Newcastle Thunder 20
North Wales Crusaders 30
Reported by Conrad Anderson
From Blaydon RFC
Luke Forber grabbed two tries as North Wales Crusaders defeated hosts Newcastle Thunder 30-20 to bag their second Championship win of the season.Crusaders made a fast start to proceedings and they were ahead within the opening minutes. Pat Ah Van came up with an unconverted try to break the deadlock.However, it was all-square once more soon afterwards as Newcastle, who had triumphed in two of their opening three matches of the season, responded with Brad Ward’s try, which also went unconverted.North Wales managed to regain the advantage when Forber was able to cross for his side’s second try and, once more, the ensuing conversion attempt failed to go between the uprights. Newcastle were on the front foot for the majority of the rest of the half, but Crusaders kept them out after an onslaught from Thunder; Crusaders managed to make 26 concecutive tackles in which Dean Muir dubbed heroic to maintain their four-point advantage.
Similar to the opening to the afternoon, Crusaders started the second half in fine fashion and they quickly extended their lead.Forber came up with his second try of the afternoon and Dec Patton kicked the game’s first successful conversion.Dean Muir’s visitors will have been keen to preserve their 10-points advantage, but that wasn’t to be the case.Thunder came back with a bang and Lipp grabbed a try, with Myles Harrison kicking the extras.
Lipp had a further try ruled out for a knock on over the line but as the half developed, the next score went the way of the visitors.Cole Oakley went over for North Wales’ third try and Patton added the conversion points.
Jayden Hatton’s try then put the game to bed, with a interception to race 80 metres to score while Ah Van’s second score was from lovely pass which saw the winger burst onto it was converted by Jordy Gibson.Ward and Brenden Santi scored late tries as Thunder finished on a high.
Attendance: 410
Next up the Crusaders travel to the capital to take on London Broncos, before we welcome Batley Bulldogs for our St Davids Day Double Header on the 8th March!
Tickets can be found here: Events by North Wales Crusaders | JustTikit