BBC SPORT | Rugby League | H Hempstead 10-50 Celtic Crusaders

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Last Updated: Monday, 13 February 2006, 09:02 GMT

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H Hempstead 10-50 Celtic Crusaders

Crusaders' Matt Jobson takes on two Stags defenders

Matt Jobson goes on the charge for the Crusaders

Celtic Crusaders marked their first competitive match with a comprehensive win over Hemel Hempstead Stags in the Northern Rail Cup.

Crusaders took the lead in the second minute, Jace Van Dijk laying off to Tony Duggan who slid in the corner.

Barry-John Swindells kicked a penalty for the home side, but the visitors increased their lead in the ninth minute as Scott O'Kelly forced his way through despite pressure from the Stags defenders. Van Dijk converted to make it 10-2.

The Stags scored their only try in the game after 25 minutes when Scott Roberts latched on to a Crusaders knock on to score in the corner. Swindells converted and added another penalty minutes later to level the scores.

But the rest of the game belonged to Bridgend-based Crusaders, with further tries arriving from Damien Quinn, Lloyd O'Connor, David Simm, Paul Morgan, Van Dijk, Hywel Davies and Carl de Chenu.

Crusaders director Chris O'Callaghan:
"It was a tough start for us. The fitness came through in the end and that was the difference between the two sides.

"We had nine tries and we'll accept that as a good day's work and I thought that all the good work Anthony Seibold put in showed in the end.

"It's a good start for John Dixon to build on."

Hemel direction Ken Roberts:
"The try in the last seconds of the first half was a turning point.

"If we'd gone in at 10 all it would have been a fair reflection of the first half but in the end, Celtic Crusaders had better preparation leading up to the match.

"This was always going to be a telling point and it showed when Crusaders took control in the last quarter."

Stags: Barry-John Swindells, Gareth Swindells, Phil Aitken, Sean Lovett, Anthony Strelitz, Matt Walton, Chris Hodgetts, Ben Kay, Callum Irving, Mark Manito, Scott Roberts, Chris Heinke, Troy Perkins.
Subs: Jack Moon, Saul Lawal, Peter Clarke, Simon Tillyer.

Crusaders: Tony Duggan, Carl de Chenu, Damien Quinn, Geraint Davies, Paul Morgan, Luke Young, Jace Van Dijk, Ryan Barton, Scott O'Kelly, Hywel Davies, Carle Ellis, Phil Cushion, Matt Jobson.
Subs: Lloyd O'Connor, Dean Scully, David Simm, Andy Llewellyn. Travelling reserves: Gareth Owen, Lee Williams.

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