Crusaders romp home with a record victory in the Play-Off Pre-Lim final.

REPORT

• Crusaders veterans, Harry Jones and Stuart Williams shon in the stunning victory over York. 
• The Crusaders claim their record victory in an extremely on sided affair to secure themselves a place in next weekends semi-final. 
• Crusaders claim the victory in their final competitive home match of the 2024 campaign

The Crusaders started off the game in red hot fashion as Stuart Williams regathered a short kick-off and just two phases later was on the receiving end of a Harry Jones miss-pass to cross in the corner for his first try of the game within the opening 30 seconds.

The Crusaders were able to race away up the field in the very next set, however the ball bobble off of Harry Jones’ lap, turning the ball over on the half-way line. The home side were able to weather a couple of York attacks before they forced the visitors into an early kick.

York pilled on the pressure on the Crusaders, once again forcing a knock-on and attacking the Crusaders line with some great intent but were pulled back for a forward pass. The home side were once again able to come back from this by breaking up the field, however an intercept by York player, Patrick Murphy saved his side from conceding their second try in the opening five minutes.

The Crusaders held strong in their defence, forcing a turnover just metres from their own line, however, some quick tagging and silky skill led to Stuart Williams breaking down the field to cross for his and the Crusaders’ second.

After winning a penalty for an offside, Harry Jones was able to cross for his first of the day as he shook off his defender to squeeze through. The missed conversion taking it to 16-0 within nine minutes of play. Matthew Turner was next to score, as the youngster raced down the wing to score under the sticks.

The Crusaders were then forced into their first change as a chair malfunction caused Jonathan Gill give way for Wyatt Jones. Stuart Williams then crossed for his hat-trick as he once again raced away up the field to cross. Stuart thought he was in as he chased down a perfectly weighted goal-line drop-out, however was deemed to have lost control of the ball in the act of grounding.

Jess Booth entered the field of play as Stuart was forced off, the Crusaders forcing an error, however, in the very first play. Matthew Turner was forced over the sidelines for a quickfire turnover.  After this turnover, the Crusaders held out, resulting in a turnover which saw Martin Turner race away for his first try of the day.

A Crusaders penalty and disallowed try later, the home side were once again in as Harry Jones squoze through the line to cross. After exchanging some sets, the Crusaders were able to execute their first open play kick of the game as Jakub Wasieczko claimed a lovely, weighted Harry Jone kick to cross for his first of the day, taking the scoreline to 46-00 in favour of the home team after just 25 minutes of play.

Next came one of the games largest breaks in scoring as it took a further seven minutes until the next score as Harry Jones raced through to cross for his first hat-trick of the RFL season. After controlling possession for more time, the Crusaders were able to capitalise on a penalty for a blatant shirt pull which led to Martin Turner crashing his way over for his second the of proceedings.

York thought they were over for their first of the afternoon, but some clever defence saw the Crusaders forcing the Knights into touch. The Crusaders thought they were in next, however a Stuart Williams offload to Matthew Turner was deemed to have travelled forward.

The Crusaders were able to convert that error into some excellence defence and force York into an error of their own, with this error came the Crusaders’ next score as Stuart Williams forced his way through. There was no time for the restart as the hooter sounded, the Crusaders taking a resounding 64-00 lead into the break.

 After a couple of errors by both teams to get the second half underway, Matthew Turner was able to cut his way through the York defence and cross under the sticks for the first score of the second half. In the very next set, Jonathan Gill was able to get himself on the scoresheet for the first time in the game.

It took five minutes until the next score as Matthew Turner towered over his opposition to off load the ball to a charging Stuart Williams who crossed in the corner. York did however come extremely close to scoring from the kick-off, however, the ball trickled away from the York man and into touch.

The Crusaders thought they were in as Fionn McCabe raced away, collecting a kick and scoring under the uprights, however the officials deemed an interference in back play, ruling no try, giving York some excellent field position. The Crusaders dealt with the pressure, forcing a turnover. They thought they were in once again, however, Matthew Turner was deemed to of double-tapped at the play the ball, gifting York a penalty.

 Next came the largest break without a try as it took nearly 10 minutes for the next score as both sides exchanged errors and sets. Following a Crusaders penalty, Jonathan Gill was able to crash over for his second.

This seemed to open it up for the Crusaders as Matthew Turner scored a trio of back-to-back tries. Firstly, from some silky handling to cross in the corner, next up he chased down a delicate Harry Jones kick to score under the posts and then to cross off his quickfire hat-trick, he managed to shake of three defenders to cross.

York were able to gain some possession of the ball back as the kick-off ricochetted of a Crusaders player to give them the ball back but once again the home side were able to hold out a strong attacking set, with Johnathan Gill with a one handed kick defusal to give his side the ball back.

Following this set the Crusaders were once again able to cross as Gill managed to shake off a number of defenders to offload to Harry Jones to score his fourth of the game. Jakub Wasieczko was next to score as Harry Jones caught the York defence napping and broke through on the last tackle to offload to the youngster for his second of the match.

Just moments after re-entering the field Stuart Williams crossed once more. This time following an excellent break by Jess Booth as they managed to tie up multiple defenders for a quick play the ball which ended up with Williams crossing in the corner.

With little over two minutes on the clock, York pulled on the pressure and seemed to have finally broken their deadlock, however the final pass was deemed forward.

The crusaders countered this with their final score of the game as Wyatt Jones broke down the field and was tackled in the act of scoring but a quick tag led to Stuart Williams crossing for his 7th and the Crusaders 22nd try of the afternoon.

This victory secures the Crusaders a trip to Sheffield on the 28th September for a place in Octobers Grand Final.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Stuart Williams, Jonathan Gill, Martin Turner, Harry Jones, Matthew Turner

INTERCHANGES: Wyatt Jones, Jess Booth, Sophie Bamford, Jakub Wasieczko, Fionn McCabe

Tries: Williams (2, 6, 13, 40, 49, 77, 79), H. Jones (8, 21, 32, 73), Mat. Turner (11, 42, 66, 70), Mar. Turner (18, 35), Wasieczko (24, 75), Gill (44, 62)

Goals: Mar. Turner 17/19, Williams 1/2

YORK CITY KNIGHTS: Karl Shephard, Patrick Murphy, Calum Japes, Dawn Shore, Steve Spruyt

INTERCHANGES: Stewart Walker

North Wales Crusaders Player of the Match: Stuart Williams

York City Knights Player of the Match: Calum Japes

Referees: Paul Ward, Grant Jackson