Crusaders Dominate Keighley To Stay Top Of League One

By Dorren Kipchumba

North Wales Crusaders extended their winning streak with a 30–6 away victory over Keighley Cougars on May 25, 2025, keeping them firmly at the top of the Betfred League 1 table.

Head coach Carl Forster praised the result but pointed to areas for improvement. “I’m delighted,” he said in a post-match interview shared on the club’s official Facebook page. “I thought it was probably the dumbest we’d played, not necessarily the poorest, but the ends of sets were really poor.”

Despite early mistakes, the Crusaders settled and took control in the second half. “We were smarter with and without the ball,” Forster said. “The desperation not to concede, even when the game was gone, says a lot about this group.”

The Crusaders have now played eight matches, winning seven and losing just one. With 14 points and a +169 points difference, they lead the League 1 standings. Forster highlighted defense as a cornerstone of their campaign. “I think defensively all year we’ve been pretty outstanding,” he said. “I think we are the best defense now, just looking at the goal and working to score.”

Even the six points they did concede came from an unstructured play off a deflected kick. “It’s a trait we wanted to bring in this year,” Forster added. “The lads have bought into how we want to defend, and ultimately it’s those boys on the field doing it.”

The Crusaders next host Rochdale Hornets on June 1 at Stadium CSM, looking to extend their strong form.

“They turn up for each other,” Forster said. “And that’s what’s making the difference right now.”