Crusaders 'Celts' get the 2024 WRL Invitational Campaign underway

REPORT

• North Wales Crusaders veteran Harry Jones and club newbie Claire Owlett make their Invitational League debut in Round 1.

• North Wales Crusaders 'Celts' make their official debut in the Welsh competition since reforming at the beginning of the year.
  

• North Wales Crusaders 'Celts' fall in their opening game before before claiming a victory in the first Welsh derby of the year.

In the days second game, the Celts took on reigning champions, the Argonauts who earlier in the day had defeated fellow Welsh side, Torfaen Tigers in convincing fashion.

Argonauts put on a perfect second half performance to see off Crusaders Celts 66-12 who were playing in their first ever WRL Wheelchair Development League game.

Crusaders took the lead on nine minutes when Harry Jones got a try on his Welsh League debut. Wyatt Jones converted.

But within seconds, Argonauts were level thanks to a Fred Nye try and goal. After Nye added a further six points, Peter Johnston was next over to put the score onto 16-6.

Crusaders struck back four minutes before half-time when Claire Owlett scored a try on her Welsh League debut. Wyatt Jones converted again.

And following a penalty on the half-time hooter, Johnston went half the length of the pitch to score, converting it himself to make it 22-12 at the break.

Argonauts put the game to bed early the second half with two tries each from Nye and Johnston in the first ten minutes, one of them being converted by Scott Cooper, putting the score onto 40-12.

Ellie Cockerton quickly added a hat-trick of tries with Rob Cooper finally adding a conversion after being close with the previous four attempts.

Nye was next over, converting his own try to put the score onto 60-12 before Cockerton brilliantly scored her fourth of the game. Rob Cooper converted.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS CELTS: Hayley Matthews, Wyatt Jones, Harry Jones, Claire Owlett, Ethan Neilson

INTERCHANGES: N/A

Tries: H. Jones (9), Owlett (25)

Goals: W. Jones 2/2

ARGONAUTS: Fred Nye, Keiron Hammond, Richard Carver, Rob Cooper, Scott Cooper

INTERCHANGES: Peter Johnston Jnr, Ellie Cockerton

Tries: Johnston Jnr (19, 29, 36, 39) Cockerton (40, 43, 45, 56) Nye (10, 16, 34, 37, 48)

Goals: Johnston Jnr 1/1, Nye 3/3, R. Cooper 1/4, S. Cooper 2/3

North Wales Crusaders Celts Player of the Match: Claire Owlett

Argonauts Player of the Match: Ellie Cockerton

Referees: Stephen Jones, Darren Dowey

In the sides second game, the Celts took on hosts Torfaen Tigers in the first Welsh derby of the season.

It took just 37 seconds for the Celts to get on top as Player/ Coach Harry Jones sold a dummy which sent him through under the sticks with Wyatt Jones successfully adding the extras.

Torfaen soon hit back with Rob Davies scoring his first ever try in the wheelchair game.

Two tries and a goal from Wyatt Jones extended the Crusaders’ lead to 16-4 before a Claire Owlett try further increased the score.

Tigers scored again through a Darren Downey try but Harry Jones soon scored under the sticks with Wyatt Jones’ goal attempt hitting the bar.

Eleven-year old Ethan Neilson added the next with Wyatt Jones converting but Torfaen had the final say of the first half as Downey scored his second try bring the score back to 30-12.

Torfaen were first over in the second half, Davies grabbing his second with Leighton Morris still not able to hit the target with the kick.

Both teams defended well for the rest of the game, especially Crusaders as Torfaen put the pressure on them for a lot of second half, just their inexperience preventing them from getting back in the game.

But it was the North Wales-based side who cemented the game with three minutes remaining when Owlett scored in the corner.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS CELTS: Hayley Matthews, Wyatt Jones, Harry Jones, Claire Owlett, Ethan Neilson

INTERCHANGES: N/A

Tries: W. Jones (6, 9), H. Jones (0, 23), Owlett (14, 56), Neilson (26)

Goals: W. Jones 3/7

TORFAEN TIGERS: Darren Dowey, Leighton Morris, Luke Simmonds, Mathew Morris-Parker, Rob Davies

INTERCHANGES: N/A

Tries: Davies (3, 38), Dowey (21, 30)

Goals: Morris 0/4

North Wales Crusaders Celts Player of the Match: Claire Owlett

Torfaen Tigers Player of the Match: Matthew Morris-Parker

Referees: Kim Abel, Peter Johnston Jnr