Hewitt sees red on an off day for Roughyeds

NORTH Wales Crusaders are a great advertisement for the argument that you don’t need to be a team of flash-Harrys to do well in Betfred League One.

They do the basics well, like tackling and running hard, working for each other, defending their line with a well-structured defence and completing their sets and on top of that they have two players - Gav Rodden and Rob Massam - who have the X Factor when it comes to scoring tries.

That just about sums up the Crusaders. who are top of the table with eight wins from eight games, a club record of consistency, and proved their authority here by going 30-0 up before easing off defensively and allowing Roughyeds back into the game.

Full credit to Colwyn Bay’s visitors for hitting back with late tries by Billy Yarrow, James Thornton and Brad Jinks, two of which were converted by Martyn Ridyard, but in truth the game was over as a contest by half-time when Crusaders led 18-0.

Roughyeds dominated the first quarter in terms of possession and territory, but they didn’t inspire confidence that they had the guile, craft, strength or wow factor to break down the solid Crusaders defence.

On-loan centre Connor Carr went close on one occasion, but in the main the home defence had the measure of anything Oldham could throw at them.

In Massam and Rodden, Anthony Murray’s men had attacking qualities in abundance and once Crusaders got a foothold in the game they played consistently to the left edges where Rodden and Massam proved unstoppable as a centre-wing partnership.

Rodden usually plays in the second-row, but he was switched to centre when Matt Reid, another huge guy, pulled out injured.

In the 20 minutes before half time Rodden powered over the Oldham line to score two tries, Massam added another, Tommy Johnson kicked a penalty and two conversions, and that was that.

Head coach Murray said: “We pride ourselves on our work ethic. No show-ponies here, but we do have players who know how to take advantage of all our hard work.”

Rodden (head knock) didn’t come out for the second half and Massam went off with an ankle knock midway through the second half, but not before Crusaders had stretched their lead to 30-0 with tries by Jordy Gibson and Alex Eckley, both improved by Johnson.

Two players were sent off near the end after an altercation following Dave Hewitt’s tackle on his opposing half-back Jordy Gibson.

After consulting with his touch-judges, referee Michael Mannifield produced the red card, first for Hewitt and then for Gibson.

Play resumed with a penalty to Crusaders.

Roughyeds have no game next weekend before they play London Skolars away on Friday night, May 27 and return home to the Vestacare Stadium to entertain Swinton Lions on Sunday, June 5.

Team: Restall; Holcroft, Carr, Morgan, Hartley; Ridyard, Hewitt; Nelmes, Jinks, Spencer, Windrow, Ferry, Whittel. Subs: Yarrow, Thornton, Andrade, Flynn.