Crusaders 82 Swinton 4 - Match Review

By Ian Golden
April 29 2007

Match review from the Crusaders game in the Co-operative National League Two in which the Celtic Crusaders won 82 - 4 against Swinton Lions at the Brewery Field.

CELTIC CRUSADERS 82 SWINTON LIONS 4

By Ian Golden at Brewery Field - http://www.crusadersrl.com

Celtic Crusaders cantered to a club record 82-4 victory over promotion rivals Swinton Lions at the Brewery Field on Saturday evening to consolidate their position at the top of Co-operative National League Two.

It was the Crusaders’ record margin of victory and also the record number of points that they have ever scored in a game as the Lions failed to leave their off-field financial problems in the dressing room.

The Crusaders well and truly tamed the Lions running in 15 tries. Tackling was Swinton’s major problem – they didn’t often a hand on the skilful Welsh side – while they hardly troubled the Crusaders’ back-line.

“I hope we put on another show like this on Friday night when we’re live on Sky,” said Crusaders’ Operations Manager Gerald McCarthy as he looked forward to the Welsh Rugby League centenary match against Oldham at the Brewery Field. “All the lads were outstanding today.”

Last year when Swinton knocked Celtic Crusaders out of the play-offs at the Brewery Field with a golden point drop goal, their coach Paul Kidd said they he felt like Rocky Balboa as the “knock-out” was so dramatic. This year, his players must have felt like they’d gone 15 rounds with the famous fictional fighter, such was the extent of the beating they received.

Crusaders took the lead after just four minutes. Pressure caused Marlon Billy to mishandle and from the scrum, Mark Dalle Cort made a superb 40-metre run dodging the Lions defence to ground. Damien Quinn converted.

Rob Toshack barged through from the first set after kick-off to put the Welsh 10-0 up but Quinn’s kick hit the post.

The match was over as a contest before the quarter-hour. Dalle Cort fed Terry Martin to score on ten minutes while Tony Duggan scored his 14th try of the season under the sticks four minutes later. Quinn converted both to make the score 22-0.

There was almost a fifth try on 20 minutes but Darren Mapp was just short of the line. However Quinn, April’s NL2 player of the month, weaved his way through on 26 to score under the sticks, converting it himself.

Chris Beasley had a try disallowed on the half-hour after receiving a Jace van Dijk forward pass but Quinn eventually scored the Crusaders’ sixth try two minutes before half-time, once again landing the easy kick himself. Not to be outdone, Craig Richards sprinted in for Crusaders’ seventh just on the half-time hooter.

Both Crusaders’ players and fans enjoyed themselves in the second half as the tries continued. The singing of “last year was a fluke” went ringing around the ground when Richards went over for his second try of the match just eight minutes after the interval. Quinn converted.

“Easy easy” was the chant three minutes later when Quinn ran over for his hat-trick converting it himself.

Swinton finally got on the board on 55 minutes when Bruce Johnson dived over for a try. Lee Marsh’s conversion attempt hit the post.

Normality was resumed on 63 minutes when Duggan ran in for his second try with Quinn adding his eighth goal of the evening, while Dalle Cort went over for his second three minutes later.

Duggan got his hat-trick with ten minutes remaining with Quinn kicking the extras.

Anthony Blackwood added another with six minutes remaining while Van Dijk scored two minutes later with Quinn converting again.

Quinn scored his fourth and Crusaders’ 15th try of night just before the hooter to wrap things up and give himself a personal tally of 38-points for the evening.

“I knew we were going to put in a good performance today but I didn’t think we’d be that good,” said Quinn. “We’ve had a few good wins already but this was our first real test in the league today as Swinton were the side who knocked us out of the play-offs last season. We’ve trained really hard for this game and we’re pleased to come away with a win.”

CELTIC CRUSADERS
1. Tony Duggan
2. Richard Johnston
3. Anthony Blackwood
4. Mark Dalle Cort
5. Craig Richards
6. Damien Quinn
7. Jace Van Dijk
8. Josh Cale
9. Neil Budworth
10. Gareth Dean
11. Terry Martin
12. Darren Mapp
13. Rob Toshack
Subs:
14. Luke Young
15. Jamie I’Anson
16. Chris Beasley
17. Hywel Davies

Tries: Dalle Cort (4, 66), Toshack (7), Martin (10), Duggan (14, 63, 70), Quinn (26, 38, 51, 78), Richards (40, 48), Blackwood (74), Van Dijk (76)
Goals: Quinn 11/15

SWINTON LIONS
1. Wayne English
2. Desi Williams
3. Darren Woods
4. Ben Williamson
5. Marlon Billy
6. Mark Ogden
7. Chris Hough
8. Bruce Johnson
9. Phil Wood
10. Rob Line
11. Paul Alcock
12. Mike Smith
13. Martin Moana
Subs:
14. Liam McGovern
15. Lee Marsh
16. Matthew Briers
17. Gareth Hayes

Tries: Johnson (55)
Goals: Marsh 0/1

Gamebreaker: The kick-off. Swinton were outclassed from the start.
Gamestar: Damien Quinn justified his April NL2 player of the month tag with a hat-trick of tries.
Half-time: 38-0
Attendance: 823
Men of the Match: Crusaders – Quinn, Lions - Billy
Penalty Count: 5-5
Referee: Paul Carr (Castleford)
Scoring Sequence: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 28-0, 34-0, 38-0, 44-0, 50-0, 50-4, 56-4, 60-4, 66-4, 70-4, 76-4, 80-4

Weather: A pleasant evening
Match Rating: 3/5