South Wales Scorpions 18 North Wales Crusaders 50

GARETH O’Brien helped Warrington Wolves’ partner-club Crusaders to a win over Welsh rivals Scorpions at Cardiff Arms Park.

The Warrington half back crossed before the break as North Wales put 50 points on their South Wales counterparts.

George King also featured from the bench for the visitors.

Crusaders attacked well from the off and were close to the line twice in the first five minutes, but twice knocked on in prime positions.

But following a penalty, the North Wales side took the lead when Alex Thompson scored in the corner. Tommy Johnson converted.

An O’Brien kick was picked up by Jamie Dallimore who scored under the sticks. Johnson converted to make it 12-0.

However the Scorpions regained the ball from kick-off and it was the man who used to terrorise the South Wales Scorpions, Jonny Leather, who touched down in the corner for a try back. Paul Emanuelli converted.

Scorpions drew level just before the half-hour when Anthony Symons dived over from a penalty, his first touch of the ball after coming on as sub. Emanuelli converted before adding a penalty to give the Scorpions a two-point advantage.

But North Wales went into the break with a 24-14 lead with two tries in the last three minutes. First Wolves’ O’Brien stormed through under the sticks and Johnson converted.

Then, following a penalty, Elliot Davies made a carbon copy of the last try with Johnson again adding the extras.

Crusaders started well in the second half and were three times denied tries in the first 10 minutes, all being held up over or near to the line.

But, following another penalty, the ball went out wide to Johnson who dived past his markers, converting himself to make it 30-14.

And in a length of the field move, Crusaders increased their lead further just before the hour. Jono Smith in the corner after good work from Middlehurst. Johnson converted.

Then, after a goalmouth scramble, Stuart Reardon claimed Crusaders’ seventh try of the afternoon. Johnson uncharacteristically missed the kick to leave the score on 40-14.

From kick-off, Crusaders scored again as Smith went over for his second, in the same spot with Johnson again failing to add the extras.

It was merely consolation but Scorpions got one back with seven minutes to go when Curtis Davies darted through a gap in the Crusaders defence. Emanuelli missed the kick.

But a final North Wales try in the corner for Welsh international Rob Massam converted by Johnson completed the scoring.