Latest news with #Forster
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Crusaders look to dodge Thunder to maintain title quest
Crusaders will be overwhelming favourites to bag their 12th win of the season on Sunday when they head to Blaydon to tackle Newcastle Thunder. It's North Wales who currently sit at the top of the standings, while Newcastle are at the foot of the table. Despite this, head coach Forster will be taking nothing for granted ahead of the trip. He said: 'We know what Newcastle are about, they're a young and hungry side who won't go away at any point during the game and we need to be well aware of that. 'They go into Sunday with nothing to lose, whilst we've got a target on our back sat where we are in the league, that will naturally raise their game too and I'm expecting a difficult afternoon. 'Both times we've played them this year what's stood out to me is their attitude to never give up, whatever the scoreline is they will keep attacking you, so our defence will need to be switched on.' The first meeting between the sides this season came in February, when Crusaders triumphed 60-0 in the 1895 Cup. It was a big day for Crusaders' captain Chris Barratt as he made his 200th career appearance. Then, in April, North Wales came out on top 74-0 in a league encounter. Ollie Brookes crossed the whitewash for four tries on the day. One aspect that has kept Crusaders on the front foot this season has been substitutions. Forster told CruCast: 'You don't have to get to a particular minute to impress or there's not a certain standard what we're trying to achieve. 'What we're trying to achieve is quality and... I think all our middles could do big minutes.' Forster added: 'This is where, even more so, credit goes to Baz (Barratt), when you have a middle, or when Eavo (Josh Eaves) starts, when you have a middle and a nine that can play 50, 60 minutes easily straight through, it gives you a lot of scope on your substitutions.' Crusaders sat out last weekend's action and results mean they are now three points clear. Chasing Workington Town and Midlands Hurricanes can both achieve 27 points this season, which means that three wins from their remaining six matches will see Crusaders get to 28 points. If everything goes to plan for Crusaders over the next few weeks, they could wrap up the league title with victory away to Rochdale Hornets on August 10. Elsewhere on Sunday, Swinton Lions will play host to Midlands Hurricanes, while Whitehaven visit Keighley Cougars. In further action, Goole Vikings welcome Rochdale Hornets.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Crusaders look to move a step closer to winning the title
With a three-point buffer at the head of the rankings, Crusaders are favourites to win the league and they know three wins from their remaining six games will prove sufficient to spark a title-winning party. North Wales face a trip to basement side Newcastle Thunder on Sunday and head coach Forster said: 'We've had a week off last week after some really tough games against the likes of Workington, Midlands and Dewsbury. A few results from the teams who have played last weekend have gone our way so we've got a clear picture of what we need to do now in these final six games. 'There's noise from outside the camp, of course there is, but for us as a playing group it's got to be heads down and focused on what we've been doing well all season to put us in this position – nothing has been won yet. 'Up until now, we've not really looked at the table, obviously this week we'll sit down and take a look at the month ahead and probably break the remainder of the season into two parts. 'My first goal is securing a top-four finish, that can be done with a win this week up at Newcastle, and then gives us those extra games at the end of the season for a chance to get promoted to the Championship.'
Leader Live
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
North Wales Crusaders' coach is excited about the future
First team head coach Forster is to assume overall coaching responsibility for the player development pathways at the Colwyn Bay-based club, assisted by head of rugby Darren Morson. At the heart of the mission is the provision of a player pathway to the first-team alongside the establishment of a competitive women's team. Speaking about his additional responsibilities, Forster told CruCast: 'I'm just going to lead-up the programmes for the reserves, the under-18s trials, development squads and the women's team. 'So, obviously, there's a lot to do, but it's mainly me putting plans in place for them to succeed. 'So, the reserves need to be more stream-lined, it needs to be more in line with the first team. It needs to be more accessible for those players that are wanting to step up and, obviously, I've got to give them the platform to do that. 'So, we've got a good base right now, but there's a lot of work to do in terms of, obviously, pitches, participation numbers, fixtures. 'It just needs to be a bit more of a consistent programme. So, I'm going to get a reserves' head coach in. 'I'll ultimately get a women's head coach in eventually. That will be more looking towards, obviously, trying to get a women's team set up for next season and I think we've got about 40 applicants for an 18s' development squad, who will be trialling in the next month. 'So, probably bring a couple of additional development coaches in for that as well. So, it's more me overseeing things, putting structures and programmes in place for, obviously, then coaches to succeed and then once we're set up, that's the hard work done. 'But, obviously, just managing and overseeing things and making sure from the first team filtered right down to the 18s and the women's side, that we're all on the same programme. We're all doing the same thing as, obviously, North Wales Crusaders.' Following on from last week's 20-6 success over Dewsbury - when Pat Ah Van, Lloyd Roby, Olly Davies and Sam Wilde shared the tries - North Wales will sit out Sunday's action. Swinton will move to within two points of the front-runners if they triumph at Dewsbury. Goole and Whitehaven entertain Keighley and Workington respectively, while Rochdale visit Newcastle.
Leader Live
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
North Wales Crusaders all set for Dewsbury Rams clash
Last weekend's 56-22 victory over Workington Town has left Crusaders still at the top of League One and they are three points clear of second-placed Midlands Hurricanes with a game in hand. Ahead of the next big encounter, head coach Forster said: 'We're expecting a really tough game yet again this weekend. 'Dewsbury are a really strong side, they sit just outside of the play-off places as we speak, so they'll have their own aims of coming to Colwyn Bay and making a statement to get themselves back into the top-four contention as we head into those final few games. 'We've obviously beaten them already this season when we went there on the opening day and came away with a 20-10 victory, but that was the first game of the campaign and I think both teams have progressed since then, so I probably won't take too much from it.' Reflecting on last week's win, Forster added: 'I think it took everyone by surprise a bit, didn't it? 'All week the build-up had been about how tight the game would be, but I'm really proud of the lads, it was probably one of our best performances to date. 'What we can't do is get carried away with that now, if we believe in our own hype then we'll come unstuck this weekend against a solid Dewsbury side, and we need to be at the top of our game for the remainder of the season if we want to lift the league title come the end of it. 'A huge advantage last weekend was the atmosphere created by our supporters, these lads deserve a packed stadium this Sunday and a loud noise from minute one, we can all play our part in the title race both on the field and in the stands. 'Credit goes to our supporters, they're banging the drum for this club, the lads see that and it does help raise the levels on the field.' Looking at Sunday's visitors, Forster said: 'They're a really solid outfit. 'We know where their threats lie, we've done our homework on them as they'll have done on us, I think it will be a close game. 'They're probably a bit out of position in the table given the standard they can reach, I'd class Dewsbury as one of the top sides in this division, so we have to be aware of that going into this Sunday.'
Leader Live
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Things continue to look positive for North Wales Crusaders
Carl Forster's charges are favourites for the League One title this season and ahead of Sunday's home clash with Dewsbury Rams, Crusaders find themselves three points clear of the chasing pack. A run of just one defeat in 11 matches so far this season has been achieved without an experienced pair of players - but they are soon expected to be back in the ranks. Head coach Forster told CruCast: 'Jake Spedding has joined back in training. I think we're hoping to see Jake in, probably, the next three of four weeks. So, we're slowly getting back up there.' Another player back out on the training pitch is Welsh international Ben Evans and Forster is delighted to see the pair returning to fitness. 'It's easily forgotten when you're winning games and you're flying high at the top with the actual personnel that we've been missing this year,' added Forster. 'So, to welcome them back at a crucial time of the year I think, obviously, speaks volumes for what we've done already this year. 'But, obviously, moving forward it's some big, experienced boys to come back in.' In further good news from the North Wales camp, the club has confirmed a new deal for Joe Baldwin, who will extend his stay with the Crusaders until the end of the 2027 season. Having played at Orrell St James during his junior career, Baldwin was signed by Super League outfit Wigan Warriors in 2019. He was able to gain plenty of valuable experience at the club before he made the move to Crusaders in 2024. Baldwin became a key figure towards the back end of last season, picking up the young player of the year accolade at the club's end of season awards. On his new deal, Baldwin told the club's website: 'I'm buzzing to have signed another two years here. 'The coaching staff and lads are quality, and my game has developed loads in my past two years at this great club. 'Now I'm excited to see what the next two years bring both for my personal career and Crusaders in general to see how far the club can go.' Forster added: 'Joe is a brilliant young player and you can see the development in his game year on year.' With seven games left, Crusaders know that five wins will be sufficient to give them the League One crown. North Wales are three points ahead of Midlands Hurricanes, with third-placed Swinton Lions a further point back. Midlands are heading to Workington Town on Sunday, while Swinton will be favourites at home to basement side Newcastle Thunder. In further action, Whitehaven make the trip to Goole Vikings.
