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Pre-season finished after a win at our home friendly against Coventry Bears on Saturday (9th February). so now we move into the League 1 games proper.... There will be a Supporters bus travelling to Workington for the first League 1 game of the season... and we want to fill it..so much that we are trying a new pricing structure to encourage you to come and to make sure friends and family take advantage. The more that travel the cheaper the price per place!.... We are playing Workington on Sunday 23rd February, (3pm kick off). We will leave Wrexham from our usual pick up point, The Turf Hotel, Mold Road at 09:15am. We will leave for the return journey 45 minutes after the game. Now the price per person will be a maximum of £22 if 30 people travel, BUT if we get more the price reduces as follows: 32 on bard = £20.20, 34 = £19, 36 =£18, 38 = £17 and 40 people on board = £16. Book now at crufans@gmail.com

North Wales Crusaders are in partnership with Widnes Vikings - call it Dual Reg if you like, but its to our advantage to have training facilities and medical support for our players. We will have a few of their young players basically on a season loan but we are unlikely to have any of the Vikings first string as they will all be needed for their campaign to get out of the Championship.

I'm hoping (and praying) that North Wales Crusaders get themselves into the top 5 - then there is everychance they could win a playoff! Lets hope I haven't jinxed them! Its going to be a very tough season for all clubs. Only 11 home fixtures (after Bradford going up a league and Hemel going into L1 South) against some very competitive teams, but on a reduced income as there are less teams Other than the Challenge Cup, theres the 1895 Cup, which we aren't participating in as the RFL, in their wisdom have give another opportunity to Championship Clubs to have even more games and a chance to play at Wembley - and expect L1 teams to play on Wednesday evenings between league games - thats going to disrupt one or two L1 teams and potentially add to their injury list. I sincerely hope that Keighley can sort out their off-field problems - we have always been made very welcome by their fans when we have visited, a real shame a club with a tremendous history has fallen on hard times. Good luck to all teams in League 1 and we look forward to seeing you at Queensway Stadium during the season.

I try to make every game (home and away) with North Wales Crusaders. But if possible I will be at a few Catalans Dragons each year. Always enjoy the St. Helens v Catalans game but try to get to Salford, Warrington, Leeds and Huddersfield too. This year I'm homing to get to Barcelona (vs. Wigan) and Prepignon (vs. London Broncos)

A great test for 22 playes last Sunday at Swinton. Some shoring up needed in defence - particularly on the left side, which Swinton exploited to their benefit. We got close a couple of times but Swintons defence was well organised andwe didn't quite have enough to get past them. Hopefully the two injured Swinton players make a swift recovery Another tough test this week as we face our partner club Widnes Vikings. I'm sure Anthony Murray will be wanting to improve in a couple of areas but he will get a great test against Widnes this week. Crusaders Supporters bus is running again. Only £10 per place. WE leave from the Turf, Mold Road, Wrexham at 13:15. Book your place at crufans@gmail.com

North Wales Crusaders travel to Haywood Road Swinton for the first of two pre-season friendlies on the road. Kick off is at 3pm The Supporters away travel leaves from the Turf Hotel, Mold Road, Wrexham at 13:00 Cost per place is £12. We will return from Swinton 45 minutes after the end of the game. Why not invest in one of our new woolie hats? keep out the cold and look stylish at the same time! They at available now in the Club shop in Ty Pawb Market Street Wrexham - only £12:50 each

Same choices.... Cru pushed Doncaster really hard at the Keepmoat..we have 3 good wins on the trot, we're building for next season to push for a play-off place. Let's start putting things in place with a win again Donny.

No idea who Ian is but I'm happy to help!! Mark

So would you be happy if a PE firm came in bought SuperLeague, kept all the media rights and promoted just 12 clubs? What the future for anyone outside that? The RFL would have sold the intellectual rights to the game and effectively given up on Chapionship and League 1. By the way, I am NOT a Bradford Bulls fan

An excellent and well observed article by Andrew Chambers. Lets hope the Championship and League 1 Clubs stick together and reject the SL/RFL proposal at the EGM

I've sent a message to the CEO to see if we have any stashed away somewhere. If we have any I will be happy to send 3 out to you. Mark

Two excellent results at Hemel (away) and at home to West Wales Raiders; some great rugby leading to some super tries, both convincing wins but also very pleasing, clean sheets for the defence. I think Coventry will be a much harder prospect. They have targeted us as a winnable game in the past, and have been successful, but we need to win this game as part of the preparation for 2019. We are very unlikely to finish higher than 10s so no improvement on last year, so we need to concentrate on inproving our play against teams close to us. There is Supporters Away Travel available. £14 per person; the bus leaves from outside the Turf, Mold Road at 11:30 Book your place by emailing crufans@gmail.com

I can't remember if we actually produced a programme for the game. I will make enquiries and let you know.

Good win by North Wales Crusaders yesterday in very blustery conditions...kicks bouncing all over the place!! Some good play to set up tries but coach Murray must be even more pleased with the defensive effort. Hemel troubled the try line quite regularly but couldn't get past our defence. It was a very happy bus home. 26 on the Supporters coach plus a few independent travellers and our Directors would have taken our travelling support to over 30. Looking forward to the Welsh Derby on 2nd September.

Bradford, North Wales Crusaders, Oldham, Coventry, Doncaster, York. North Wales need to get a good win on Sunday, then at home against West Wales the following week in preperation for a real battle at Coventry... with Doncaster to follow. We are low on players with a long list of injuries - probably most teams going through that now but really sad to see James Dandy stretchered off last week and needing CT and MRI scan following a head and neck injury against Bradford Bulls.