Young 20-year old Welsh prop Lewis Mills made his debut for Celtic Crusaders against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday as the injury-hit Crusaders were outclassed 46-12 at Belle Vue.

Mills, who came through the Newport Titans academy system, was picked up by the Crusaders in an open trial in 2008. He has since played 28 times for the reserves in the last two years and earned his unexpected chance, coming off the bench in the 19th minute, after a number of excellent performances for the reserves.

Marshall Chalk, Chris Beasley and Mark Lennon all pulled out of the Crusaders side through injury on Saturday so, with seven other first team squad members also on the treatment table, John Dixon instructed reserves coach Dan Clements not to play Mills in the second string encounter against the Wildcats that day.

Another former Newport Titan, Lloyd White, also took to the field for the Crusaders, and both will hope to retain their places on Saturday to play in their home town when Leeds Rhinos are visitors to Rodney Parade (kick-off 6pm). 

Crusaders coach John Dixon said: "We were up against it from the start today with our injuries and losing players with the calibre of Luke Dyer and Josh Hannay before half-time didn't help, it was pretty tough.

"The young boys had a tough time against a good team today. Geraint Davies has now played more games this season in Super League than he did last season in NL1 and Lewis Mills was given his debut. Lewis did a good job. He was called in and had to stand up as you'd expect a young boy to do on his first Super League game."

And Dixon hasn't ruled out fielding Mills and White for Saturday's game against Leeds.

"We're going to have to get out the band aids to get a team out for next week's game," he admitted.

It couldn't have been a worse start for the Crusaders as Anthony Blackwood fumbled the ball from kick-off earning the Wildcats a drop-out under the sticks straight away. They almost took advantage but Scott Grix fumbled the ball as he was clear to the line on the left wing.

This sparked over 10 minutes of end to end play with mistakes on each side but it was the Wildcats who broke through first with winger Luke George going over in the corner and Scottish international Danny Brough converted.

From kick-off they scored a completely identical try but this time it was Sean Gleeson who went over in the corner but this time Brough missed the kick.

The third try was scored on 22 minutes when Brough intercepted Mark Bryant's pass on Crusaders' 20 metre line and raced unchallenged under the sticks. He converted the try himself. 

Number four came following a penalty on 31 minutes. Given on the half-way line, Wakefield worked their way upfield and James Stosic was eventually set up with an easy dive under the sticks. Brough's kick made the score 22-0.

Jordan James was closest to scoring for the Crusaders in the first half but he was brought back as a knock-on was called.

Stosic was close to a try in the early stages of the second half but Lloyd White's fine tackle prevented this and earned them a goal-line drop-out.

However from this, they scored instantly through Tevita Leo-Latu following a fine passing move. Brough converted.

Brough created a gap for Jason Demetriou to run through and score ten minutes later before converting again to make the score 34-0.

Crusaders' few chances weren't turning into tries. Mark Bryant mishandled before touching down as he picked up Mark Dalle Cort's pass.

The Welsh side crossed the line at last on 64 minutes. Neil Budworth topped off a good game by making a strong run down the centre. Mark Dalle Cort was well-placed to support him and he finished the two-man 50-metre move. Matt Smith converted.

However the balance was restored on 69 minutes after Leo-Latu, who incidentally is sponsored by former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, was put through by Brough. The Scot converted for the sixth time.

George followed him over three minutes later with a try in the corner that Brough did well to convert.

A clever short kick-off almost worked but even then the Crusaders couldn't regain possession as Mark Bryant fumbled.

But this was rectified from the scrum. Steve Tyrer intercepted Brough's pass and ran 60 metres unchallenged to score a deserved try. It was Tyrer's first points in Super League this season following 66 for nine reserve team games this season. Smith added the extras.

The biggest drama of the game came in the final minute. Ryan O'Hara tried to follow Tyrer's feat with a lengthy run but Brough was judged to have tackled him illegally. The man who'd scored 18 points was about to be sinbinned until he spoke back to the referee and the colour of the card turned to red.

Wakefield: 1 Matt Blaymire, 26 Luke George, 19 Sean Gleeson, 4 Ryan Atkins, 13 Scott Grix, 14 Sam Obst, 7 Danny Brough, 16 Ricky Bibey, 9 Brad Drew, 22 Michael Korkidas, 12 Oliver Wilkes, 17 Kevin Henderson, 8 Jason Demetriou. Subs: 15 James Stosic, 20 Tevita Leo-Latu, 25 Richard Moore,  28 Kyle Bibb.

Tries: George (13, 72), Gleeson (16), Brough (22), Stosic (31), Leo-Latu (42, 69), Demetriou (52)

Goals: Brough 7/8

Crusaders: 5 Anthony Blackwood, 2 Luke Dyer, 3 Josh Hannay, 4 Mark Dalle Cort, 22 Ste Tyrer, 14 Matty Smith, 7 Jace Van Dijk, 8 Ryan O’Hara, 23 Neil Budworth, 10 Mark Bryant, 16 Ben Flower, 19 Jason Chan, 27 Lloyd White. Subs: 17 Jordan James, 20 David Tangata Toa, 25 Geraint Davies, 30 Lewis Mills.

Tries: Dalle Cort (64), Tyrer (75)

Goals: Smith 2/2

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