All Golds v NW Crusaders KPL1S 2017 Final
FREE Matchday magazine for Gloucestershire, professional rugby league squad, the All Golds as they take on North Wales Crusaders in the League 1 Shield
FREE Matchday magazine for Gloucestershire, professional rugby league squad, the All Golds as they take on North Wales Crusaders in the League 1 Shield
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TODAY’S OPPONENTS<br />
NORTH WALES CRUSADERS<br />
WRITTEN BY JACK CONLON<br />
12<br />
FORM<br />
Our visitors kicked off their League 1 Shield<br />
campaign with a surprise 40-12 defeat to<br />
London Skolars, moving them down to third in<br />
the table and denting their hopes of lifting the<br />
trophy. Skolars dominated them in all areas<br />
last week, blitzing them early on to establish<br />
a 16-point lead after just 20 minutes. North<br />
Wales managed to pull back two tries with<br />
10 minutes to go, but the game was well and<br />
truly gone by that point.<br />
Prior to last week, <strong>Crusaders</strong> were unbeaten<br />
in four games, racking up convincing wins<br />
over South Wales, Oxford and Coventry as<br />
well as a well-earned draw against Super 8’s<br />
contenders Whitehaven. Performances like<br />
that are what coach Mike Grady will be looking<br />
for, so his side will be hoping for a big response<br />
on the back of last week’s disappointment.<br />
BACKS<br />
<strong>Crusaders</strong> have kept a pretty consistent<br />
backline all season, with club captain<br />
Tommy Johnson at the heart of it. The<br />
stalwart fullback isn’t only a prolific kicker,<br />
but also plays a huge part in attack and<br />
defence. Alongside him in the middle are<br />
halves Ryan Smith and Andy Moulsdale,<br />
who have both been mainstays in the squad<br />
for most of the season.<br />
There’s plenty of talent in the three-quarters,<br />
with Earl Hurst, Dale Bloomfield and former<br />
<strong>All</strong> Gold Callum Mulkeen all holding down<br />
regular spots Winger Dan Price has also<br />
impressed on the right wing after getting<br />
a chance on the back of Corey Lee’s<br />
departure. Mike Grady also moved to sign St<br />
Helens winger Dave Eccleston on deadline<br />
day, providing another option out wide.<br />
www.allgoldsrugby.com<br />
FORWARDS<br />
North Wales’ forward pack looked strong at<br />
the start of the year and has only improved<br />
with the acquisitions of some impressive<br />
players. Props Warren Thompson and Joe<br />
Bate were first to arrive, before Alex Whalley<br />
and Jack Francis came in on loan from<br />
Warrington and Rochdale respectively. <strong>All</strong><br />
four add some significant size to an already<br />
powerful front row.<br />
Elsewhere, centre-turned-backrower Simon<br />
Atherton has proved to be a useful runner out<br />
wide, as has Jack Houghton, who is in his first<br />
season with the club. Completing the forwards<br />
are Lee Hudson,<br />
James Dandy and Aaron Moore, who have<br />
formed a good partnership whilst rotating at<br />
hooker. Each one offers something different<br />
going forward, while all three are solid in<br />
defence.<br />
Tommy Johnson<br />
Simon Atherton<br />
Earl Hurst<br />
Dale Bloomfield<br />
Andy Moulsdale<br />
Ryan Smith<br />
Jonny Walker<br />
Lee Hudson<br />
Alex Davidson<br />
Alex Thompson<br />
Stephen Bannister<br />
Ryan Millington<br />
James Dandy<br />
Luke Warburton<br />
Kenny Baker<br />
SQUAD<br />
Danny Price<br />
Andy Unsworth<br />
Dean Thompson<br />
Joe Bate<br />
Jack Francis (loan)<br />
Jack Houghton<br />
Matt Davies<br />
Aaron Moore<br />
Callum Mulkeen<br />
Josh Simm<br />
Blake Turner<br />
Warren Thompson<br />
Alex Whalley (loan)<br />
Jonny Leather<br />
Dave Eccleston (loan)<br />
@<strong>All</strong><strong>Golds</strong> facebook.com/<strong>All</strong><strong>Golds</strong>Rugby
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