Match Report: North Wales Crusaders

London Broncos 106 - 18 North Wales Crusaders

London Broncos defeated North Wales Crusaders, setting multiple club records: highest score (106), biggest league win (106–18, 88 points, also the club record margin), most individual points (Jimmy Meadows, 42), most tries (18) and most goals kicked (17). Greg Eden scored a hat-trick for the Crusaders. North Wales were unable to contain London’s attack and found it difficult to make progress in possession.

A repeat set on London’s second possession led to the opening try, with Epel Kapinias scoring from close range. Jimmy Meadows converted, as he did with all but the seventh try of the match.

London’s defensive pressure limited North Wales’ kicking options, resulting in favourable field position for the Broncos. Meadows followed with a 10-metre solo try. From the restart, London moved the ball the length of the field, with Morea Morea making the initial break before Jack Croft finished the move.

In the 15th minute, a North Wales kick from inside the London half was collected by Neil Tchamambe, who ran 50 metres before passing inside to Gairo Voro to score. Three minutes later, Tchamambe scored after collecting a loose long pass before it crossed the dead-ball line.

The first quarter concluded with a sixth try, scored by Morea after an exchange of passes with Brandon Webster-Mansfield. London’s next try, Voro’s second, followed a passage in which the ball appeared to deflect off Kapinias before reaching Meadows, who assisted. Meadows’ only missed conversion rebounded off the upright. Morea added his second try soon after with a 40-metre run.

In the 27th minute, London made a handling error on their own 40-metre line. Greg Eden gathered the loose ball and ran in to score, adding the conversion.

Finley Glare, on as a replacement for Sam Davis, scored twice in quick succession, first from a Morea break and then from dummy half following a 20-metre run.



London’s first try of the second half followed a missed touch from a North Wales penalty. Morea collected the ball 10 metres inside his own half, ran laterally across field before passing to Tchamambe, who finished in the left corner.

North Wales’ restart did not travel 10 metres, leading to a Meadows penalty kick to the 30-metre line. After a run from Sadiq Adebiyi, Emarly Bitungane scored. Morea later completed his hat-trick after a break through the defence.

Ben Hursey-Hord scored from a last-tackle pass by Meadows. He then made a break to set up Voro, who passed to Jack Smith, with the second-rower grounding the ball despite defensive pressure.

North Wales had a period of possession but did not score, with Joe Baldwin held up over the line and Chris Barrett losing the ball in a tackle. A subsequent kick was fielded by Meadows, initiating a move that ended with Liam Tindall scoring in the right corner. Shortly after, Meadows scored following a 35-metre run, and his conversion brought his personal total to 40 points and the team total to 100.

Tindall later had a try disallowed for an incorrect grounding. In the 73rd minute, Glare broke clear but passed to Adebiyi to score.

North Wales scored the final two tries of the match. First, Greg Eden capitalised on a dropped ball near the London line following a grubber kick by Junior Westwood, who converted. Eden then completed his hat-trick after intercepting a pass, with Westwood adding the final conversion.

London Broncos: 1 Morea Morea, 5 Liam Tindall, 20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield, 2 Elliot Wallis, 26 Neil Tchamambe, 18 Jimmy Meadows, 23 Gairo Voro, 10 Emarly Bitungane, 9 Sam Davis, 16 Epel Kapinias, 11 Luke Smith, 12 Jack Croft, 13 Siliva Havili. Interchange: 14 Finley Glare, 15 Sadiq Adebiyi, 17 Marcus Stock. 19 Ben Hursey-Hord. 18th man: 27 Ted Davidson

Tries: Epel Kapinias (3), Meadows (8, 65), Croft (11), Voro (15, 23), Tchamambe (18, 41), Morea (20, 26, 47), Glare (33, 36), Bitungane (43), Hersey-Hord (51), Smith (54). Tindall (63). Adebiyi (71).

Goals: Meadows 17/18

DG: None

Sin-bin: None

North Wales Crusaders: 1 Lloyd Roby, 23 Greg Eden, 3 Jayden Hatton, 26 Pat Ah Van, 5 Luke Forber, 6 Dec Patton, 7 Jordy Gibson, 16 Mark Ioane, 9 Josh Eaves, 10 Chris Barratt, 4 Jake Spedding, 17 Ashton Robinson, 25 Danny Addy.

Interchange: 13 Pat Moran, 14 Joe Baldwin, 18 Junior Westwood, 20 Tom Bridge. 18th man: 22 Jake Nottingham.

Tries: Eden (27, 74, 77)

Goals: Eden 1/1, Westwood 2/2

DG: None

Sin-bin: Eaves (dissent 23)

Referee: Tara Jones MBE

HT: 58–6

Penalty awarded count: 6–3

Match Report by David Ballheimer