Haven complete double over Celtic Crusaders
Last updated 09:25, Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Celtic Crusaders 22 Whitehaven 26: Whitehaven did what Barrow and Workington couldn’t do last season and travel down to Bridgend and win live on Welsh television, completing the double over Celtic Crusaders on Saturday as the Welsh side lost in front of their S4C cameras for the first time.
The match will be remembered for being a nine-try thriller that entertained the fans from start to finish. Unfortunately it will also be remembered for having some very controversial refereeing decisions that infuriated both sets of fans.
Crusaders took the lead on 11 minutes with a slick move that ended with Aled James placing the ball in the corner.
Whitehaven levelled things when Spencer Miller latched onto a loose ball in the goal area after Leroy Joe caused confusion with his high chip. Tane Manihera converted.
And they took the lead soon after. David Ford made the metres, working the ball up the field from a scrum. Ade Adebesi was put through and ran the ball home.
Crusaders hit back on 25 minutes. Mark Dalle Cort evaded his markers to slip to ball to Paul Ballard who squeezed his way pass the Haven backline.
Haven’s indiscipline, coupled with some poor decisions from the referee, cost them as they gave away a number of first half penalties and eventually the Crusaders took advantage.
After winning their third penalty in five minutes near to the Haven line, Ben Flower forced his way through, brushing off three defenders to score a try.
Mark Lennon converted to put the Welsh side 14-12 up at the interval, but was denied a try of his own just before the hooter after being held up over the line.
The lead was increased to 16-12 three minutes into the second half following a Lennon penalty goal given for holding down in the tackle, but Whitehaven levelled things five minutes later when Craig Calvert dived onto a perfect Leroy Joe grubber kick.
They took the lead on 54 minutes. Joe was the creator again, chipping high to Spencer Miller who knocked the ball down and Ryan McDonald was first to the ball out-reaching Luke Dyer to score. Manihera somehow missed the easy conversion.
Ballard thought he’d levelled things by going over for his second try, set up by Quinn, but the pass was judged to have been forward by the referee despite it being far less blatent than the forward passes from both sides that he, and the touch-judges failed to spot earlier in the game.
But Quinn himself was next on the scoresheet, selling a dummy to go in under the sticks. Lennon’s goal gave the Welsh side a two-point advantage.
The lead wasn’t held for long. As soon as Whitehaven regained the ball, they scored. Rob Jackson was the man who forced the ball over, despite a suspicion of double movement, following good work from Craig Calvert. Manihera converted to give Whitehaven a four-point lead.
Crusaders had one final chance with two minutes remaining. Dalle Cort placed a hopeful kick along the left wing. Ballard chased but was beaten to the ball by Adebesi who looked to have knocked on but to Haven’s relief, the touch-judge and referee both waved play on.
MATCH FACTS
CELTIC CRUSADERS: 1, Tony Duggan; 2, Paul Ballard; 3, Josh Hannay; 4, Mark Dalle Cort; 5, Aled James, 6, Damien Quinn; 7, Mark Lennon; 8, Jordan James; 9, Ian Webster; 10, Gareth Dean; 11, Chris Beasley; 12, Darren Mapp C; 13, Luke Dyer. Subs: 14, Neil Budworth; 15, Jamie I’Anson; 16, Ben Flower; 17, David Tangata-Toa
Tries: James (11), Ballard (25), Flower (35), Quinn (67); Goals: Lennon 3/5
WHITEHAVEN: 1, Gary Broadbent C; 2, Craig Calvert; 3, Rob Jackson ; 4, Scott McAvoy; 5, Ade Adebisi ; 6, Tane Manihera ; 7, Leroy Joe; 8, Karl Edmondson; 9, Graeme Mattinson; 10, Ryan McDonald; 11, Spencer Miller; 12, Howard Hill; 13, Saia Makisi . Subs: 14, John Patrick; 15, Andy Gorski; 16, David Ford; 17, Marc Jackson
Tries: Miller (17), Adebesi (21), Calvert (48), McDonald (54), Jackson (70); Goals: Manihera 3/5
Referee: Ron Laughton (Sheffield)
Attendance: 1,870
Whitehaven man of the match - Leroy Joe
