NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 20 DEWSBURY RAMS 6
IAN GOLDEN, Stadiwm CSM, Sunday

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS were made to fight for the win that cemented their position at the top of the table.

In a match split into quarters due to the intense heat, the Crusaders were very much on top for the first 20 minutes and it looked like they were cruising to an easy win, but the remaining hour was anything but simple for them.

After the opening sets came the first major incident of the game when the Crusaders’ Lloyd Roby was upended with a high tackle, but no card was shown. Roby then nearly scored from the set following the penalty but Olly Davies was stopped just short of the line.

Crusaders then won a scrum 20 metres out, which led to Pat Ah Van scoring the opening try, dotting down in the corner, too far out for Jamie Dallimore to convert.

The score was doubled on 16 minutes when Dallimore set up Roby who ran through a gap to score. This time Dallimore slotted home the conversion and the Crusaders were 10-0 up with less than a quarter of the game gone.

And soon came try number three when Chris Barratt found it far too easy to run through the middle and slipped the ball to Davies, who placed the ball under the sticks. Dallimore converted to make the score on 16-0 before the teams took their first-half drinks break.

There could have been more Crusaders tries after that, but Dewsbury’s defence was standing firm. Liam Cooper was held up over the line and Dallimore had two dangerous kicks collected by Liam Copland and Joe Summers.

It took until just before half-time for Dewsbury to get on the board when a fine passing move ended in Copland scoring in the corner. Jacob Hookem converted well to pull the interval score back to 16-6.

The Rams’ confidence was rising and they had the better of the early stages of the second half, trying to get past that Crusaders’ defence for a second time. 

But they didn’t have much success and neither did the Crusaders. Even after winning a goal-line drop-out, the home side couldn’t get over, with Barrett held close to the line.

From a penalty, Dewsbury attacked again, and again they were denied as Tom Delaney was bundled into touch as he was close to the line.

And after the Rams won a scrum and then a penalty, they had a set of six starting from the Crusaders’ ten-metre line, but they were forced into an error and another chance was lost.

With no further score at the hour mark, where another drinks break was taken, the pressure was building on both sides. 

And it was the home side now doing a lot of the pressing. Josh Eaves was held up over the line, while Jordy Gibson’s kick was collected by Keenen Tomlinson, before he was pushed over the line by a trio from the home side, leading to a goal-line drop-out.

Time was running out for Dewsbury. Hookem, who had been having a good game, knocked on when tackled 30 metres out. 

And with four minutes remaining, the Crusaders finally sealed the win. It was a soft but accurate grubber kick from Gibson, just enough for Sam Wilde to leap on and score. Dallimore’s conversion attempt hit the post.

Brookes nearly added a try in the last second of the game, but the ball slipped from his hands as he went for the line as the hooter blew.

GAMESTAR: Chris Barratt worked hard for the 70 minutes he was on, tackling well and setting up a try. 

GAMEBREAKER: Until Sam Wilde scored with four minutes to go, it was still anyone’s game.

MATCHFACTS
CRUSADERS
1 Lloyd Roby
2 Jack Holmes
3 Kieran Taylor
5 Pat Ah Van
21 Ollie Brookes
22 Jamie Dallimore
7 Jordy Gibson
8 Jack Houghton
14 Joe Baldwin
10 Chris Barratt
12 Cole Oakley
11 Sam Wilde
13 Olly Davies
Subs (all used)
19 Josh Eaves
18 Liam Cooper
32 Ant Walker
23 Paddy Jones

Tries: Ah Van (9), Roby (16), Davies (21), Wilde (76)
Goals: Dallimore 2/4

RAMS
30 Craig McShane
27 Tom Delaney
3 Caelum Jordan
4 George Senior
22 Liam Copland
6 Dan Coates
7 Jacob Hookem
20 Harvey Roberts
31 Jack McShane
36 Jamie Gill
15 Keenen Tomlinson
12 Matt Garside
13 Dec Tomlinson
Subs (all used)
26 Paul Sykes
11 Joe Summers
8 Jackson Walker
19 Jack Briggs

Tries: Copland (40)
Goals: Hookem 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 16-6; 20-6

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Crusaders: Chris Barratt; Rams: Paul Sykes

Penalty count: 4-4
Half-time: 16-6
Referee: Adam Williams
Attendance: 338