On Saturday, Crusaders U12's, sponsored by WACKADAYZ LASER QUEST, played their penultimate match of the season against the mighty Black and Orange grand Final winning Cramlington Rockets.
With both teams arriving in good order and got their warm up under way and were ready for a 1030 kick off.
Crusaders won the toss and opted to receive the kick, this saw a strong arm wrestle between both sides for the first ten minutes until Crusaders upped there communication and Harry King broke away down the wing before changing route and eventually scoring under the stick’s. This didn't phase Rockets and they hit back to even the score at 4 - 4. Unfortunately Crusaders lost communication in the line but were still very potent in attack. Elijah Delaidriti was next over the white wash to put the score at 8-4 with 6 minutes of the half remaining in what was an evenly balanced encounter.
Just before the half Rockets leveled the score to 8-8, they had been working on pulling the defensive line one way in order to get the over lap on the wing and scored with a brilliant 3v1.
The second half got underway with Crusaders kicking to Rockets. With the half time team chat still ringing in their ears, Crusaders upped the chat again in defence to hold out the Rockets. Crusaders very own mini Rob Burrows, Kyle Tomlins, did what he does best and broke the deadlock, using his quick thinking and feet to catch the defensive line on the back foot, he ducked and darted through the line to score the first try of the second half, putting Crusaders back in the lead 12-8. Crusaders remained on the offensive and it wasn't long until Finlay Virgus-Pearson bust over the line to score under the sticks to enable the first conversation of the game happen, taking the score to 18-8 to Crusaders.
Rockets again created space out wide and broke down the wing but Chloe Haighton wasn’t about to let the Rockets passed her and put in a try saving tackle.
Osea Navuso and Kyle discussed tactics quickly and Osea moved out towards the wing for the next attacking set. On the 3rd play of the set, deep in the Crusaders half, they put the plan into motion this saw Osea crash through the Rockets fringes to go 70 meters to score a converted try. 24-8 to Crusaders with 8 minutes to go.
Crusaders now started to flag and this started to tell in the defensive line affording Rockets opportunities that luckily didn't quite come off. Crusaders A game remained sharp and it was Elijah who scored the final try for Crusaders bringing the score to 28-8.
Rockets were never coming all the way south to roll over and with 5 minutes to go they hit a big crash ball to get over the line for a converted try, taking the score to 28-14 where it remained for the final few minutes.

Crusaders would like to thank Josh Bell for his assistance in managing the team whilst Coach Ben did his bit as the miserable Whistle Blower. Thanks to the supporters from both clubs you were a credit to both clubs as were the younger Crusaders who also came and watched after their training finished.

Thanks again to the team's sponsors Wackadayz Laser Quest