2010 Crusaders Rugby League season
Introduction '''Crusaders Rugby League''' enter their 5th year of rugby league, their 2nd in professional rugby league, in 2010.Additionally, this will be their first known as Crusaders Rugby League after previously being known as '''Celtic Crusaders''', and their first year playing away from Brewery Field, Bridgend, moving to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. They will be in contention for the Super League, in its 15th season and the 2010 Challenge Cup.
Season review === Preseason ===The preseason saw the Crusaders make a number of changes firstly the Crusaders changed their name from Celtic Crusaders to Crusaders Rugby League then they got rid of previous coach John Dixon and was replaced by Brian Noble as well as gaining Nobles services Iestyn Harris and Jon Sharp joined as assistant coaches. The preseason also saw Wales take part in the 2009 European Cup which they ended up winning against Scotland 28–16, from the Crusaders 2010 Squad Jordan James, Ben Flower, Elliot Kear, Lewis Mills and Lloyd White were all named in the Wales squad. The Crusaders also confirmed Wrexhams Racecourse Ground as their new home ground for 2010 they originally planned to play at Newports Rodney Parade but unfortunately they couldn't which meant they had to move their South Wales base 200 miles to North Wales. The Crusaders made a number of high-profile signings during the off season with players such as former Great Britain internationals Jamie Thackray and Gareth Raynor joining the club as well as former NRL player Michael Witt returning to the 13-man code after a -year stint with the Otago rugby union club.===2010 season===In April, Crusaders progressed from the fourth round of the Challenge Cup with a 58–8 win over York City Knights.
Results ===Super League=======Table========Super League results====  DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Super League results 29 January 4  Leeds Rhinos H Racecourse Ground  6–34 Raynor Witt 10,334  RLP 5 February 1  Wigan Warriors A DW Stadium  6–38 Dyer Witt 13,680  RLP 12 February 2  Salford City Reds A The Willows  36–16 Mellars (3), Raynor, Thackray, Winterstein, Witt Witt (4) 3,421  RLP 21 February 3  Hull F.C. H Racecourse Ground  18–16 Youngquest (2), Witt Witt (3) 6,794  RLP 7 March 5  Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium  12–46 Bryant, Withers Witt (2) 11,113  RLP 12 March 6  St Helens A The GPW Recruitment Stadium  30–37 Dyer, Mellars, Raynor, Thackray, Withers Witt (5} 8,507  RLP 19 March 7  Catalans Dragons H Racecourse Ground  14–6 Chan, Lupton Witt (3) 6,124  RLP 26 March 8  Castleford Tigers A The Jungle  16–22 Chan, Lupton Witt (3) 5,229  RLP 5 April 10  Bradford Bulls A Grattan Stadium, Odsal  16–20 Hauraki, Mellars Witt (4) 7,853  RLP 11 April 11  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats A Hearwell Stadium  20–10 Mellars, Thomas, Witt, Youngquest Witt (2) 4,671  RLP 25 April 12  Huddersfield Giants H Racecourse Ground  10–38 Dyer, Hauraki Witt 4,127  RLP 1 May 13  Bradford Bulls N Murrayfield Stadium  19–0 Witt (3), Sammut Witt (3 + FG) 26,642  RLP 16 May 14  Hull Kingston Rovers A "New" Craven Park  10–54 Raynor, Sammut Witt 7,273  RLP 22 May 15  Wigan Warriors H Racecourse Ground  26–46 Chan, Hanbury, Lupton, Witt, Youngquest Witt (3) 6,075  RLP 6 June 16  Harlequins A Twickenham Stoop  22–50 Chan, Hanbury, Lupton, Schifcofske Schifcofske (3) 2,381  RLP 13 June 17  Bradford Bulls H Racecourse Ground  44–20 Hauraki (2), Martin, Mellars, Thomas, Withers, Youngquest Schifcofske (8) 2,979  RLP 20 June 18  Leeds Rhinos A Headingley Carnegie Stadium  32–26 Hauraki (2), Mellars (2), Peek Schifcofske (6) 14,371  RLP 27 June 19  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats H Racecourse Ground  0–41   2,837  RLP 4 July 20  Warrington Wolves H Racecourse Ground  10–30 Hanbury, Youngquest Schifcofske 5,197  RLP 11 July 21  Huddersfield Giants A Galpharm Stadium  12–30 Hauraki, Sammut Schifcofske (2) 5,339  RLP 17 July 22  Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus  26–22 Chan, Hanbury, Hauraki, Lupton Schifcofske (5) 6,208  RLP 25 July 23  Castleford Tigers H The Gnoll  30–24 Hanbury, Hauraki, James, Martin, Sammut Schifcofske (5) 1,495  RLP 1 August 24  Salford City Reds H Racecourse Ground  60–16 Youngquest (3), Martin (2), Schifcofske (2), Hanbury, Hauraki, O'Hara, Winterstein Schifcofske (8) 2,412  RLP 6 August 9  Harlequins H Racecourse Ground  16–12 Hanbury (2), Chan Schifcofske (2) 1,122  RLP 13 August 25  Hull F.C. A KC Stadium  16–18 Dyer, Lupton Schifcofske (4) 11,762  RLP 21 August 26  St Helens A Racecourse Ground  10–36 Mellars, Winterstein Schifcofske 5,374  RLP 4 September 27  Hull Kingston Rovers H Racecourse Ground  30–24 Dyer, Hanbury, Martin, O'Hara, Sammut Schifcofske (5) 5,137  RLP====Play-offs====DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Play-off results 11 September Eliminators  Huddersfield Giants A Galpharm Stadium  12–18 Hanbury Schifcofske (4) 5,869  RLP===Challenge Cup=== DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Challenge Cup results 18 April 4  York City Knights A Huntington Stadium  58–8 Chan (2), Hanbury (2), White (2), Flower, Thackray, Thomas, Youngquest Witt (9) 719  RLP 9 May 5  Catalans Dragons H Racecourse Ground  34–35 Lupton, Mellars, Sammut, Schifcofske, Winterstein, Youngquest Schifcofske (3), Witt (2) 1,817  RLP
Players ===Squad======Transfers=======Gains==== Acquisitions Player  Signed from  When signedMichael Witt  Otago Highlanders  December 2009Nick Youngquest  Gateshead Thunder  December 2009Frank Winterstein  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats  December 2009Tony Martin  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats  December 2009Vincent Mellars  Auckland Vulcans  January 2010Tommy Lee  Hull F.C. November 2009Jamie Thackray  Hull F.C. January 2010Weller Hauraki  Parramatta Eels  January/February 2010Rhys Hanbury  Wests Tigers  March 2010Rocky Trimarchi  Wests Tigers  January 2010Gareth Thomas  Cardiff Blues  March 2010Clinton Schifcofske  Ulster Rugby  March 2010Jarrod Sammut  Penrith Panthers  April 2010====Losses==== Losses Player  Signed for  When leftTony Duggan  Lézignan Sangliers  August 2009Josh Hannay  Mackay Cutters  August 2009Mark Dalle Cort  Northern Pride  August 2009Jace Van Dijk  Easts Tigers   August 2009Darren Mapp  Central Comets  August 2009Marshall Chalk  Gold Coast Titans  November 2009Matty Smith  St Helens R.F.C. (loan return)  November 2009Ste Tyrer  St Helens R.F.C. (loan return)  November 2009Mark Lennon  Burleigh Bears  November 2009Damien Quinn  Lézignan Sangliers  August 2009David Tangata-Toa  Unknown  UnknownGeraint Davies  Coventry RUFC  December 2009Ashley Bateman  South Wales Scorpions  January 2010Chris Beasley  Central Comets  November 2009Aled James  Unknown  UnknownNeil Budworth  Mackay Cutters  December 2009Paul Ballard  Blackpool Panthers  December 2009Terry Martin  Unknown Unknown
References