North Wales Crusaders 16 - 42 Rochdale Hornets

Paul Crook lines up a kick

A Paul Crook master class saw Rochdale Hornets out play an ill-disciplined North Wales Crusaders to record their second win in successive games and start to climb the table.

Crook was play maker, try scorer and of course kicker.

Early Hornets pressure brought the reward it deserved when Crook scored the first try of the game, which he duly converted.

Crusaders hit back through Johnson who dummied to reach the line. Johnson sliced his conversion attempt just wide.

Ill-discipline gifted Hornets two more when Crook converted a penalty.

Further poor discipline saw Walker from Crusaders sin binned for dissent and, following an outstanding cut-out pass from Sean Casey, Baines made the most of the extra man to score. Crook converted.

Hornets continued to dominate possession and the Welsh defence had no answer to Michael Ratu as he powered over the line. For once Crook missed!

Jono Smith looked to be in for Crusaders but the referee called a knock on.

With half time approaching and a comfortable lead, Hornets let concentration slip and gave away a series of penalties that led to Offerdahl scoring for Crusaders on the stroke of half time.

Half time: North Wales Crusaders 10 - 20 Hornets

The second half was not long under way when Hornets gained field position via a penalty and Crook put Bowman through a huge gap and he made no mistake. Crook added the extras.

The second half saw the game become more bad-tempered and it wasn't long before two players were off to the sin bin - Bowman for Hornets and Jono Smith for Crusaders.

Karl Ashall scored Crusaders third, and final, try of the game before Ratu left Stephen Wild and Jono Smith in his wake to add his second for Hornets. Crook hit a superb kick from the touchline to give Hornets a 16 point lead with 20 left to play.

It was Crook's trusty boot again that saw Hornets increase their lead, Crook slotting over another penalty.

The Paul Crook show continued with superb footwork followed by a dummy and offload to put Langley in for the try of the game - and of course Crook added the extras.

Fittingly it was Crook who completed the scoring as he rubbed salt into the Crusaders wound when another penalty sailed over.

There was just time before the hooter for one last Crusaders attempt at a consolation try but Massam went into touch as he went over in the corner.

An excellent and well deserved result for Ian Talbot's men and it must be clear now to those who wrote Hornets off at the start of the season that they are no make weights in the division.

Full time: North Wales Crusaders 16 - 42 Rochdale Hornets

Attendance: 835

North Wales Crusaders: Tommy Johnson, Adam Clay, Stuart Reardon, Christian Roots, Rob Massam, Andy Moulsdale, Jamie Dallimore, Jonny Walker, Craig Ashall, Mark Offerdahl, Toby Aadmson, Gary Middlehurst, Stephen Wild.
Replacements: Jono Smith, Karl Ashall, Simon Stephens, David Mills.
Coach: Clive Griffiths

Rochdale Hornets: Wayne English, Gaz Langley, Danny Davies, Mike Ratu, Shaun Robinson, Paul Crook, Ryan Millard, Warren Thompson, Sean Casey, Steve Marsh, Chris Baines, Tony Suffolk, Jordan Case.
Replacements: Adam Bowman, Liam Gilchrist, Lewis Sheridan, Connor Dwyer.
Coach: Ian Talbot

Referee: Joe Cobb
Touch Judges: A Bentham & M Mannifield
Reserve Referee: J Ashton