GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS 18

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 30

A last minute try from Billy Brickhill won a scrappy but tense encounter for the Crusaders who banished memories of their Challenge Cup defeat back in April and earned themselves two crucial league points into the bargain writes Chris Wilson.

After the All Golds had come back from 36-16 down to win an epic Challenge Cup tie earlier in the season, there were fears of a repeat as the Crusaders clung on to a slender six point lead with time running out.

However, neither side were able to cling on to possession long enough to carve out the definitive chance and it was a defensive play that clinched things.

Kieran Hyde’s attacking kick was made under pressure and charged down. Brickhill grabbed the loose ball to race away to the posts for the clinching score.

Despite the tense finish, the first half contained the better quality rugby.

The Crusaders took control of the game as the half wore on after going behind to Steve Parry’s early try to lead 22-6 at the break.

Both sides used the opening exchanges to test each other out up the middle and the All Golds had the better of these exchanges. At the end of their third consecutive set, Parry drove over from close range.

The Crusaders then looked to move the ball wide and found some gains. From their first real attack Alex Thompson’s neat offload put Scott Turner over.

On their next attack, Rob Massam hurtled over on the opposite wing to put the Crusaders in front.

The All Golds were being starved of possession and were failing to make the most of what they had.

After the Crusaders failed to find touch with a penalty, the All Golds attacked but lost possession cheaply. The Crusaders countered on the free play, swept downfield and Turner’s inside kick was fielded by Jack Hansen who raced over.

Turner then scored his second try, taking Hyde’s cross kick over Chris Barlow and racing 90 metres down the wing to score. Johnson’s three goals saw the Crusaders to a handy three score lead at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half, there were four points between the sides. Parry found a gap in the Crusaders’ goalline defence to score his second try and then Phil Cowburn used his outside men as a foil score following an angled run.

The game then hit a lull and became terribly scrappy. Both sides made unforced errors and there was little in the way of excitement.

Johnson edged the Crusaders six points ahead with a penalty on the hour mark but scoring chances were being squandered by both sides with alarming frequency as it seemed neither wanted to win the game.

That is, until Brickhill struck.