Crusaders draw Round 4 of the 2024 WRL Invitational Campaign to a close

REPORT

• Jonathan Gill makes his first appearances of the season in last weekends fixtures. 
• Crusaders slide up to second in the table as the business end of the season soon approaches.
• Crusaders showcased some of Wales' finest youth players as they put on some impressive displays
  

In the Crusaders first game of the day, they took on Cardiff Blue Dragons who were on the hunt for their first victory of the year, who were boosted with the inclusion of Lisa Maddox who’s on an excursion from USA to help develop her knowledge and experience of the sport.

The Crusaders held the control from the offset as Jakub Wasieczko crossed for his first of the morning after less than a minute on the clock.

The Crusaders just continued their control of the game as Matthew Turner was able to cross for his first of the day in the very next set, before he was able to double his tally and Wasieczko was able to cross for his second. Taking the score to 22-0 in favour of the Crusaders after just 10 minutes.

The Wasieczko try seemed to be the pick of the bunch as Stuart Williams’ kick ricochet’d off the uprights and fell for Matthew Turner who then offloaded the ball for Wasieczko to cross.

The Blue Dragons then seemed to enter a bit of a purple patch as Charlie Puddick and Patrick Martin were able to cross, taking the score to 22-12 entering the final 10 minutes of the half.

Matthew Turner was able to add the next score as he crossed for the Crusaders before Lee Sargent wrote his name in the history book by becoming the first ever Cardiff player to score a drop-goal.

The Crusaders had the final word of the half as Stuart Williams crossed for his first of the day, the conversion taking the score to 32-13 at the break.

The Crusaders started off the second half exactly how they did the first as Fionn McCabe was able to break the Cardiff line from inside his own half to cross under the sticks.

Both teams then went on to trade sets as it took a further 10 minutes for the next score to take place as a break up the field by Jakub Wasieczko led to some excellent play which then resulted with a try for Wasieczko.

The Crusaders were next to score again as they were able to gain some valuable field position following a Cardiff error at the kick-off. This gave Jonathan Gill, who was playing his first game since the Challenge Trophy the opportunity to crash over the line.

The Dragons thought they were in as they caught the Crusaders napping slightly on their line but were able to quickly recover, preventing Sian Morris-Parker the ability to ground the ball.

Jonathan Gill was next up to write his name into the Crusaders history books as he became just the seventh ever player in the clubs history to successfully score a drop-goal in a competitive match. Whilst also becoming the clubs first ever non-international player to score a one-pointer.

Jakub Wasieczko was able to continue his impressive scoring record as a penalty kick for touch gave the Crusaders some excellent field position led to a try in the corner for the Crusaders youngster.

Cardiff were next to score after repeatedly knocking on the Crusaders door, but a turn over in their own half led to an early kick which Lee Sargent was able to collect and score in the corner.

The Crusaders pressure continued as they were able to force a number of errors which resulted in Jakub Wasieczko crossing for his fifth and final try on the hooter. The conversion taking it to 63-17 in favour of the Crusaders.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Jess Booth, Stuart Williams, Jakub Wasieczko, Fionn McCabe, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Mason Baker, Jonathan Gill

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS CELTS: Jess Booth, Stuart Williams, Jakub Wasieczko, Fionn McCabe, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Mason Baker, Jonathan Gill

Tries: Wasieczko (1, 8, 41, 50, 60), Turner (3, 5, 21), Williams (28), McCabe (30), Gill (42)

Goals: Turner 4/6, Baker 4/4, Wasieczko 1/1

Drop-Goal: Gill (48)

CARDIFF BLUE DRAGONS: Charlie Puddick, Siân Morris-Parker, Partin Martin, Daniel Martin, Seren Jones

INTERCHANGES: Libbie Sargent, Paul Sargent, Lee Sargent, Lisa Maddox

Tries: Puddick (10), P. Martin (12), Lee. Sargent (54)

Goals: D. Martin 2/2, Lee. Sargent 0/1

Drop-Goal: Lee. Sargent (25)

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Fionn McCabe

Cardiff Blue Dragons Player of the Match: Charlie Puddick

Referees: Stephen Jones, Matthew Morris-Parker

In the days final game, the Crusaders Tok on hosts, Torfaen Tigers and in a shocking turn of events, the Tigers elected to rotate their team and field a development side to start the proceedings.

The Crusaders started the game on the back foot as Matthew Turner was deemed to have been infant of the kicker from the kick-off - however the Crusaders were able to force the tigers into a slight overplay forcing a knock-on.

The resulting set led the the games first try as Jonathan Gill caught the tigers napping, crossing next to the uprights.

After a brief period of Tigers possession, the Crusaders were able to work the ball out to the wing for Jakub Wasieczko to cross for his first of the game and sixth of the day in total.

The Crusaders were once agin able to weather a wave of Torfaen attack but were forced to return the ball from deep, and that they did. Once again working the ball out to Wasieczko to score in the corner. Taking the score to 16-0 in favour of the Crusaders after just 9 minutes.

After some slick handling by the Crusaders, Wasieczko was able to send Matthew Turner down the wing to cross for his first of the game.

Once again, some slick handling play led to another try. This time, Jonathan Gill threw an exceptional offload for Stuart Williams to cross in the corner for his first of the game. The successful conversion took it to 28-0 in favour of the Crusaders after just 14 minutes.

The next try came all but straight away as Jess Booth broke through the Tigers line from inside their own half.

Next came the longest break between scores as it took little over 6 minutes until the next score as Jakub Wasieczko crossed, though this break of scoring did come with some excitement as the ball burst mid play after getting caught under the wheel a Crusaders player.

Following this try, the Tigers brought on their experienced players with London Roosters player and Wales captain, Scott Trigg-Turner entered alongside former Wales international and Rugby Union prodigy Jamie Reynolds.

The Crusaders did fall lucky as Trigg-Turner chased down and collected an early kick but Stuart Williams was to the rescue  calling for the no tag tackle as the ball was grounded.

Though this tackle was made, the Crusaders were made to fight had in defence - their efforts were eventually broken as Trigg-Turner crossed on the final tackles next to the uprights.

The conversion took the score to 38-6 on the brink of half time.

Both teams came out for the second half looking strong, both teams exchanged some excellent phases of attack and defence with the Tigers coming close whilst the Crusaders returned the favour by spending some time on the Tigers line.

Eventually it was the Tigers that relented as Jakub Wasieczko was on the end of a Stuart Williams grubber kick which he grounded next to the uprights, in doing so popping the second match ball of the game.

The Matthew Turner conversion attempt taking the score to 44-6 with little over 20 minutes left to play.

This seemed to give the Crusaders a boost as they scored from the very next set as Stuart Williams weaved his way through the line to cross next to the uprights.

This is what turned out to be final bit of scoring for the Crusaders, however, it took nearly 15 minutes until the next score as Scott Trigg-Turner crossed in the corner catching the Crusaders defence napping.

The conversion took the score to 50-12 in favour of the home team, which it stayed for the remainder of the game.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Jess Booth, Stuart Williams, Jonathan Gill, Jakub Wasieczko, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Mason Baker, Fionn McCabe

Tries: Gill (1), Wasieczko (5, 8, 22, 38), Turner (11), Williams (13, 39), Booth (15)

Goals: W. Jones 6/13

TORFAEN TIGERS: Poppy Cayton, Matthew Morris-Parker, Diane Price, Tomos Parker, Alys Golden

INTERCHANGES: Jason Reynolds, Leighton Morris, Scott Trigg-Turner, Jamie Reynolds

Tries: Trigg-Turner (29, 53)

Goals: Jam. Reynolds 2/2

North Wales Crusaders Celts Player of the Match: Matthew Turner

Torfaen Tigers Player of the Match: Matthew Morris-Parker

Referees: Stephen Jones, Patrick Martin