On Saturday Cramlington Rockets made the journey down to Robertson Rd from Northumbria, to enable both teams to get in some good quality pre season, in the form of a friendly match.

Despite the Rugby Union season playing out its final weekend, Crusaders manged to get an impressive 18 players on the park. Former junior players Timoci Tuisovivi, Amborosio Bani and Ollie Bale all made their debuts alongside Adam Bannon, Daniel Hope and Tyler Widnall.

From the outset both clubs showed their intent to play open running Rugby League and took every chance to move the ball away from ruck and try and create spaces wider out. In the opening exchanges it was Rockets who controlled the ball better and kept Crusaders back in their own half. Crusaders struggled to get out of their own 30 meters and coughed the ball up with unforced errors, however a dogged defence somehow managed to stop Rockets from getting over the line.

As both teams settled down the game remained open but a little less one way traffic. Both sides gave it their all in defence with plenty of bone rattling hits going in. In attack Rockets played a well structured game building momentum before unleashing "Cramlington Ball" which saw them go wide with a numbers of runners pushing into the line whilst the ball went "out the back". At times Crusaders struggled to cope with this play and it was, indeed, where Rockets took their chances getting in, in the corners.

Arguably Crusaders punch game was slightly better with plenty of line breaks. Most of these were covered by Rockets with a big scrambling effort and good control of the defensive ruck.

Having played out a tight very physical contest both teams can be satisfied with such a good performance at this stage of the season and Crusaders would like to thank Rockets from making the journey. We'll see you at the CLV in the coming weeks.

CATTERICK CRUSADERS RLFC

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