Crusaders 11 - Beccles 5

ECL1 Results

Crusaders 11 - Beccles 5

Crusaders with Blinkhorn and Houy still sidelined suffered an early blow when George King could not continue following an ankle injury. Beccles made a bright start ,their forwards were quick to the breakdowns and competitive in the line-outs playing with a confidence that belied their league position. Crusaders were up to the challenge and following pressure on the Beccles line Gareth Drewery opened the score with a well struck penalty.
Beccles bounced back when they took advantage of Crusaders' failure to clear their line and took the lead when they developed a driving maul from a line-out for their forwards to touch down, the conversion was missed. Both sides were enjoying a fair share of possession but with defences holding firm it took a penalty from Drewery to restore Crusaders lead at half time 6-5.
The Crusaders pack gained some ascendancy in the second half but the Beccles back row coped well going backwards in the scrums and No. 8 Robert Dye's driving runs were repeatedly frustrated.
Crusaders eventually increased their lead, it took a touch of magic from centre Greg Thurston in what looked an impossibility, he weaved his way through a throng of Beccles defenders to touch down near the posts, the conversion was missed 11-5.
Crusaders dismissed two easy penalty opportunities in favour of their dominant scrums but a score failed to materialise. With the deficit only 6 points Beccles could smell an upset but good work by Joy and a good steal by Dye as Beccles drove forward in the Crusaders 22 ensured Crusaders fourth win in a row. Beccles came away deservedly with their first league point.