Latest news with #CarlForster
Leader Live
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
North Wales Crusaders bag another win in their title quest
Carl Forster's charges have demonstrated they are the team to beat this season and they took another giant stride towards the championship with their 20-6 home triumph against Dewsbury Rams. Title rivals Midlands Hurricanes lost out at Workington Town and Crusaders are now four points clear. In a rematch from the opening day of the League One season, Crusaders came firing out of the blocks. Looking to complete a league double versus the Rams, North Wales had the lead in the ninth minute when Pat Ah Van was sent clear for a try by Jordy Gibson's pass. Dewsbury looked to attack and a threatening high kick was gathered under pressure by Ollie Brookes. Then, on 17 minutes, Crusaders managed to stretch their advantage. Lloyd Roby was on hand with the try and Jamie Dallimore duly added the extra two points from wide out. Things got even better for Crusaders just four minutes later. Chris Barratt opened up the Dewsbury defence with a superb run and Olly Davies was there to grab the home side's third score of the afternoon. Dallimore was once again on the money with his conversion attempt and North Wales had a healthy 16-point advantage. Crusaders will have wanted to keep their opponents out for the whole half, but this didn't turn out to be the case. Just a minute away from the interval, Dewsbury finally got themselves on the scoreboard with Liam Copland's converted try in the corner and this managed to cut North Wales' advantage to 10 points at the midway mark. North Wales, victorious against high-flying rivals Midlands Hurricanes and Workington in recent weeks, will have been aiming for a positive opening to the second half under the sun at Colwyn Bay's Stadiwm CSM. It was nip-and-tuck when the action got back underway and no further work was required from the scoreboard operators during the initial stages. Aiming to edge closer to their hosts, Dewsbury did manage to win a penalty deep in Crusaders' territory, but North Wales were able to deal well with this and regain possession. As the half developed, North Wales demonstrated their defensive prowess to force their opponents into a goal-line drop-out. It was game over with six minutes left to play as North Wales claimed their fourth try of the contest. Sam Wilde pounced to score from Gibson's kick through. This hard-fought victory keeps Crusaders clear at the top of the standings and with six matches left to play, North Wales know that four more triumphs will be sufficient to spark a title-winning party. Another week off is in the offing for North Wales, before they return to action with their trip to Newcastle Thunder on July 27. Swinton are up to second after their 52-10 win over Newcastle, while Midlands lost out 29-12 at Workington. Elsewhere, Goole thrashed Whitehaven 56-6.
Leader Live
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Regular run of matches at last for North Wales Crusaders!
With the nature of League One this year, it has been a stop-start campaign for Carl Forster's side, who have done well to only lose once so far. Nine wins from 10 games sees them three points clear at the summit ahead of Sunday's big showdown at home to second-placed Workington Town. This is one of three matches Cru will play in July and the stretch of matches will go a long way to deciding if they're about to secure the top honour. While the focus is on making this season a title-winning one, sights have also been switched to the future as Crusaders look to keep hold of their strong squad. Head coach Forster told CruCast: 'I believe that this team can go far, whether that be League One near the top, competing in the Championship. 'Whatever that may be, I believe in these lads. So, we feel like we've got a special thing at the minute. 'We are going to try and bring in additional players as well, but right now, it's about retention and keeping hold of what we have, and keeping hold of our assets and that's what these players are. 'If we can build something and be together for a sustained amount of time, I think it'll just pay the benefits.' North Wales have made sure a number of their key players are to remain with the club for the next few seasons. Two-year deals have been penned by the likes of Ollie Brookes, Cole Oakley, Sam Wilde and Josh Eaves, who have all proved to be pivotal figures during what's been an excellent campaign so far for the side. Forster added: 'Going longer down the line, you see a lot of part-time teams - ourselves included - in the last couple of years where you're changing 10 lads every season and it just becomes tough. 'I think pre-season as a coach, you just feel like you're starting from scratch again and you've got five or six lads that did it all the year before, and probably look a little bit bored and that's just the cycle of part-time rugby. 'You know, we're just trying to do things a little bit different.' There's still a long way to go this season and Crusaders have eight matches left to play. They are three points ahead of Workington Town and Midlands Hurricanes, with Swinton Lions a further point adrift in the chase for the league title. Dewsbury Rams are also in the mix and they will be heading to North Wales on July 13. Crusaders will conclude their July programme away to Newcastle Thunder a fortnight later. Third-placed Midlands, beaten by Goole Vikings last time out, will be looking to bounce back as they host mid-table Rochdale Hornets on Sunday. Keighley Cougars welcome Dewsbury Rams and Swinton Lions pay a visit to Whitehaven.
Leader Live
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Carl says Crusaders had to work hard for latest victory
However, head coach Carl Forster felt his side was fortunate to grab a 24-point margin of victory during what turned out to be a testing afternoon. The match was still in the balance at the midway point with the scoreline tied at 6-6, but Crusaders pulled clear in the second period to gather their seventh triumph from eight matches this season by a 30-6 outcome. Forster told Cru TV: 'I don't think that scoreline reflects the game, to be really honest. 'I thought Keighley had a really huge dig and I just spoke to a few of their boys. They're saying that's the best they've played all year and I thought their middles took it to us and, ultimately, we just come out the other end and posted some great points towards the back end of the game.' With almost half of the campaign completed, it remains so tight at the head of the rankings. Crusaders have a slender one-point advantage over Workington Town and Midlands Hurricanes in the race for the top honour, while fourth-placed Rochdale Hornets are four points back. In what is set to be a critical encounter, North Wales will welcome Rochdale to Colwyn Bay's Stadiwm CSM on Sunday and this match will mark the midway point of the League One campaign.
Leader Live
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
It'll be a day to remember with RGC and Crusaders in action
Spectators can watch union and league, with RGC and North Wales Crusaders both in action at the venue, marking the clubs' first ever double-header. First up, at 2.30pm, RGC will begin their Super Rugby Cymru play-off quest with their match-up versus Carmarthen Quins. RGC should head into the match in confident mood after last week's 59-38 victory over Aberavon. Crusaders' big League One showdown with Whitehaven will kick-off at 6pm, with the winners going on to the top of the table. Whitehaven, coached by former Cru chief Anthony Murray (pictured), are second, while Crusaders are in third. Last time out Cru beat leaders Midlands Hurricanes 31-18, but head coach Carl Forster says this will count for little if they don't follow it up tomorrow. He told Cru TV: 'This counts for nothing if we don't turn up. They had a real tough contest against Workington and they're well coached. 'We obviously know Muzz (Murray) very well. I know a lot of their boys. Really good team, fight for everything.'
