CRUSADERS 14
CATALANS DRAGONS 6
By Dave Parkinson
A tough and often dour struggle saw the Crusaders eventually finish with their third win of the season. It took the Crusaders last incarnation 27 games to achieve three wins last time while the Brian Noble coached 2010 side have reached the mark in just seven games.
The game was noteworthy for the debut of 35 year-old former British Lion Gareth Thomas.As a result the crowd swelled to a highly respectable 6,124 on a foul and wet night. After being bounced by David Ferriol in only the second tackle of the game, Thomas was struggling. Gamely the former Cardiff Blues player tried to get involved as often as he could and took several further drives at the defence and also chased one of many Michael Witt kicks. A second knock after 30 minutes brought an end to his involvement.
By the time Thomas left the field, Crusaders were 6-0 up thanks to a Jason Chan try, awarded by video referee Ian Smith after Witt and Lincoln Withers combined. To be fair that was as good as it got.
Missing the talents of Adam Mogg, Thomas Bosc and Clint Greenshields Catalans were reliant on their forward power but there was little guile at the back of it, despite the best efforts of Setaimata Sa, playing out of position at stand-off.
A high tackle from Jamal Fakir gave Witt the opportunity to add to the score after 32 minutes and it remained 8-0 at the break.
The second half proved to be a slightly better spectacle and after plenty of early completions only mistake from Fakir broke the mould. It was Catalans however that changed the scoreboard when a fine kick across field from Casey MacGuire was plucked out of the air by skipper Olivier Elima and Greg Mounis goaled.
The kicking of Witt then changed the face of the half, his patient kicks meant that the Dragons had to start the majority of sets by their own line. Nick Yougquest couldn't get a Tony Martin kick to sit up for him after a spirited chase down the line.
Crusaders did begin to dominate although their plays inside the twenty were easily picked off by an eager Dragons defence that held firm for three sets before losing possession for another two.
It was largely one man rugby until the 67th minute when Sa booted an attempted long kick out on the full and Crusaders built on territory to score only the third try of a tight game. Again referee Thierry Alibert went upstairs to Ian Smith after Peter Lupton ran strong and true and had a little bit of help from Martin after the otherwise impressive Dimitri Pelo appeared to stop the initial play.
The try stood however, benefit of doubt to the Crusaders, and Witt added his third goal to open up a 14-6 lead. Frank Winterstein was then curiously denied a try thanks to the reactions of Pelo and although Catalans tried to play expansively in the last ten minutes, it wasn't to be and the Crusaders prevailed by playing the better percentage game.
CRUSADERS:
Tries: Jason Chan, Peter Lupton.
Goals: Michael Witt 3/3.
CATALANS:
Try: Olivier Elima
Goal: Mounis 1/1.
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