NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 0 LONDON BRONCOS 134
LYNSEY COLEMAN, Eirias Stadium, Sunday

LONDON set new benchmarks for both the club’s biggest winning margin and their highest number of tries in a match with a staggering victory over North Wales.

The Broncos crossed for 25 tries in a one-sided contest that showcased their attacking prowess from start to finish. The result underlined the gulf between the sides on the day, with London producing a ruthless display that left the Crusaders without a point on the scoresheet.

At the heart of the victory was Brandon Webster-Mansfield, whose five tries showcased a player of the match performance. Operating in a Broncos backline brimming with confidence and creativity, Webster-Mansfield repeatedly found space and punished every opportunity that came his way, crossing in the 21st, 27th, 44th, 46th and 69th minutes to cap a sensational individual performance.

The game’s decisive moment came early. With just ten minutes on the clock, winger Neil Tchamambe burst down the edge to score and extend the Broncos’ lead to 18-0. It was a score that set the tone for what was to come and made the eventual runaway result feel inevitable almost from the outset.

The visitors wasted no time asserting themselves.

Emarly Bitungane opened the scoring before fullback Morea Morea crossed for the first of his four tries. Tchamambe soon added his first, before Dean Hawkins and Finley Glare continued the relentless procession of points.

By the midway point of the first half, the Broncos were already in complete control.

Webster-Mansfield and Ben Hursey-Hord added further tries before Ted Davidson touched down, while Morea completed a first-half hat-trick as London stormed into the break with an unassailable advantage.

Any hope of respite for the Crusaders failed to materialise after the restart.

Webster-Mansfield struck twice in quick succession, Tchamambe completed his hat-trick, and Luke Smith, Gairo Voro, Connor O’Beirne, Sadiq Adebiyi and James Meadows all joined the scoresheet as the Broncos continued to rack up points at an extraordinary rate.

The visitors’ kicking game matched their attacking excellence. Voro landed ten goals from 14 attempts before Meadows took over and converted seven from eleven, helping the Broncos pass the century mark and continue towards their historic final tally.

To their credit, the Crusaders continued to battle throughout the contest despite the overwhelming scoreline but ultimately they were never really in the game. Forward Connor Terrill was recognised as the home side’s Man of the Match after a committed effort in difficult circumstances. 

For the Broncos, however, this was a day that will be remembered long into the future as their unbeaten league season continues. A semi-final in the 1895 Cup against Midlands is their next target.

GAMESTAR: Scoring five of the 25 tries in the match, Brand Webster-Mansfield put himself at the head of the pack with a dominant performance in a fierce attacking side. 

GAMEBREAKER: A break from Neil Tchamambe down the edge to put Crusaders behind by 18 within ten minutes, making the runaway scoreline look inevitable from the outset. 

MATCHFACTS

CRUSADERS
1 Will Lever
2 Jason Kay
3 Ryan Lockett
4 Lewis Holgate
5 Abdullah Balogun
6 Ben Fisher
7 Benjamin O’Connell
8 Kieran Moran
9 Will Fernley
10 Connor Terrill
11 Will McCardle
12 Charlie Tetley
13 Dom Horn
Subs (all used)
14 Jamie Billsborough
15 Harry Coleman
16 Matt Bailey
17 Eoin Bowie

BRONCOS
1 Morea Morea
26 Neil Tchamambe
20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield
27 Ted Davidson
2 Elliot Wallis
23 Gairo Voro
7 Dean Hawkins
8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
14 Finley Glare
10 Emarly Bitungane
11 Luke Smith
19 Ben Hursey
13 Siliva Havili
Subs (all used)
6 Connor O’Beirne
15 Sadiq Adebiyi
17 Marcus Stock
18 James Meadows

Tries: Bitungane (1), Morea (5, 29, 37, 67), Tchamambe (10, 48, 65, 79), Hawkins (15), Glare (18), Webster-Mansfield (21, 27, 44, 46, 69), Hursey (23), Davidson (32), Smith (52, 75), Voro (55, 59), O’Beirne (58), Adebiyi (63), Meadows (72)
Goals: Voro 10/14, Meadows 7/11

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-24, 0-30, 0-36, 0-40, 0-46, 0-52, 0-56, 0-60; 0-66, 0-72, 0-76, 0-82, 0-88, 0-94, 0-100, 0-106, 0-110, 0-114; 0-118, 0-124, 0-130, 0-134

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Crusaders: Connor Terrill; Broncos: Brandon Webster-Mansfield

Penalty count: 1-5
Half-time: 0-60
Referee: Freddie Lincoln