Simon Atkin

A three-try blitz in the last 15 minutes of the match allowed an improving Crusaders side to bag its first league points of the season.

Before that they had flattered to deceive and in spite of their significant territorial advantage for much of the game it seemed likely that the visitors might hang on for a win they scarcely deserved.

Crusaders started confidently with backs and forwards combining well. After an early penalty goal miss by skipper Simon Atkin they took the lead after seven minutes' play when wingman Nick Wright finished off a sharp attack by the backs with Atkin adding the conversion.

A break by fly half Danny McGee, standing in for the unfit Gary Davey, threatened the Hull defence but Crusaders too often wasted possession with ill-directed kicks and over elaboration in the backs, allowing Hull to counter attack. Firm tackling in the centre by Peter Lee-Gallon and Tony Fella, however, stiffled any real threats and the visitors only scoring opportunity in the first half was a missed penalty goal by full back David Prescott.

No 8 Darren Ideson, playing his first senior game of the season, was prominent as Crusaders took play to the Hull 22 meter area, but as half-time approached their play became increasingly ragged and unco-ordinated allowing Hull to take the initiative for the first time.

Three penalty goal failures by Atkin in quick succession began to look increasingly expensive, particularly early in the second half when a kick ahead by Prescott allowed centre Leroy McKenzie to out pace the Cruasader's defence to touch down for Hull's first try. Fortunately for Crusaders the visitors place kicking was equally unreliable with Prescott and Roberts each missing relatively easy attempts at goal.

With Crusaders second row Richard Leach ordered to the sin bin for an injudicious right jab they fell behind when a Crusaders attack floundered enabling McKenzie to break strongly before handing on to wingman Matt Child to cross for a try, giving Hull the lead with only 15 minutes play remaining.

There was a profound sense of 'dj vu' in the Keighley camp, but a break by McGee raised hopes and from a ruck almost on the Hull line young scrum half James Kubran picked up and plunged through the smallest of gaps for the vital score.

Soon afterwards a powerful run down the middle by Tony Fella split the Hull defence and a kindly bounce from his stray pass led to the supporting McGee running in Keighley's third try.

There was no way back for Hull and their misery was compounded when Keighley replacement Matt Gaffney, displaying footballing skills which would have earned the approval of the Valley Parade faithful, controlled the ball from the half-way line with a succession of kicks ahead before winning the race to the touch down. McGee added the conversion on the stroke of time to round off a highly satisfying afternoon's work for a jubilant Crusader's kick.

The young - and not so young - men of the Crusaders 'A' team enjoyed their visit to Huddersfield YMCA with an encouraging 32-10 victory.

It was the experienced forwards, with Steve Hargreaves outstanding, who stood firm in the opening quarter to restrict the home side to just one penalty. The lively back row of Lee Gordon, Leigh Sugden and Morgan Bailey pressured the home side's backs into making handling errors which were seized on by the Crusaders backs, with strong running winger Nigel Curr making inroads into the home side's territory. The Crusaders first try came when full back Richard Cavender entered the line, creating an outside break and passing inside for winger Rod Scarborough to cross for the first of his two tries.

In the second half the Crusaders pack gradually got on top and the home side had no answer for the speed and guile of fly half Ian Simons, who crossed for two tries, the first a solo effort and the second after a well worked move with centre Duncan Grant, who added a penalty to his three conversions.

A late consolation try for the home side and a drop goal from Simons completed the scoring, to give the Crusaders a well deserved 32-10 victory.