes) have been given the opportunity to have two free tickets and an invitation to make some cashback by selling further tickets to raise money for their club. The Crusaders have cordially requested that the two free ticket holders wear their club's playing shirt.
One member from each club is also eligible to enter "The Steeden Kicking Challenge" which will be held before the game and at half-time.
Prizes for the best goalkicker include match balls and a training session at their club's home ground taken by Celtic Crusaders' first team coaches.
One of Welsh rugby's oldest rivalries will take to a new dimension at the Brewery Field in Bridgend on Easter Monday.
Treherbert RFC and Treorchy RFC, local rivals in rugby union for over 120 years, are two of at least 13 rugby clubs taking part in the Steeden Kicking Challenge before Celtic Crusaders' engage Super League match against Harlequins (kick-off 3pm).
Both clubs have had long associations with rugby league. Treherbert switched to rugby league in the early part of the 20th century before disbanding and going back to the 15-man game after financial troubles while Treorchy can claim that they hosted John Dixon's first ever game in Wales. He was coach to Queensland Students when they took on Wales Students in 2001, and as it was a side coached by John Dixon, Queensland came away with the victory.
But now, it's a coaching session with John Dixon that's at stake for these two clubs. That prize, along with a bunch of Steeden rugby balls, is the grand prize for the team's goal-kicker who's the most accurate on Monday afternoon.
Chairman of Treorchy RFC, Andrew Jones, is looking forward to the challenge.
"We'd love to win the prize," he said. "We always welcome any new ways of encouraging the players to perform at a higher level and see the game in a different light with tactics and styles, so a coaching session from John Dixon and his staff could mean a lot to the club.
"The lad who's kicking for us, Celyn Ashton, is on his day is as good as anyone outside of regional rugby. It'll take a lot to beat him on his day and he's one of many reasons why we could be going up to the WRU Division Two next season.
"It'll be good to go up against Treherbert again. We've not played them in the last couple of seasons as they've moved up the leagues. It used to be district leagues but it's not quite the same now we have promotion and relegation. But prior to that, the rivalry was immense. Twenty odd years ago we used to play them every year on Christmas Day and Boxing Day - one game at each ground. You can't imagine that these days, especially the modern woman allowing their men to do that."
Other teams who are taking part include Swansea-based rivals, Ystradgynlais, Pontarddulais and Gorseinon rugby union clubs with competitors also due to take part from Birmingham Bulldogs, Blackwood Bulldogs, Bridgend Blue Bulls, Cardiff Demons, Derby City, Dinefwr Sharks, Gloucestershire University and Newport Titans rugby league clubs.
More clubs are expected to be confirmed before Monday.
Wed April 8, 2009
Source: www.crusadersrfl.comCeltic Crusaders' skipper Jace Van Dijk is hoping to be fit to return to the side for Easter Weekend as the Crusaders face two engage Super League games in the space of four days.
He says that he is targeting either the Huddersfield Giants game away on Good Friday (kick-off 7.30pm) or the home match against Harlequins at the Brewery Field on Easter Monday (kick-off 3pm).
"I'm hoping to be back at least for the Harlequins game at the Brewery Field on Easter Monday if not before," he said. "Both of the games will be tough.
"Huddersfield are going really well this year. Nathan Brown has made them into a fine attacking side and they seem to have options all over the field. Friday night will definitely be a tough game as Huddersfield are one of the top of the table teams right now.
"Harlequins on Easter Monday will be just as hard though. Super League is a lot more even than it's ever been now. Huddersfield are near the top and Harlequins are pushing for a place amongst the top sides too. You've got a lot of teams who have been mid-table over the last few years that are now competing well with Leeds and St Helens. We hope to be amongst them very soon.
"It has been a tough start for us. We're competing for 80 minutes at a higher intensity. Competing for a full game is what counts in Super League. Maybe in the National Leagues you could have dropped off for five minutes but if you do that in Super League you get punished. Sticking in there for 80 minutes is what we've founded toughest so far but we're getting there. It won't be long before we get our first win."
Eorl Crabtree, the nephew of the late wrestler Big Daddy, is Huddersfield's only major doubt for Friday night but it's not through injury. The six foot six 18 stone prop facing a charge of striking with his knees during the Giants' 42-16 win at Harlequins last week and goes before a disciplinary committee this week.
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 2009 engage English Super League
North Wales Crusaders
19 games; 1 tries, 1 goals, 6 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Feb 09] L 16-28 v Salford City (A). [HB]
[View] Round 2 [21 Feb 09] L 20-28 v Hull FC (H). [HB]
[View] Round 3 [06 Feb 09] L 6-28 v Leeds (A). [HB]
[View] Round 6 [30 Mar 09] L 6-50 v Wakefield (H). [HB]
[View] Round 9 [13 Apr 09] L 18-40 v Harlequins (H). [HB]
[View] Round 10 [19 Apr 09] L 10-44 v Wigan (A). [HB] 2 Pts; 1g
[View] Round 11 [26 Apr 09] L 22-34 v Castleford (H). [HB]
[View] Round 12 [03 May 09] L 16-40 v Huddersfield. [HB]
[View] Round 13 [17 May 09] W 30-24 v Bradford (A). [HB]
[View] Round 14 [23 May 09] L 18-30 v Les Catalans (H). [HB]
[View] Round 15 [06 Jun 09] L 6-26 v Harlequins (A). [HB]
[View] Round 16 [13 Jun 09] W 22-16 v Wigan (H). [HB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [20 Jun 09] L 18-32 v Hull KR (H). [HB]
[View] Round 18 [26 Jun 09] L 0-30 v St Helens (A). [HB]
[View] Round 19 [04 Jul 09] L 6-22 v Warrington (H). [HB]
[View] Round 20 [11 Jul 09] W 25-12 v Salford City (H). [HB]
[View] Round 21 [17 Jul 09] L 6-22 v Hull FC (A). [HB]
[View] Round 22 [25 Jul 09] L 12-34 v Bradford (H). [HB]
[View] Round 24 [16 Aug 09] L 12-46 v Wakefield (A). [HB]
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Van-Dijk, Jace
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