Our Under 8s travelled to Yarm today for another fantastic morning of 4-a-side tag rugby. With eight eager players representing Catterick Crusaders, everyone had plenty of game time, and it was great to see the team developing with every match. Our first game was against Cramlington Orange, who proved to be a tough side to break down. The Catterick players kept working hard, moving the ball well and looking for gaps. Henry was outstanding, using his quick feet and brilliant hip movement to break through the defence and score a well-deserved try. Next up was Cramlington Black. The team played with growing confidence and supported each other brilliantly. Loulo was the standout player in this game, scoring a fantastic try before making several strong forward runs that kept the opposition on the back foot. It was also great to see our newest player, Mac, running with real determination and power, while Finley showed that all his hard work in training is paying off with some brilliant side steps to beat defenders. The final match was a friendly between our two Catterick teams, and it couldn't have been closer. Both teams gave everything they had, showing great teamwork, determination and sportsmanship. One of the standout moments came when Oscar looked certain to race away and score, but Finley produced a brilliant tag at just the right moment to stop him in his tracks. It was a great piece of defending and showed the effort every player put into the game. The biggest success of the day was seeing all eight players enjoying themselves, growing in confidence and playing with smiles on their faces. Every child gave 100% and should be proud of their efforts. A huge thank you, as always, to all the parents for bringing the future stars of Catterick Crusaders to the festival and for your continued support. We couldn't do it without you. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next festival!

On Saturday, Crusaders Masters had their first hit at hosting the North East Masters Festival. 3 weeks prior to the event things were not looking good, with only two other teams interested. It was looking likely that the festival would be cancelled and revert to a 3 way fixture at Robertson Rd. However, the Masters world galvanised and responses started to come in, eventually it was apparent that we could continue with our plans and run a 5 team format. Crusaders availability was great and despite losing a player on the day, we still fielded 14 players. Crusaders first game was against Morley Knights, a team our Masters lead, Smudge, regularly guests for. Crusaders kicked straight into gear guided expertly around the park by Andy and Longers which created plenty of space out wide to be exploited by Pete and Mike. In defence Crusader were settled and communicated brilliantly to keep the Knights at bay. It’s been a long time since we’ve played Morley Knights but it was worth the wait, great game. Blackie making new friends Crusaders had a bit of a break in the second round of fixtures but a few players backed up for Carlisle in their game. Round 3 saw Crusaders take on their Cumbrian neighbours Carlisle, always a good match up. Crusaders were equally as potent in attack as the first game. In defence we suffered from a little less communication and some over-read for Carlisle to exploit. The game saw an incident that would ultimately lead to Smudge recieving Richard of the Day! Not for this exploits in a Crusaders but for one in merry whistle blowers shirt. 10m from the line, Carlisle fumbled and appeared to knock on, indeed Smudge even blew said merry whistle, only to then shout “play on,” playing to whistle Crusaders had very much stopped, unfortunately the canny Cumbrians hadn’t and strolled over the line. At this stage John “l kick on the 3rd” Longers Longden burst out laughing, knowing he’d been let off the hook, alongside Pete “haveahandoff” Newton! Andy queueing up Doris for a trademark run. It was another great game against Carlisle during this season. “PLAY OOOONNN” Waterbreaks, common sense and patience was the order of the day throughout. So after a rehydration break Crusaders were ready for their final game against classy Cumbrian outfit Arlecdon Rams. The game, again, was a great advert for Masters Rugby League. Played in fantastic spirit with plenty of highlights. Arlecdon were very well organised throughout in attack and defence with Crusaders equally holding their own. A great turn out It was with big smiles that after a hot afternoon of rugby we were able to start the rehydration process by offering each and every player a super chilled tinnie to enjoy. Post match food was supplied by Hamilton’s Butchers in Richmond, a great selection of Pork Pies and Sausage Rolls ……. a Crusaders recommendation!! The fantastic bar staff from Richmondshire RUFC continued to take care of the rehydration process for us, we were in good hands! Indeed big thanks needs to go to Richmondshire RUFC who allowed us to use their superb facilities. They had pitches cut and marked, had a car park attendant as well as bar staff from arrival until departure. Thank you to the clubs kit suppliers Pronto Teamwear https://prontoteamwear.co.uk/product-category/club-shops/rugby-club-shops/catterick-crusaders/ The must have stash item being the Crusaders budgies! Get yours while stocks last! Faces removed to protect the unaware #budgiebombed Finally, the positive feedback we have recieved from the event has been outstanding. Lots of praise for how well organised it was and a great desire to see us host it again in 2027! “Oh go on then!”

We travelled to Yarm to take on their U14s and were treated to a fantastic contest from the first whistle to the last. The sides were evenly matched throughout, but we came flying out of the blocks, scoring four unanswered tries in the opening 10 minutes. Leighton's try has to be a contender for Try of the Season so far. It was a brilliant example of teamwork and sticking to our game plan. The ball was carried strongly by the forwards, with Mason and Misa making hard yards before Reuben took it on and gained significant ground before being brought down. The ball was then quickly moved by Oscar to Odin. It looked as though Odin was going to go all the way himself, but he produced a superb late offload to Margus. Margus drew in the Wolves full-back before delivering a perfectly timed short pass to Leighton, who crossed for our fourth try. Even better, we still had two players in support all the way to the try line. Our attacking game plan has focused heavily on support play and ball movement, and once again it paid off with some excellent tries. Yarm fought their way back into the game and eventually closed the gap to within two points. At times our defensive line was a little slow off the mark and we conceded a few penalties for offside. Yarm took advantage of it and came away with some well-worked tries. However, there were some incredibly brave performances across the team, with players putting their bodies on the line to make tackles and slow down the opposition's momentum. Tom, Odin, Henry P, Oscar, Al, Jenson, both Masons and Brandon were right in the thick of the action throughout. Reuben's move into his new position has allowed him to become more involved in both attack and defence, and it was great to see him making such a positive impact. Players of the Match There were several standout performances. Charlie scored a number of tries and was heavily involved throughout the game. Oscar's presence caused all sorts of problems for the Wolves in both attack and defence. Misa scored a superb individual try and continued to beat defenders with his footwork. Al from Cramlington, who played his first match for Crusaders today, came on and seemed determined to tackle anything that moved. However, today's Player of the Match award goes jointly to Reuben and Margus. Their work rate both on and off the ball was immense, and they gave everything right up until the final whistle. Margus' leadership was outstanding, helping to keep the team together when we needed it most. Reuben consistently carried the ball out of our own danger area and organised the forwards superbly in defence. A huge well done to both of them. As always, thank you to everyone for your support and for allowing the boys to play today. Whether you've noticed it or not, the progress this group has made so far has been absolutely brilliant. This season was intended to be a building year, particularly as we have a large number of U13 players in the squad. I challenged them by asking why they couldn't compete this year rather than waiting for next season. Not only have they risen to that challenge, but their attitude, commitment and mindset have been outstanding. From a coach's perspective, what they have achieved so far has been incredibly rewarding to watch. Final Score Yarm Wolves 44 - Catterick Crusaders 44

Our Under 8s travelled to Newcastle on Saturday morning for another festival, taking a squad of 8 players who all represented the club brilliantly. The team played three games throughout the morning, with every player getting plenty of game time and showing great effort, enthusiasm, and teamwork. Despite the warm conditions, the players kept smiling and gave their all in every match. There were some outstanding moments across the festival. Finley produced a brilliant step to beat his defender, showing great confidence with the ball in hand. One of the funniest moments of the day came from Lou, who was playing for one of the opposition teams to help them out. After picking up the ball, Lou ran past her own teammates and crossed the line to score a fantastic try, much to everyone's amusement! Most importantly, all of the players enjoyed themselves and continued to develop their rugby skills in a positive and fun environment. The sunny Newcastle morning was certainly a different experience from our last visit, and it was great to see the team making memories both on and off the pitch. Well done to all of our U8s, we're proud of every one of you!

The Crusaders made the trip north to the Cramlington Rockets Primary Festival and delivered three outstanding performances packed with determination, teamwork, and plenty of flair. Game 1: Crusaders vs Rockets The hosts were up first, and the opening match had everything you’d hope to see from primary rugby—great support play, confident carries, and some cracking tackles. The standout moment belonged to Teddy, who produced an incredible defensive effort with six consecutive tackles, stopping the Rockets right on the line. A heroic shift. Game 2: Crusaders vs Storm The second match saw the Crusaders step things up another level. Jazz took control at hooker, providing sharp service to the powerful running duo of Theo and Oliver. James returned to action with real confidence, throwing in some cheeky offloads that left Storm scrambling. Kelly stole the spotlight with her blistering pace and brilliant spatial awareness, weaving through defenders to score a superb try. Game 3: Crusaders vs Yarm Wolves With two high‑intensity games already behind them, the Crusaders had to dig deep—and they did just that. James and Jazz continued to carry strongly, while Teddy led the defensive charge with his trademark tackling. Theo and Kelly backed him up with some excellent defensive reads and try‑saving efforts. The highlight of the match came from a bit of pre game plotting between Kelly and Teddy. The plan was simple but brilliant: Teddy would draw in defenders, then offload to Kelly, who would hit top speed down the touchline. The execution was perfect, resulting in a try that wouldn’t look out of place in the Super League. A huge well done to all the players for their effort, teamwork, and spirit throughout the day. And a big thank you to all the parents and supporters who made the journey north—your backing makes days like this possible.

On Saturday Crusaders Masters welcomed our friends from Barrow Masters to Wavell Rd. The teams had met just two weeks previously at the Masters in the Lakes Festival in Ambleside. That game was a really good game and set the seed for another enjoyable encounter on Saturday. Crusaders unfortunately suffered from a couple of availability reversals but still managed a creditable 11 Crusaders which were backed up by a Flying BigFoot (see photo), the ever dependable Barry Sharrock, Jim “The Legend” Collins and Andy “Snake Hips” Shute. Thank you Gents, always a pleasure, never a chore! Our friends from Barrow were also tight for numbers due to various commitments but fellow Marra’s from around Cumbria answered the call! We must admit we find the stipulation, of “can you come to Catterick, but you must have Gold Shorts?” a bit strange, but whatever works for you guys 😉😂. The game was again, a cracker. Both teams were very evenly matched with Barrow able to capitalise on a couple of Crusaders errors in the first half. At half time Crusaders had a good chat and made few positional and tactical changes. Making much better use of our Gold, Green and Blue shorters, Crusaders made good yards forward. Added to that an improved defence, Crusaders spent the majority of the half camped in the Barrow 30. Only a superbly organised Barrow defence keeping Crusaders out. The game was played in the true #spiritofmasters and we look forward to heading West in August. A milestone was reached for one of our opponents. David Farrell who was guesting for Barrow, who will shortly reach the end of his 6th decade and Saturday’s game was his last in Gold Shorts ! We look forward to playing against him in the not too distant future, when he’s sporting his Green shorts. No David’s were injured making this photo! As usual, both teams were well looked after by The Hildyard Arms, post match. A few refreshing quaffettes and a tasty Ruby Murray, thank you John and your team. Congratulations to posh Cumbrian, Longers, who deservedly took the Master of the Match award. Jase was awarded Richard of the Day, for an off the field administration error, which may go to tribunal as he was suffering from a severe case of Manfluenza. Not only was he dehydrated it was actually touch and go whether he would survive the afternoon! LEGAL NOTICE: Claims Jase attempted to cheat in the Boat Race are baseless and should be disregarded. Jase appreciates the kind messages of support from around the Rugby League Masters World, and appreciates the support from the Support The Hildyard One Group! Finally!!! Our U12’s are booked onto the Rhino Challenge 2027. Like true Crusaders, they are trying to help their parents by trying to raise some money to fund the trip. Please take a look. https://www.gofundme.com/f/one-peak-one-dream-lets-get-to-leeds-rhinos-challenge-2027?attribution_id=sl:771b9cc6-e917-444f-a0eb-d48e3ea3774b&lang=en_GB&ts=1782149157&utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&utm_content=amp20_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=IwRlRTSASmdaFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe2B4QEWznDnhvGvelV4-3HCljAB1fxqSJwHqPK_jARq0zFr9zHyl85Afzd2s_aem_G896M0r5WgQ55o_bcZ9uhw

Yarm/Catterick U16s travelled to Cramlington looking to continue their development and were met by a strong home side. Despite some brave defending and big tackles early on, Cramlington made the most of their opportunities and took a 30-0 lead into half-time. The second half saw a much-improved performance from our players. After regrouping at the break, the team came out with renewed energy and determination, scoring some excellent tries and putting Cramlington under pressure. Evan crossed for a well-deserved try under the posts, while the whole team showed great commitment, teamwork and resilience throughout the half. Unfortunately, the game was brought to an early conclusion following an injury to a Cramlington player after a tackle from the restart. Everyone at Catterick Crusaders wishes the player a full and speedy recovery and hopes to see him back on the field soon. While the final score finished 40-16 in Cramlington's favour, there were plenty of positives to take from the game. The players never gave up, continued to work hard for each other and showed exactly what they are capable of during a strong second-half display. Well done to every player for their effort, attitude and determination. Final Score: Cramlington 40 – 16 Yarm/Catterick

A gloomy morning, with the wind picking up and rain falling sideways, just another typical day in the North. The conditions, however, did nothing to deter the Catterick Crusaders as they made the journey north to face Gateshead Storm. Storm entered the match full of confidence after their convincing victory over us at the Yarm Festival. The Crusaders, meanwhile, had prepared well throughout the week, focusing on getting the basics right in both attack and defence. Storm opened the scoring in the first half, capitalising on some slick handling to cross in the corner. The Crusaders responded well, hitting back with a try of their own. The game then became an evenly contested battle for the next ten minutes, with both sides trading possession and territory. As the half progressed, Storm began to make effective use of their powerful ball carriers. They dominated much of the final ten minutes before the break, scoring several well-worked tries and building a healthy lead. The Crusaders came out for the second half with renewed energy and intent. From the kick-off, Jack's determined chase put Storm under immediate pressure, forcing errors and setting the tone. Playing in the right areas of the field and applying sustained pressure, the Crusaders were rewarded with two tries and continued to challenge Storm right up until the final whistle. Final score 54 - 26 Although the result didn't go our way, spirits remained high. The effort, determination, and progress shown by the boys were clear for everyone to see and gave the team plenty to be proud of. The improvements across the squad are becoming increasingly evident. Communication is improving, the halves are taking greater control of the game, the forwards are running hard and direct, and the wingers are chasing kicks with real commitment. As coaches, we couldn't be prouder of the boys and the progress they are making. A special congratulations goes to Odin and Leighton, who both made their rugby league debuts. A fantastic achievement and the first of many games to come. Player of the Match Several players put their hands up with outstanding performances today. Oscar's delivery were excellent, Euwan's vision and composure in chaotic situations were invaluable, and Charlie topped the metre gained while scoring some superb tries. However, the Coach's Player of the Match award goes to Evan. He led from the front with strong carries in attack and backed it up with some big defensive hits. His work rate and physicality were outstanding throughout the game. A huge thank you to all the parents who made the trip today. Your support, whatever the weather, is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference to the team. Perhaps the biggest compliment of the day came from the Storm coach, who said: "The big talking point for us today is how much the Crusaders have come on in the last few weeks." Well done, Crusaders. Keep working hard and the results will follow. 🏉

On Saturday Crusaders Masters headed West into Lakeland and the picturesque town of Ambleside, for Masters in the Lakes. The festival was well organised by Carlisle Masters and equally well hosted by Ambleside Rugby Union. In a change to the advertised format, Crusaders found themselves playing Barrow Masters as the last fixture of the day. This proved no drama whatsoever as we got to watch some great Masters Rugby League from the other teams. When game time arrived it was worthy of the wait. A fantastic game ensued, played at a fast pace despite the lack of youthful exuberance. Crusaders defended the edges really well and had much less of an issue removing tags, from Gold shorters and above, with a well organised defensive line. In attack Jase and Longers steered the team around the park with no lack of volunteers to take the ball in. There was some great line breaks and wide shots from the team. In the second half, after some brilliant build up work, Longers took the ball at first receiver and took it wide and to the left at the line, with perfect timing he hit Mike, who, after exploiting some space, still had some scrambling bodies to beat. A great turn of pace saw show the defenders a clean pair of heals for a great try! The game was played with great spirit throughout and was very much enjoyed by both teams and the others teams who now enjoying the Ambleside hospitality. Congratulations to Longers for picking up Master of the Match. Congratulations to Goadie, who has the dubious honour of being the first player to don our new Richard of the Day and Prat Hat. This was for picking up the ball from an offside position after Foxy had made a fine ball stop from a Barrow kick off! The post match raffle etc raised a whopping £600 for MacMillan Cancer Support. After a few slices of pizzas and a few quaffettes the vast majority of the team headed back home. Gaz, Jase, Goadie and Darren had other plans and decided to camp near Bowness and head into Bowness itself for a few sociables, where they bumped into some of the gents from Normanton Masters. A really good night was had by all.

Last week Yarm/Catterick took on Chester-le-Street United at Yarm in very warm conditions. With a squad of 20 players compared to Chester-le-Street's 12, we worked together to make sure everyone got a game. Before kick-off, Chester-le-Street awarded us the league win due to their low numbers, but both teams were keen to get a good game played. To help balance the teams, we lent Chester-le-Street a player from the start so the match could be played 13-a-side. Early in the game, Chester-le-Street knocked on from receiving the ball and shortly afterwards suffered an injury. Samuel was asked to switch teams for a period and put in a fantastic shift for them. Yarm/Catterick opened the scoring after a strong run from Mackenzie ended with him being tipped in the tackle, earning a penalty. We made the most of the opportunity and crossed for our first try. The heat played a big part throughout the game, with players taking every chance to get water during breaks in play. Chester-le-Street enjoyed some possession but after another knock-on, we won the ball from the scrum and excellent teamwork saw us run in another try. Later in the half, Chester-le-Street stole the ball on the fourth tackle and created a two-on-one opportunity, but Harrison showed great awareness to score for Yarm/Catterick. Just before half-time, Chester-le-Street were forced into touch close to their own try line and a tiring defence allowed us to add another score. At the break, Yarm/Catterick led 46-0. The second half saw more of our players switch teams to help even things up. With the result already decided, the players asked the coaches if they could have some "pizza time" playing with a bit more freedom and focusing on enjoying themselves. The game became much more competitive, with Chester-le-Street getting a couple of well-deserved tries, including one from Mackenzie while playing for them. The final score finished 66-20 to Yarm/Catterick, but the second half ended 20-20, showing how evenly matched the teams were once the numbers were balanced. A huge credit goes to all the players, especially those who switched teams throughout the game to make sure everyone got plenty of rugby and enjoyed the afternoon.

Tomorrow see’s Crusaders Masters back in action when they take a trip to Ambleside for the Masters in the Lakes festival at Ambleside. Masters in the Lakes is hosted by Carlisle Masters and see’s teams from Arlecdon, Normanton, Maryport, Portico Vine, Barrow, Crosfields, as well as ourselves and the hosts. The festival see’s us take on the hosts in a 3pm kick off. Crusaders welcome back Jase, Longers, Mike and Ian who all missed the home game against Doncaster Toll Bar. Hitting a milestone is Ben and Darren who will make their 25th appearance for Crusaders. Well done Gents. Don, Darren, Ali and Ben also continue their journey as 100% attendance for games played this season. Could we be dishing out 4 Master of Steel Awards at the season’s end? Let’s hope so. Our appreciation goes to Barry, Brian and Big Foot who back us up for numbers. Growth at Crusaders has been outstanding this season, with player availability consistently in double figures, home or away. We are only a few seasons into our journey but interest and commitment continues to grow.

Catterick Crusaders U14s hosted Yarm Wolves today and made an excellent start to the game. The forwards set the tone with some strong defence and forced an early turnover. From the resulting scrum, the ball was moved quickly through the backs to Charlie, who beat five defenders on a brilliant run to score the opening try. Yarm Wolves responded well and showed why they are such a strong, well-drilled side. Their pressure in both attack and defence during the first three quarters allowed them to take control of the game and put the Crusaders under sustained pressure. Defensively, we know there are areas to improve. At times we didn't move forward as a unit, allowing Yarm's powerful runners to build momentum and break through our defensive line. However, the boys recognised this themselves and spoke about improving their communication and teamwork going into the final quarter. Their response was fantastic. The Crusaders won the final quarter, produced some great passages of play, and crossed for several more tries. The improvement from our previous meeting with Yarm Wolves just three weeks ago was clear to see, and there are plenty of positives to build on moving forward. Coach's Player of the Match There were strong performances across the team, with Charlie, Ollie, Euwan, and Mason all putting in some excellent defensive work. Today's Coach's Player of the Match goes to Charlie, who led by example throughout the game. He scored two excellent tries, made a crucial try-saving tackle in the first quarter, and worked tirelessly from start to finish. A huge thank you to all the parents and supporters who came along to cheer the boys on. Your continued support is greatly appreciated. Well done, boys. Keep working hard, learning, and improving together.