Couldn't make the match but the Crusaders were understrength - no Gary Middlehurst, Stuart Reardon, Christiaan Roets, Jamie Dallimore, Craig Ashall, captain Andy Moulsdale, or new signing USA prop (Aussie) Mark Offerdahl. Squad last night included a couple of triallists and 2 youngsters from Widnes.

....Stephen Wild didn't play either.

Personally I think the club have been very clever in the teams they have picked they got me to a game last night that normally I would not have attended and I must say I was very impressed with the 20s. The argument for not winning is a fair point but would you as a coach want to show all your cards on the table before the season starts

Agreed it would have been nice to win but our 1st team has only narrowly been beaten by 2 teams full of Super League experienced players and a few of our 1st teamers playing with mostly our U20's, again only narrowly, beaten by Championship 1st teams with a few of their U20's in there. We'll see who plays and who Warrington bring on Sunday but the game I really want to see us win is the Halifax one, need to stake a claim at The Shay, that's the only friendly result that matters really.

A few of our first team squad players not first teamers, although I think bate must be in the 17
Can't wait for Batley

Paul Rowley to Tony Smith on the phone -

PR - Hey Tony some of our fans think we should win a few pre-season games, how about you guys rolling over for us on Sunday?

TS - That sounds bonsser mate yeah we'll do that see ya cobber have a ripper.

I DON'T THINK SO

We'll we will have to beat them the old fashioned way then.

(With a stick?)

Or two

Think you missed the point I made a little later Fred. You cannot gauge how good we really are. Wigan was no where near first team, Salford had 4/5 missing. U20s plus a couple of first teamers v understrength NW Cru. I won't be able to attend the fax game so will have to wait till Batley. I was going to keep my money in my pocket till then especially as the lottery cold caller got 52 quid off me......then I remembered I had promised people I was going to the Wire game.

I'd settle for us losing all the friendlies and beating Batley in 2 weeks. It would be nice to see them win on Sunday though.

No Derek I think you missed the point have a look at the emoticons after my post you morose beggar you

Agreed

So what was the score?Friendlys are just blow outs.

Here here.

The Wigan team they put out was similar to the one they used against Bradford and won in SL last year.

Strongest Salford side to take the pitch to date also for decades.

I always judge a side after half a dozen league games or so normally.

12 to 24 for NW Crusaders, just watched the game again our young guns are looking quite good they just need some cohesion now.

My view is that it's always good to win matches - I expect Paul feels that too. However, I'd rather we peaked at the other end of the season, than before it actually starts!

To be fair, our pack was not U'20's, all of them regular 1st team squad members.
It's our backs that were kids, apart from Steve 'Iron' Maden
I reckon NW Crusaders will do rather well in the championship next season, they were a helluva lot better than Rochdale the other week.

But the starting pack did not play all the match at least two long periods the 1st team element was down to one or two, the pack doers not run a game that was down to our three young half backs/playmakers and Dengate who has played a total of 1 game.
Duffy, Bate, Briscoe, and Bullock are all under 22 so are hardly experienced players, the young guns who played a significant role in the game Ward, Pendlebury Warburton etc are all under 19 and a couple on were show only 17 and played well.

ok.

When comparing both teams NWC fielded a considerably stronger team than us so against the majority of our U20's it was always going to be a tough match. I thought we played pretty decent the only thing that we lacked was creativity in the halves & at dummy half. Had we played one of our 1st team HB's or dummy half the game could of looked alot differently. Jono Smith looked good for them he's a stand-off in a fat mons body it's a shame he likes his pies too much

Me too Keith.

Was talking to some Cru fans before the game and they think he is a special player.

Was impressed with Cru doubt they will be relegated think they will finish about 8th.

So what was the score then people?

Still the same as Fred Parky reported on the previous page of this thread - 12-24 to NWC.

Close game then Alan.Anyway don't look too much into friendlies and Crusaders will be in the top 8.

Saw Smith play for Warrington Wizards at Coventry Bears a couple of years ago (as you do) and you could see he certainly had summat special about him. Bet he's a coach's nightmare at times mind if he starts playing off the cuff a bit.