MATCH REPORT: NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 22 HURRICANES 18
Benn Hardcastle’s penalty just before half time edged us in front. Pic: Rich Beattie
NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 22 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 18
DAVE MUSSON, Eirias Stadium, Sunday 24 April 2022
HURRICANES head coach Rich Squires was able to take the positives from an agonising defeat in North Wales, labelling his side’s performance as their best of 2022 so far.
The Midlanders went toe-to-toe with top-of-the-table North Wales Crusaders on Sunday and almost pulled off a famous victory.
First half tries from Ben Stead and Liam Welham, plus a penalty on the hooter from Benn Hardcastle gave the Hurricanes a slender 12-10 lead at the break, having fought back from 10-0 down.
A Hardcastle try six minutes from the end rounded off the Hurricanes scoring, but unfortunately tries for Crusaders from Alex Eckley, Tom Johnson, and a double from Gavin Rodden saw the hosts just able to hold out for the win.
Squires said post-match: “I thought the effort was 100% today versus the team sitting top of the table - it’s probably our best performance of the season.
“People stood up to be counted, and we have made big improvements over the past few weeks. North Wales are a very clinical team and we frustrated them at certain points, which is what we aimed to do.
“We need to use this as a blueprint to move forward into Hunslet next week at home.”
For the first quarter of the game, Crusaders were in the ascendancy and crossed the Hurricanes line twice. First, Eckley scored in the corner after a neat offload from Matthew Fletcher, before a delightful move saw Patrick Ah-Van and Jordy Gibson put Rodden in.
But the Hurricanes dug deep and clawed their way back into the game, eventually edging in front right on half time.
First to score was Stead just after the half hour mark; the Hurricanes man took a neat offload from Liam Welham before dummying the Crusaders defence to touch down.
Two minutes later it was Welham with the score, racing 70 metres in the Welsh sunshine to score in the corner, after the hosts had spilled possession close to the Hurricanes line.
Although Hardcastle failed to convert Welham’s try, just before half time he did land a penalty from the corner to give Hurricanes the lead for the first time and real hope of an upset.
Unsurprisingly, the Crusaders put their visitors under great pressure early in the second half and, fifteen minutes after the restart, it paid off with Rodden brushing off a couple of tackles on his way to the line.
With just over ten minutes to play, the hosts bagged what turned out to be the match-winning try. After yet another series of extreme pressure saw them force the Hurricanes into consecutive goal line drop-outs, Rodden was able to cut inside then slip a pass to Johnson, who scored.
But the Hurricanes refused to give up, cranking some pressure of their own and this time forcing their hosts to drop out from under their own posts.
With six minutes remaining, Hardcastle dummied close to the line and strolled over for a try that he converted to bring his side to within four points but, agonisingly, they weren’t able to find another try and they had to head home empty-handed.
The Hurricanes will be looking to bounce back immediately this Sunday, 1 May, when they welcome Hunslet to Portway - kick off at 3pm.
MATCHFACTS
Crusaders: Johnson, Ah-Van, Rodden, Holmes, Turner, Gibson, Billsborough, Hazard, Wood, Barratt, Eckley, Sherratt, Fletcher.
Subs (all used): Nash, Brennan, Houghton, Smith.
Tries: Eckley (12), Rodden (20, 55), Johnson (68)
Goals: Johnson 3/4
Hurricanes: Scott, Lawton, M Welham, L Welham, Cowburn, Stead, Hardcastle, Clavering, Windley, Ryan, Bowring, Bull, Walton.
Subs (all used): Croston, Newbound, O’Sullivan, Green
Tries: Stead (33), L Welham (35), Hardcastle (74)
Goals: Hardcastle 3/4
Hurricanes Man of the Match: Nathan Newbound
Half time score: 10-12
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 10-0, 10-6, 10-10, 10-12, 16-12, 22-12, 22-18