Match Report: Newcastle Thunder v North Wales Crusaders Betfred Championship Round 4

North Wales Crusaders produced a powerful performance to grind Newcastle Thunder down with a victory on the road in the north east. Dean Muir’s side produced a first half defensive masterclass that laid the platform for their deserved victory.

North Wales started the game strongly and forced Thunder into an early knock on. Crusaders used their sets to tie in the Thunder defence before Pat Ah Van went over to score his first try of the afternoon. Thunder was then next to respond when Brad Ward was put in to score in the corner.

The game then became quite cagey with Crusaders using the likes of Mark Ioane and Ah Van to tie in Thunder defenders - Thunder responded by using Ryan Jackson and Brenden Santi to target the Crusaders defence.

Will Roberts and Dec Patton both kicked intelligently to cause the opposition defence’s problems. It took till the twentieth minute for Luke Forber to score his first try of the afternoon in the corner.

The next period of the game saw Thunder pile the pressure on the Crusaders’ line. The Crusaders’ defence stood firm and held Thunder out in a period of play that set the platform for their victory. A half time score of 4-8 set the game up nicely for the second half.

After forty two minutes, Forber went over for his second try of the game as Crusaders sucked in the Thunder defence and went wide. Thunder responded through Jordan Lipp who took an inside pass from a Joe Law break to take the game back to four points.

North Wales responded with back-to-back tries. The first saw Cole Oakley run a lovely line from close range to score against a tiring Thunder defence. The second was the try of the game as Thunder kicked through on the last. Jayden Hatton did brilliantly to take the ball deep in his half and go the length. He brushed off a valiant tackle from Will Roberts who had made ground on Hatton but ultimately his strength and power got him over the line for a memorable try.

With the game at 10-24, the try that sealed the victory for Crusaders was scored by star man Ah Van, he carried hard to the line to score.

Thunder did rally late on and looked at their most dangerous when they worked the wide channels themselves. The hard working Brad Ward, who carried back hard all game ,got his second of the afternoon in the corner.

Brenden Santi went over late on as Thunder did well to keep the ball alive and Santi went over from close range. Former Thunder man Josh Eaves was yellow-carded as the hooter went for slowing the ball and Thunder did have one last go playing loose but the ball went in touch.

This was an excellent win for a well-drilled Crusaders outfit. For Thunder, they will use next week to re-group after a tough couple of home games

by Phil World