sportingFACTIONS :: Code XIII

SLXIV Round 18: June 26th, 2009
Ian Bridge at GPW Recruitment Stadium, St Helens
St. Helens 30 [24]
Celtic Crusaders nil [nil]
Summary
16        Lee Gilmour try        4-0
        Sean Long conversion 1/1        6-0
18        Paul Wellens try        10-0
        Sean Long conversion 2/2        12-0
28        Tony Puletua try        16-0
        Sean Long conversion 3/3        18-0
39        Matt Gidley try        24-0
        Sean Long conversion 4/4
        HALF TIME        

72        Chris Dean try        28-0
        Sean Long conversion 5/5        30-0
        FULL TIME
REPORT

Saints’ former Great Britain stand-off, Leon Pryce, inspired a jaded looking Saints side to rally past the Celtic Crusaders in this top versus bottom clash.

After surviving an opening 10 minutes of Celtic pressure it was the Saints who posted the first points. Pryce ruthlessly exploited Celtic’s first handling error with a silky offload that split the defence for Lee Gilmour to scoot over. Moments later Pryce struck again, breaking from Ryan O’Hara’s tackle on halfway to send Paul Wellens over.

And Tony Puletua stormed over for a third try 10 minutes later to put the home side firmly in control. A Matt Gidley try on the stroke of halftime, plus a fourth conversion from Long, sent the home side in with a 24-0 lead.

The second half was scoreless until the 72nd minute as the Crusaders dug deep to stem Saints’ blunted attack. But a late try from centre Chris Dean and another touchline conversion from Long sealed an emphatic win.

It was a game that said more about the Celtic Crusaders than Saints, with the Welsh side proving they have character and work-rate, but lack speed, guile and imagination; although to be absolutely fair they were also very depleted through injury. Let’s hope that the Crusaders can beef-up their efforts next season, we need Welsh rugby league to be a success.

Let’s be honest, the French are never going to be a serious test for England as long as they country remains in the grip of the union. In Wales we have a chance, because their union has proven so inept at fostering Welsh rugby talent.
TEAMS:
Saints:
1 Wellens, 2 Gardner, 3 Gidley, 19 Dean, 5 Meli, 6 Pryce, 7 Long, 10 Graham, 9 Cunningham, 15 Hargreaves, 12 Wilkin, 13 Flannery, 11 Gilmour
Subs: 14 Roby, 16 Puletua, 17 Clough, 23 Fa’asavalu

Tries:        Gilmour (16), Wellens (18), Puletua (28), Gidley (39), Dean (72)
Goals:        Long 5/5
Crusaders
6 Quinn, 18 Lennon, 22 Tyrer, 4 Dalle Cort, 5 Blackwood, 28 White, 7 Van Dijk, 8 O’Hara, 9 Withers, 10 Bryant, 17 James, 19 Chan, 15 Lupton
Subs (all used): 11 Peek, 16 Flower, 23 Budworth,, 25 Davies
Men of the match
Saints: Paul Wellens was announced man of the match at ground. But for me Leon Pryce was the reason Saints won. His class made the difference.                 
Crusaders:        Ben Flower proved the Welsh have junior talent who can cut it in Super League.
MATCH FACTS
Half-time:        24-nil
Full-time:        30-nil
Referee:        Gareth Hewer
Attendance:        8,690 was my guess before kickoff, so as it was officially announced at 8,684 that was pretty good going. Doh! I forgot to do the lottery.