Back To Winning Ways

ECL 1
Crusaders 27 - Woodbridge 11

Crusaders' bounced back from last week's narrow defeat at Newmarket to record a 5 try victory over Woodbridge. The visitors who are in a relegation battle with Thurston displayed a fighting spirit the whole match and Crusaders had to work their socks off for every score.
Crusaders made a bright start and tested the visitors defence, they were awarded a kickable penalty but opted for a line out kick, the ball failed to reach touch and was gathered by Woodbridge fullback who hacked the ball down field to Crusaders 22, desperate defence prevented the visitors scoring the first points. Crusaders' gained control and with ball retention put Woodbridge back on the defensive. A powerful rolling maul sucked in the visitors defence and George King was on hand to score out wide from the resulting overlap. Wood bridge replied with a 40 metre penalty. Crusader' scrummaging was causing the visitors problems and Peter Blinkhorn was able to pick his moment and feed Rob Loone from the back of a marching scrum, the scrum-half's delicate chip to the corner was snapped up by Fulback Ryan Harris to touch down for Crusaders' second try. Woodbridge rallied and were rewarded with a second penalty to reach half time 10-6.
With the wind and slope in Crusaders' favour the visitors defence was severely tested and a pushover try increased Crusaders' lead when Rob Dye touched down for try No. 3, Theo Elliot converted. Some heroic defending by Woodbridge followed when the visitors failed to break out of their 22 for a full 15 minutes. Crusaders' pressure finally prevailed and Henry Joy helped himself to 2 trys from rolling mauls.
Woodbridge were far from down and out and scored a try following some determined forward play to end the match 27-11