Harlequins get back on track as Crusaders slump to ninth consecutive defeat

Super League's Welsh gamble is not exactly going to plan. The Celtic Crusaders remain pointless after nine consecutive defeats and their coach John Dixon admitted this was the biggest let-down yet.

"We unravelled a bit today," he said. "I've seen us compete well against St Helens and Leeds, but today as a group we weren't good enough, especially defensively. It was always going to be a tough ask for us this year. However, it's proving to be tougher than we thought."

Harlequins, who had lost three of their last four games, at least offered the Crusaders some evidence of what can be achieved by a team from outside the heartlands as they consolidated their position in the top eight play-off positions with a match in hand.

Danny Orr, whose direction had been sorely missed in last Thursday's home defeat by the Catalans Dragons, scored two of their seven tries and his half-back partner Luke Dorn also helped himself to a couple. However, it was the pack who laid the foundations.

Rob Purdham, the Cumbrian loose forward who was one of the few England players to emerge with his reputation unscathed in last autumn's World Cup, personified the gulf between the teams with a powerful and intelligent performance – all the more impressive as his coach Brian McDermott later revealed that he is carrying a wide range of injuries.

The Crusaders needed a good start after a heavy defeat at Huddersfield on Good Friday, but were thrust on to the back foot by Quins' decision to play with a strong wind, and fell 18-0 behind inside 23 minutes to tries by Tony Clubb, David Howell and Orr.

They gave themselves an outside chance by reducing that deficit to 12 points at half-time when Adam Peek supported an excellent break and pass by his fellow substitute David Tangata-Toa to struggle over.

But Quins nipped any fightback in the bud when Chris Melling crossed for a soft try in the 46th minute and Orr then grabbed his second after Will Sharp's left-wing break. Marshall Chalk and Mark Dalle Cort claimed a couple of hollow consolation scores for the Crusaders, but on this evidence that first Super League win could be a long time coming.

Celtic Crusaders Blackwood; Dyer, Hannay, Dalle Cort, A James; Quinn, Van Dijk; O'Hara, Budworth, Bryant, Chan, Mapp, Chalk. Interchange Peek, Lupton, Tangata-Toa, Beasley.

Harlequins Melling; Gardner, Clubb, Howell, Sharp; Dorn, Orr; Temata, Randall, Ward, Williamson, Robinson, Purdham. Interchange McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Golden, Gale, Heckenberg.

Referee I Smith (Oldham)

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