In probably the best atmosphere of the season, even if it wasn't quite the highest crowd, the young Crusaders side were overwhelmed by a virtually full-strength Leeds Rhinos outfit.

The large crowds travelling to this game, coupled with the even larger element who were off to the U2 concert at the Millennium Stadium, not only delayed the fans in arriving to Rodney Parade, but the Leeds team itself.

They arrived at 5.35pm and the kick-off was delayed by ten minutes as a result.

However the lack of a proper warm-up didn't affect them in the slightest as they took the lead on four minutes. Elliot Kear made an excellent try saving tackle on Lee Smith, but from the next tackle, Kevin Sinfield went over in the corner.

Rhinos' second was on eight minutes. Danny McGuire laid off to Ryan Hall who scored in the same place.

Scott Donald dived over in the opposite corner for try number two on 15 minutes. Sinfield kicked his first successful goal of the night.

After Crusaders came close to scoring but the ball was dropped, Rhinos raced upfield for their fourth try when Rob Burrow created a try for full-back Brent Webb.

Jamie Peacock soon followed him over and the game was over a contest. Senior converted yet again.

A solo Brent Webb try three minutes before the interval put the half-time score on 34-0.

The Crusaders battled as hard as they could but made only rare inroads to within range of the Leeds line. The closest in the second half was Jason Chan made a storming run down the right wing but was stopped in his tracks by Senior.

It took the Rhinos 15 minutes to get on the board following the interval but as soon as Peacock went over for his second try of the game, the floodgates started to open again.

Burrow and Webb scored in succession while Scott Donald was stopped in his tracks by the outstanding Kear again to prevent the 11th try.

Late tries for Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Matt Diskin and a fourth from Webb completed the scoring.

Top Tackle: Had to be Elliot Kear in only the third minute. The debutant showed incredible speed and agility to stop Lee Smith.

CELTIC CRUSADERS

31 Elliot Kear
5 Anthony Blackwood
13 Marshall Chalk
19 Jason Chan
22 Steve Tyrer
27 Lloyd White
14 Matt Smith
8 Ryan O’Hara ©
23 Neil Budworth
17 Jordan James
16 Ben Flower
10 Mark Bryant
21 Chris Beasley
Subs:
20 David Tangata-Toa
25 Geraint Rhys Davies
28 Gil Dudson
30 Lewis Mills

LEEDS RHINOS

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
3 Lee Smith
4 Keith Senior
5 Ryan Hall
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
14 Matt Diskin
10 Jamie Peacock
12 Ali Lauitiiti
11 Jamie Jones Buchanan
13 Kevin Sinfield ©
Subs:
16 Ryan Bailey
19 Luke Burgess
21 Simon Worrall
23 Kallum Watkins
 

Tries: Senior (4, 27), Hall (9), Donald (15), Webb (23, 37, 63, 79), Peacock (29, 58), Burrow (59), Jones-Buchanan (71), Diskin (75)

Goals: Sinfield 8/13

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