Crusaders soon had points on the board with a textbook try.
Newmarket failed to clear the ball from a line-out and George King took advantage of some weak tackling to power over, with Tristan Smith converting. Crusaders continued to shine and a strike against the head resulted in Ross Nichols powering towards the line from 30 metres out. The wing forward unselfishly fed Peter Blinkhorn who touched down with Smith converting.
Newmarket got back in the game with two well struck penalties from Jack Wade.
In the second half Crusaders were pressing for a further score but an intercepted pass gave Brian Abbott an unchallenged 70 metre run to reduce Crusaders' lead to one point. With the game on a knife edge Crusaders' pressure finally paid dividends when full-back Smith joined the line to create an overlap and scored out wide. Smith converted his own try to give his side a deserved win.
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