Crusaders end Pride Round weekend with a thrilling trio of games.

REPORT

• Crusaders go second in the table following a convincing victory over fellow Welsh side, Torfaen Tigers. 
• Crusaders 'Celts' rely on a late Torfaen conversion miss to seal a two point victory in the days second game.
• Crusaders claim a victory over the Celts in the first all Crusaders clash of the season.
  

With five Welsh internationals in the Crusaders side, including two of the most experienced of all time, it was always going to be tough for Torfaen, and they defended well for the opening few sets, ensuring the North Wales danger players were marked well when they had the ball, and they put in some good tackles at crucial moments.

Eventually, Stephen Halsey gave Crusaders a 6-0 lead with a try and goal, only just touching the ball down before his tag was ripped away.

Matthew Turner added the second try on 18 minutes soon followed by Halsey’s second then one for Ricki Davies. Halsey converted all.

Turner added the next two Crusaders’ tries just before the break with Halsey converting the first to give them a 34-0 half-time lead.

Coming on at half-time, Mason Baker made an immediate impact and scored under the sticks. Turner missed the kick, but soon scored in the corner to make it 42-0.

Tigers finally got on the board 10 minutes into the second half when Jason Reynolds scored under the posts and Alex Powell converted.

Former Wales captain Stuart Williams was next on the scoresheet, with his first try in the WRL Development League. Turner converted, then grounded the next try before Jakub Wasieczko got the next two.

But it was Torfaen who completed the scoring when Jamie Reynolds successfully chased his own kick to score under the posts. Dwane Price converted for a score on his debut.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Stephen Halsey, Stuart Williams, Ricki Davies, Jakub Wasieczko, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Jess Booth, Mason Baker

Tries: Halsey (12, 20), Baker (31), Williams (41), Davies (23), Wasieczko (49, 50), Turner (17, 27, 28, 37, 45)

Goals: Halsey 5/6, Williams 0/2, Wasieczko 0/1, Turner 1/3

TORFAEN TIGERS: Jason Reynolds, Leighton Morris, Alex Powell, Tomos Parker

INTERCHANGES: Matthew Morris-Parker, Dwane Price, Rob Davies (Unused), Alys Golden

Tries: Jas. Reynolds, Jam. Reynolds

Goals: Powell 1/1, Price 1/1

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Matthew Turner

Torfaen Tigers Player of the Match: Diane Price

Referees: Kim Abel, Martin Turner

In the days second fixture, the Crusaders Celts took on Torfaen Tigers in what can only be described as a classic as they went down 36-34.

Torfaen quickly took the lead when Alex Powell raced to the line, converting it himself.

A Harry Jones try and goal levelled things before Wyatt Jones gave Celts the lead.

He added the third try with Jones converting to put the score on to 16-6.

Powell’s try in the corner, that he converted himself, put Tigers back in the game and they levelled things when Jason Reynolds eased his way over. Powell converted to give Torfaen a slight 18-16 advantage at the break.

Crusaders regained the lead within seconds of the second period as Wyatt Jones scored and Martin Turner converted.

Torfaen hit back again. Jason Reynolds dived over and Powell converted to put the score onto 24-22 but two more tries from Wyatt Jones, both converted by Turner gave the Celts a 34-24 lead, an advantage that they would hold onto.

But the Tigers weren’t going away. Powell’s try and goal put them back in the game at 34-30 with ten minutes to go.

Turner kicked a penalty with three minutes to go to relieve the pressure on the Celts but the Tigers almost sneaked a draw. Powell scored a try but crucially missed the final kick of the game just after the hooter sounded.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS CELTS: Hayley Matthews, Wyatt Jones, Lucie Roberts, Harry Jones, Claire Owlett

INTERCHANGES: Martin Turner, Sophie Bamford

Tries: W. Jones (15, 20, 30, 42, 45), H. Jones (11)

Goals: Turner 4/4, H. Jones 2/3

TORFAEN TIGERS: Jason Reynolds, Leighton Morris, Alex Powell, Tomos Parker

INTERCHANGES: Matthew Morris-Parker, Dwane Price, Rob Davies, Alys Golden (all unused)

Tries: Powell (5, 23, 49, 59), Jas. Reynolds (26, 40)

Goals: Powell 5/6

North Wales Crusaders Celts Player of the Match: Lucie Roberts

Torfaen Tigers Player of the Match: Jason Reynolds

Referees: Stephen Halsey, Kim Abel

In the battle of the Crusaders, NWC took the lead with a Ricki Davies try. Matthew Turner soon added the second with Mason Baker improving to take the score up to 10-0. Stephen Halsey quickly got their third try.

It was very quickly 14-12 thanks to tries from Martin Turner and Harry Jones with two goals from Turner but NWC went into half-time 26-12 up thanks to a try from Stuart Williams plus one and two goals from Halsey.

NWC sealed the game in the first few minutes of the second half following tries from Jakub Wasieczko and Williams with a Baker goal that put the score on to 36-12.

Wyatt Jones sped away for a consolation try for Celts with 15 minutes remaining. Martin Turner converted.

Halsey got the next try and goal for NWC before Harry Jones replied for Celts with Martin Turner converting.

In the closing minutes of the game, Harry Jones opted to take a drop-goal, his second of the Welsh season and the only player in the league to take a one pointer.

In the final minute, the Celts were awarded a penalty at half-way, where Harry Jones elected to the two points and end the game on a high, however, an absolute shank of a kick led to an 8-metre drop-out which the Celts fielded and took the game to a close.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Stephen Halsey, Stuart Williams, Ricki Davies, Fionn McCabe, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Mason Baker, Jess Booth, Jakub Wasieczko

Tries: Halsey (9, 27, 47), Williams (23, 35), Davies (3), Wasieczko (33), Turner (8)

Goals: Halsey 3/5, Baker 2/3

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS CELTS: Hayley Matthews, Wyatt Jones, Lucie Roberts, Martin Turner, Harry Jones

INTERCHANGES: Sophie Bamford, Claire Owlett

Tries: W. Jones (44), Turner (14), H. Jones (15, 53)

Goals: Turner 4/4, H. Jones 0/1

Drop-Goals: H. Jones

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Matthew Turner

North Wales Crusaders Celts Player of the Match: Wyatt Jones

Referees: Kim Abel, Matthew Morris-Parker