Round 13 Celtic Crusaders vs Hemel Stags


CRUSADERS COLTS 52 HEMEL STAGS 14

Hemel Stags gave Crusaders Colts a scare at the Brewery Field on Saturday as they led their hosts for a lot of the first half. But the Welsh side dominated proceedings from the off in the second period and eventually ran out 52-14 winners to return to the top of the Conference National table.

Hemel took the lead in the first minute after some superb play from Hemel, Marcus Rose went over following a fine passing move on only the third tackle. Mark Coulson converted.

Mark Wool set up Phil Cushion to go over a try back for the Colts on seven minutes but Lee Williams somehow missed an easy conversion attempt taken almost in front of the sticks.

Hemel extended their lead on 15 minutes when Dave Afreh was given too much space in right centre to score.

Colts struck back straight away when Wool forced his way over but Hemel restored the balance from kick-off when Stuart McIntyre pounced on a drop ball to score in corner.

But the home side scored from kick-off themselves when Lee Williams was put through and scored under the sticks. Emmanuelli converted to level the scores.

Hemel were denied a fourth try minutes before the interval when Ashley Fyson was pulled into touch when diving for the line. Kane Phillips was also close, just failing to reach a Blake Kirby grubber.

All Hemel’s hard work was undone in the last seconds of the first half and it was Crusaders who went into half-time in the lead after an interception allowed Gary Williams to run 80 metres to score. Emmanuelli converted.

They extended their lead five minutes after the interval after Elliot Kear set up Greg Callow to go over in the corner.

Crusaders Colts weren’t going to let this game slip away from them again as they doubled their first half advantage before the hour mark. Hemel were starting to tire and the gaps in the defence began to appear which Colts took full advantage of.

Lee Williams weaved his way through and stretched over the line for his second with Emmanuelli converting to give the Colts a 30-14 lead.

Elliot Kear scored in the corner less than five minutes later and Gary Williams followed him over with Emmanuelli converting.

Cushion scored his second of the game on 64 minutes while Callow was put through for his brace straight from kick-off. Emmanuelli kicking the extras for both.

Hemel’s new signing Cameron Mann was leading the way in making hard yards and was voted the players player man of the match. Hemel was up against a team that, their first team have aspirations of playing in superleague when the franchises are announced this week. It was always going to be a tough ask of getting a result in Bridgend but to their credit Hemel competed for 50 mins before superior fitness took its toll.

Tries: Rose (1), Afreh (15), McIntyre (21)
Goals: Coulson 1/3
Hemel Man of the Match: Andy Curtian
Hemels Payers Player Award: Cameron Mann
Referee: Ian Curzon