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Dings Crusaders RFC
National League Two  South
Saturday 27th February 2010
Dings Crusaders 20 - Henley 13

DINGS CRUSADERS edged this tight encounter at Landseer Avenue in a game that was never going to be a free-flowing spectacle due to the heavy under-foot conditions and limited game plans imposed by both coaching teams.

Dings approach was simple - establish a good field position, set a solid forward platform from which to launched their powerful mid-field runner Tim Gear-Evans into the heart of the defence in order to cross the gain line and build momentum from there.

Inside centre Gear-Evans, 28 carried the fight to the visitors all afternoon with his muscular charges in centre-field and always seemed to make the advantage line when called upon to do so by the home side.

He said: "Basically we were looking to play a fairly simple game plan. Obviously the conditions dictated a lot of what we were looking to do out there today. It was all about getting a bit of 'go forward' and we're
chuffed that we've come away with a win. We've got ten points from our last three games and instead of consolidating our position in the league, we are trying to make progress and see how far up the league table we can go this season"  

Dings went behind in the 30th minute when they strayed off side at a ruck allowing visiting fly-half Will Fulton to slot a penalty but they responded four minutes later with a try from Pierre Panizzutti. The blindside flanker
rumbled over following a set move at the line out to score. Full-back Tom Lukjaniec converted and chipped over a penalty on the stroke of half time to make it 10-3 going into the interval.

Crusaders had the better of the visitors at the scrum with front row trio of Chas Meddick, Dave Wheeler and James Curry excelling in the set piece and all giving the home team an extra dimension in the loose. Lock Ed Hack was the pick of the home pack as he once again proved to be a valuable asset to Dings through his high tackle count and work-rate.

Dings extended their lead through skipper Stean Williams on 45 minutes. The flanker was clearly delighted to claim the unconverted try against his former Henley team mates. But the Hawks refused to go away and clawed their way back into the contest with a try from wing Will Jones after 65 minutes. Fulton converted and nudged over a penalty in the 74th minute to bring the visitors to within two points.

But Dings had the final word and after a series of drives by the pack, Meddick crashed over in the 77th minute to claim the spoils for the Lockleaze club