Crusaders get the 2024 WRL Invitational Campaign underway

REPORT

• A youthful North Wales Crusaders side open up their Welsh campaign with a victory and defeat

• The Crusaders make history by becoming the first Welsh side to defeat Hereford Harriers in the Welsh league.
  

• Crusaders young stars, Fionn McCabe, Matthew Turner and Jakub Wasieczko all star in their sides opening round fixtures.

Crusaders forced the error straight from the kick-off as low kick led to an Alan Caron knock-on, Crusaders thought they were over from the resulting set led to a turnover after Stephen Halsey was forced into touch.

A kick from the Harriers led to some confusion in the Crusaders ranks however they were able to quickly regroup as some quick play by three Crusaders youngsters led to Jess Booth crossing in the corner with Halsey adding the extras.

A lucky bounce off the kick-off led to the Crusaders goal-line drop-out which was easily collected by the Harriers, the resulting set led to Alan Caron crossing for his sides first try of the game, the missed conversion took the score to 6-4 in favour of the Crusaders after 7 minutes.

After some errors by both sides, the Crusaders were next to cross as Jakub Wasieczko was able to coast through the Harriers line from the half-way, the successful conversion extended the Crusaders lead to 12-4.

The game took a brief intermission as Toni Woof went off injured, the Crusaders opting to drop a player to make it 4-a-side. After some rushed attack by both sides, the Harriers were able to get some field position following a penalty.

The field position led to some great chair skills by the Harriers’ Jacob Robinson as he was able to cross in the corner.

At the midway point in the half, Harriers were able to pounce on some poor defensive positioning by the Crusaders as Alan Caron was able to cross for his third of the game, taking the score to 12-12.

After a try for the Crusaders was ruled out, Jacob Robinson was able to take full advantage of the re-grouping Crusaders as we was able to breeze through the line for a full court sprint to cross under the uprights, with Alan Sheriff able to add his first conversion of the afternoon.

Robinson was able to go back-to-back and score again, the conversion extending his sides lead even further. Harriers were able to break the line again however were this time held out by the Crusaders, giving them back field position in their own half.

This field position led the Crusaders up the field and a strong carry by Matthew Turner as he forced his way over from close range, successfully adding the extras himself. Turner was over once again however was unable to add the extras.

This unsuccessful conversion was the last bit of scoring for the half as Harriers went in 24-22 up at the break.

Crusaders got the half underway strong as Fionn McCabe (another of the Crusaders’ youth prospects) managed to evade three defenders to give his team great field position, this field position led to a Crusaders penalty for an offside in the defensive line.

This error created a big hole which Jakub Wasieczko was able to capitalise on and cross under the uprights with Turner able to add the extras.

Wasieczko made went back-to-back as he was on the end of a fantastic kick by Jess Booth, Turner once again adding the extras.

After weathering the Crusaders storm, the Harriers were able to capitalise on some errors and Alan Sheriff was able to cross, however, Andy Holley unable to add the extras.

Harriers were then able to bring the game to a level board as Alan Caron was on the end of a long swirling pass to dot down and this time Holley was able to add the extras to take it to 34-a-piece with 20minutes to play.

Harriers were once again next to score as this time it was Alan Sheriff on the end of one of Robinson’s long passes and was able to dot down 4 metres from the touch line.

Matthew Turner was next to cross to regather his side the lead after he received a short pass from Wasieczko to cross under the uprights and successfully added the extras himself.

Once again, Turner was able to cross, this time it was the influence of Stephen Halsey as he took a number of strong carriers and was able to offload for Turner to score in the corner.

After some strong attacking play by the Harriers, they soon conceded a penalty for an incorrect play of the ball, however, soon regathered possession as they forced McCabe into touch. This defensive play soon led to Robinson crossing in the corner with Holley unable to add the extras.

After once again weathering a storm of Harriers attacked, the Crusaders were able to march up the field and after some strong carriers, Stephen Halsey was able to cross for his first of the afternoon and adding the extras.

Crusaders thought they were in again as Fionn McCabe broke the line, however won a penalty for a shirt pull. That penalty was the last bit of action of the day as the Crusaders were able to hold out for a 50-42 victory.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Stephen Halsey, Jessica Booth, Jakub Wasieczko, Fionn McCabe, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: N/A

Tries: Halsey, Booth, Wasieczko x3, Turner x4

Goals: Halsey 3/3, Turner 4/6

HEREFORD HARRIERS: Alan Caron, Andrew Holley, Alan Sheriff, Jacob Robinson, Toni Woof

INTERCHANGES: N/A

Tries: Caron x3, Robinson x4, Sheriff x2

Goals: Sheriff 2/5, Holley 1/4

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Matthew Turner

Hereford Harriers Player of the Match: Jacob Robinson

Referees: Kim Abel, Pete Johnston Jnr

Crusaders came out strong in the early exchanges of the days final game as they wanted to go out strong, however it was the Argonauts that drew first blood.

Fred Nye pounced on a loose pass and commanded his team up the field where he was able to play provider as he kicked through on the final tackle for Pete Johnston to dot down, adding the extras.

Some strong attack and defence followed by both teams as the youthful Crusaders give just as good as they got in this period  and it paid off as captain Jess Booth was able to cross in the corner with Halsey adding the extras to take it to 6-all after 12 minutes.

The next 10 minutes was much of the same as each team exchanged strong attack and defence but the international experience of Johnson soon showed as he was able jinx his way through the line to cross in the corner, successfully adding the extras to take it to 12-6 with 13 left to play.

There was a short stoppage in play with 10 minutes left due to a broken wheel for Jakub Wasieczko, dropping the Crusaders down to 4 players for a short period, however this didn’t matter as Matthew Turner was able to cross in the corner with Halsey able to add the extras to make it 12-a-piece with 9 to play in the first half.

Argonauts seemed to have found their purple patch as they went back-to-back with tries, firstly Richard Carver crossed and secondly Ellie Cockerton over, both of which came from great passages of passing. Peter Johnston was able to add all the extras.

Crusaders had the final say of the half as Matthew Turner was able to ground the ball direct from kick-off with Halsey adding the conversion taking it to 24-18 in favour of the home side.

Peter Johnston was the first to score in the ‘second half’ as he slinked his way over from range, with the conversion taking it to 30-18. Argonauts added the next score as well as Fred Nye broke the line to cross.

Once again Pete Johnston shown just how good he is by crossing for the final score of the game.

Due to a dispute with the venue and members of one of the days teams turning up late, the game was brought to a close early just 10 minutes into the second half with Argonauts claiming a 42-18 victory.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Stephen Halsey, Jessica Booth, Jakub Wasieczko, Fionn McCabe, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: N/A

Tries: Booth, Turner x2

Goals: Turner 3/3

ARGONAUTS: Pete Johnston Jnr, Richard Carver, Fred Nye, Scott Cooper, Rick Rodgers

INTERCHANGES: Edward Fields, Ellie Cockerton, Keiron Hammond

Tries: Carver, Johnston Jnr x4, Cockerton, Nye

Goals: Johnston Jnr 7/7

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Matthew Turner

Argonauts Player of the Match: Keiron Hammond

Referees: Kim Abel, Alan Caron