TOKYO CRUSADERS
ESTABLISHED 1990
MATCH REPORTS
Crusaders vs. All France – 16/02/2025
The final game of the 2024/25 Shuto League was against our close rivals, All France. Although the match had no impact on the championship standings, there was a strong desire to finish with a victory.
The game took place at the magnificent Inagi Ngamie Ground on an overcast but reasonably warm day for mid-February.
The Crusaders started well, applying sustained pressure deep in All France’s territory. A crunching tackle by Izak set the tone for a physical match. Unfortunately, the Crusaders struggled with discipline and set pieces, leading to turnovers that gifted All France possession and territory.
All France capitalized on this opportunity, opening the scoring with a penalty to take a 3-0 lead after about 15 minutes.
The game entered a holding period, with the Crusaders threatening through some strong backs play led by Geo and Liam at positions 10 and 12. However, we failed to sustain possession and consequently struggled to convert our chances into points. Once again, due to poor discipline and turnovers, All France secured decent possession, culminating in another penalty that extended their lead to 6-0 midway through the first half. After some back-and-forth play, All France scored a long-range converted try just before halftime, stretching their lead to 13-0.
The Crusaders began the second half with strong territory and possession. After spending some time in All France’s half, they were awarded a penalty close to the line. In a moment of great initiative, Geo took a quick tap and scored. Unfortunately, as he dived for the line, his legs were taken out from under him, resulting in an injury, but the Crusaders were back in the game.
A few costly turnovers and a well-executed blindside play by All France led to a try near the end of the match, effectively sealing the contest with All France securing an 18-5 victory.
Full credit and congratulations to All France, who played a more consistent game overall and capitalised on their chances. The match was solidly officiated and played in a good spirit between two evenly matched teams. The Crusaders have some areas to work on moving forward but can take heart from the physicality displayed and the contributions of new players.
Match Summary
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All France: 18 (2 Tries, 1 Conversion, & 2 Penalties)
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Crusaders: 5 (1 Try – G. Louw)
Crusaders 3-2-1 Points:
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Geo Louw: 5
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Luke Mathers: 4
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Izak Faoa: 3
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George McIntyre: 2
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Reece Morgan: 1
All France MVP (as voted by the Crusaders):
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Paul Iturbide
Crusaders MVP (as voted by All France):
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Geo Louw
Match Report by Alex Boyle
Year in Review - 2023/2024 Season - By Reece Morgan
This year’s season has very much been one of two halves: strong frontloading of matches (and silverware!) to start, but a slight damp squib to close. That said, the level of gameplay, two tours, and a whole host of great socials meant that it’s been another year to remember. To that end, it’s worth reflecting on our achievements and where we’ll go next.
Shuto League
After missing out on Shuto gold last season, becoming king of the mountain again was our aim — and one that we achieved in serious style. Not only did we storm the division and win every single game, but three of those fixtures were clean sheets. Most impressive of all has to be the drubbing inflicted upon Kichijoji Wild Turkey: no doubt remembering their victory over us last year, they put the fabled Turkey Cup on the line…and lost it in a 73-0 blowout. With great matches and plenty of fantastic gameplay on show, our successful Shuto portion of the season set a high mark for what was to follow.
Mac Cup
The presence of Gareth’s family imbued this year’s Mac Cup fixture with real poignancy, and we were proud to reflect that in a number of ways. Bringing Old Boys into the starting squad, for instance, meant that those who played with Gareth stood alongside those who hadn’t even been born at the time of his passing, creating a meaningful bridge between past, present, and future. Sharing a bench between the two sides also meant that many Crusaders donned the dark blue YCAC jerseys for the first time, creating a spirit of camaraderie that would no doubt have put a smile on Gareth’s face. While we were blessed to bring the trophy home once again, the real treasure was the spirit of rugby that both sides
could enjoy.
We look forward to welcoming the family back whenever they’d like to make another trip, as
there’ll always be a place for them within the Crusaders.
Katsushika League
Our first foray into the Katsushika League was a mixed bag. Receiving notice of our inclusion just a week before the first game led to a mad scramble to figure things out, not least because of the exodus of team members to snowier climes. While the opening fixtures did not go our way, there was plenty to take away: younger, less experienced players stepped up and started to build their skills, leading to a fairly under-strength squad turning over the mighty Superman in a fantastic fixture. The game against the Black Bunnies was an absolute nail-biter, with some of the best play that we strung together all season, and a fitting way to round things off.
Tokyo Cup(?)
Disappointingly, the Tokyo Cup run for which we were so excited never came to pass. The new rules regarding foreign player registration amounted to a breach of civil liberties, leading to our difficult decision to turn down our spot. We hope that the committee will review their regulations in the coming season.
That said, the new Harbour Cup — a joint venture with the YCAC — is set to kick off this coming season…watch this space!
Tour!
Pushing hard on our touring schedule, we were lucky to secure an international appearance: the Bali Memorial Tour to Hong Kong. Of course, what happens on tour must stay there, but suffice it to say that everyone had a cracker. While our tour to Hokkaido is still two months away, I have no doubt that we’ll have a blast, and give the Barbarians something to write home about!
Moving Forward
As we move into the 2024/5 season, it’s important to consider what approaches to take to maximise not just the success of the team, but the enjoyment of all its members:
● As ever, take Shuto seriously as our ‘big’ league
● Be realistic in our expectations for Katsushika, given how big a bite skiing takes out
of the roster
● Smash the first ever Harbour Cup and look to take home the gold
● Focus on our four core socials, and really push the ‘third half’
● Make the inaugural Cru 10s Invitational a roaring success
With a new league, a China tour, a brand new 10s tournament, and more on the horizon, it’s set to be a landmark season for the boys in sky blue. Let the crusade continue!
