Crusaders secure a convincing victory in their final Championship West home game of the season.

REPORT

• Crusaders do the double over Widnes for the 2024 season.

• Cath Bamford makes her long awaited competitive debut for the Crusaders, just a week after making her club debut.

• Widnes' new signing, Kieren Lacey makes history by becoming the first player to represent a clubs wheelchair and professional mens team.

The crusaders started off on the back foot as Widnes were able to get some great field possession before a line break by former Ireland player, Dom Richards saw some space managing to cross for the first try of the day.

Crusaders defended well in the set that followed the kick-off, forcing the Vikings into making a poorly placed kick on the final tackle, giving the crusaders some great field position.

This field position is what led to the home sides first try as the crusaders spine of Williams, Gill and Turner (Martin) commanded the team up the field, leading to a Matthew Turner try in the corner. The unsuccessful conversion taking it to 6-4 in favour of the Vikings after little under four minutes of play.

The crusaders thought they were in for their second in the very next set, however, a last ditch tackle prevented a Martin Turner try. The poorly placed kick by the home side led to an 8-metre restart to the Vikings, however the crusaders were able to force a knock-on in the first tackle.

This time it was the Vikings who forced the error as Martin Turner knock-on led to a turnover just a metre from the Widnes line.

Following some more defensive heroics by the visitors, forcing a held tackle over their own line. The Crusaders were able to cross as a perfectly weighted miss pass by Martin Turner led to Stuart Williams’ first try of the afternoon. The successful conversion taking it to 10-6 in favour of the home side after just nine minutes.

This time the roles were reversed as an excellent off load by Williams led to Martin Turner dotting down, his successful conversion just extending his sides lead.

Both teams next exchanged sets and errors as turnovers were forced on each teams line, but there was a break through, firstly Stuart Williams was denied by some fantastic Widnes defence, this led to some quick hands as Martin Turner crossed once more, this time between the sticks. The conversion taking the score to 22-6 after 18 minutes.

The crusaders went back-to-back with scores as Stuart Williams was on the receiving end of an excellent Jonathan Gill offload to cross in the corner.

After some pressure by the crusaders, Widnes were finally able to break as an early kick by the visitors saw Dom Richards ground the ball just millimetres from the dead ball line.

The crusaders thought they were in as a short kick-off was regathered by Williams led so some silky play but an acrobatic finish by Matthew Turner was ruled out for a forward pass.

The Widnes set following this was cut short as a loose pass ended up in the hands of Martin Turner who guided his team up field. This lead to Stuart Williams evading the defence and crossing for his hat-trick try.

The Vikings were next to score as Dom Richards slipped down the wing just to be caught in the final seconds by the Crusaders defenders, however in getting back in position, the Vikings were able to capitalise as Jack Woods scored in the corner.

After some excellent play by both teams, the Vikings were able to score in the dying embers of the half as Dom Richards completed his hat-trick. 

The unsuccessful conversion took the scoreline to 34-20 in favour of the home team at the halfway point.

The crusaders came out the second half all guns blazing, piling on the pressure from the offset. It took until the 7th minute of the half for the first score as Jakub Wasieczko got his first following an excellent Stuart Williams offload.

The Crusaders were able to score in the very next set as Mason Baker offloaded the ball to put Williams over in the corner.

Mason Baker was next to score though he did send some panic into his team mates after he seemingly forgot to tap his wheel. His successful conversion took the score to 44-20 after 55 minutes. 

Both teams next exchanged sets as they both looked confident moving up the pitch, however, the crusaders seemingly looked to be on the back foot briefly as Matthew Turner was penalised. 

However the Vikings could not capitalise from this penalty as Turner made up for his mistake as he intercepted the kick for touch to give his side the ball back.

Baker thought he was in for his second, however the offload by Gill was deemed to have gone forward, giving the Vikings possession back on their own line.

After a period of exchanging sets, the crusaders thought they were in, however, some clutch defending by Widnes debutant, Kieran Lacey stopped Stuart Williams in his tracks. 

Lacey who was making his debut following his recent transfer from Warrington was making history. Lacey becomes the first ever player to represent a clubs men’s team at a professional level and their wheelchair team after he spent a period in the 90’s with the Vikings’ men’s and reserves teams.

The crusaders soon got the ball back as Stuart Williams was able to usher his man into touch. The home side were able to capitalise off this as Jess Booth crossed under the sticks, scoring with just their one of first touches of the ball.

After an optimistic attempt at scoring by the crusaders which saw Stuart Williams kick directly from kick-off. Widnes received the ball around halfway and looked to gain to valuable possession.

After a number of strong carries, Alex Howe was able to squeeze between two defenders and score for his sides first try of the half.

Widnes went back-to-back as Dom Richards caught the crusaders napping from the kick off as he sprinted the full length to score his fourth of the day.

This took the score to 54-32 with less than 9 minutes to play.

Widnes thought they were in, however some clutch defending by Jakub Wasieczko and Jonathan Gill kept them out.

The final few minutes saw Sophie Bamford make her first Championship West appearance of the season before her mother, Catherine made her first competitive crusaders appearance, just a week after making her long awaited debut in the clubs friendly with Halifax Panthers Reserves.

The Crusaders were able to see out the game in the final few minutes. Which included a try on the death by Stuart Williams. 

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS:  Mason Baker, Stuart Williams, Jonathan Gill, Martin Turner, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Wyatt Jones, Jess Booth, Sophie Bamford, Jakub Wasieczko, Cath Bamford

Tries: Mat. Turner (3), Williams (8, 21, 28, 50, 80), Mar. Turner (11, 18), Jakub Wasieczko (47), Baker (53), Booth (66)

Goals: Baker 2/2, Mar. Turner 5/8, S. Bamford 1/1

WIDNES VIKINGS: Dom Richards, Alex Howe, Jack Woods, Kieren Lacey, Andrew Holland

INTERCHANGES: Darren Richards, Chris Dignall, Stephen Roberts, 

Tries: Richards (1, 25, 40, 71), Woods (32), Howe (70)

Goals: Howe 4/6

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Mason Baker

Widnes Vikings Player of the Match: Andrew Holland

Referees: Kim Abel, Dave Abel