With Harrogate bringing a huge pack with them the crusaders normally impeccable forwards were under serious pressure right from the start, the first few scrums being lost and being driven backwards which is a new experience for us.

The game plan had been set out before the match though and we knew that flexing our forwards against theirs was not the way to win the game, and we had to give our backs the ball and let them run with it.
With Matt Savage at 10 calling the shots, and new player Tom Tetlow at 12 supporting him the first try came in due course with Tetlow going over for his first of the day.

Harrogate came back fighting and for the next 15 minutes the crusaders were pinned back in their own half, but like the warriors they are our defense was monumental. Harrogate had to settle for a penalty which they kicked, much to the surprise of everyone.

5 minutes later Harrogate kicked another penalty after realising they were not going through the walls of our defense again.

Then suddenly Harrogate found a chink in our armour and went over in the corner. 11-5 at halftime.

Halftime rang in some changes for both sides and suddenly the crusaders were back on the front foot, powering in for his second try tetlow was over and the conversion was made, 12-11 the score. This was when the battle really got going with both packs challenging for every ball and tempers reaching boiling point. Tetlow went over again for his third try on his debut, 17-11 crusaders. Harrogate were not done though and they went over with a hard fought try from their pack which was duly converted. 17-18 harrogate.

The game was getting really tasty by now, and another Harrogate penalty kick put them 21-17 in the lead with 4 minutes remaining.

With a huge rallying cry the crusaders went forth to do battle again and with the seconds remaining we won the ball after great forwards work and on the Harrogate line, Dave Hughes picked the ball up and went over the line, and with Matt Savage converting the crusaders had won the game 24-21. An amazing victory and a great game played by all.

MoM – Jim Leigh