Still keeping the flames burning as Welsh experiment confounds critics

THE flame-blower entertaining the crowds did more than warm the cockles of freezing fans.

He was a sign not only of the fiery performance to come from the Crusaders but a reminder that all the detractors of the new Welsh set-up in Wrexham might just have been blowing hot air a little too early.

Of the impressive crowd of 10,334 who ventured to the Racecourse Ground for its inaugural Super League game on Friday night, it is thought around 80 per cent were new to the sport of rugby league.

Crusaders laid on quite a show both on the pitch – the 34-6 loss against Leeds Rhinos did not tell the whole tale – and off it, with the initial signs being plenty of those newcomers will return for a second sitting.

The bursts of flames lighting up the night sky against a backdrop of freshly-fallen snow is hardly the image organisers would have been expecting as a new season of summer rugby began.

But it bodes well for the sport in north Wales that so many spectators still turned out despite the surprise wintry blast that welcomed them.

Maybe with so many being more used to watching union – useful leaflets explaining the basic rules of league were handed out to supporters in a clever piece of forward-thinking – the conditions may have made them feel at home regardless.

They quickly embraced the concept and eagerly got behind their gutsy new side who, for an hour, had the champions rattled.

There may have been some queries along the way – "they really don't push in the scrums, do they?" observed one onlooker, obviously more used to the 15-man code – but they provided a genuinely partizan atmosphere, far superior to anything created at its predecessor, Bridgend's tatty Brewery Field.

There were 4,000 more in Wrexham than last season's previous best attendance in the south of the country so club officials were delighted with the response to their move, even if tickets were distributed at cut-price.

When the PA announcer encouraged them further midway through the second-half, urging for more support to inspire the hosts onto a potentially famous win, spectators broke out into a rendition of Bread of Heaven that resonated wonderfully around the stadium and offered an insight into how things really could take off in Wrexham.

Struggling Leeds were level at 6-6 until five tries in the last 15 minutes saw them finally run away with the contest but coach Brian McClennan was not wrong when he suggested other teams could fall at the Racecourse as the season develops.

"Crusaders were very tenacious and spirited and good on them," he said.

"I was never worried – even at six apiece – as we talked at half-time about relaxing and building some pressure which we did.

"But the Crusaders will give some teams a good run for their money on their home park."

The home side had eight players making their debut and only moved to their new home last month following protracted takeover talks.

Crusaders also had no warm-up fixture yet produced a stirring performance.

"I thought the level of commitment shown by the players was fabulous," said head coach Brian Noble.

"We will improve as a team as we add players to the squad. I think the lack of preparation did for us in the end. We only had a week-and-a-half's preparation.

"The players should be proud of what they achieved for 65 minutes but we've got to get better and not got to accept that sort of thing. There were quite a few reasons for it but our standards have got to get higher. Leeds showed us in that last 20 minutes that you've got to play for 80 minutes.

"But there are some exciting things happening here and, if the players keep working hard, they will win a few games this year. All the signs are there."

Noble hopes to strengthen in time for their next match at his former club, Wigan, on Friday.

Second row Weller Hauraki, 24, who has been released by Parramatta, arrived yesterday and Rhys Hansbury, 24, a full-back from Wests Tigers, is expected to land in midweek.

The club are also expected to sign a specialist scrum-half – hooker Lincoln Withers performing a makeshift role on Friday night.

As a developing club, Crusaders are allowed up to 14 overseas players, more than double the number permitted at their Super League rivals, and they included just two Britons in their starting line-up against Leeds.

Noble has made no apology for packing his squad with imports as he seeks to turn last year's wooden spoonists into a competitive force, but is also planning long term by forging close links with new Championship club South Wales Scorpions.

"There are some fantastic things happening here and we should all get behind that," he said. "We've been made fabulously welcome.

"We've the whole of Wales to go at. I'm meeting with the Scorpions in the morning so that we can get some conduits between the two of us.

"Let's not forget there's a lot of people playing in mid-Wales and north Wales that opens avenues now – but that will take a lot longer. The short-term focus is for us to put something out on the field and, if the players keep working as hard as they have been, they will be rewarded with quite a few wins this year."

Whether the Crusaders should be in the Super League at all after last year's nightmare, especially now they have moved to the other end of the country just 20 miles from a town who missed out on a licence – Widnes – is a question which remains unanswered.

But there is no doubt, the early signs say this latest Welsh experiment has plenty to offer.