Plenty of fight in Crusaders

Martin: set up first two tries

Crusaders continue to defy their imminent Super League demise as a second straight win moved them off the bottom of the table.

The Welsh side beat Harlequins 31-12 with a committed display in Wrexham against the struggling Quins.

Tony Martin was involved in both the opening scores, latching onto a ball coughed up on the home 25 by Dan Sarginson to race almost the length of the pitch before a quick play-the-ball saw Jason Chan go in.

Then, in the 12th minute, the centre caused Quins problems with another dash to the line before setting up wing Stuart Reardon in the corner.

Eight minutes later, Harlequins hit back when Sarginson made up for his error by going through a gap near the posts to score easily.

But it was mostly the home side who were on top, with centre Vince Mellars and hooker Lincoln Withers both going over the line for scores which were ruled out.

Quins dug in and stayed in touch at 12-6 at half-time - but they paid for poor handling on a night when the drizzle did not help them.

Costly

It proved costly when Olsi Krasniqi dropped the ball forward 10 yards from his line. Quins' players stopped, expecting a scrum, but referee Richard Silverwood waved play-on and replacement Lloyd White strolled over.

Clinton Schifcofske booted over the conversion, his third excellent kick from the touchline, and the Londoners trailed by 12.

Quins came back into it near the hour mark and twice second row Lee Mitchell was denied by some big defensive hits.

Sarginson, though, kept Harlequins alive when a superb move down the backs that saw the half-back cut back inside and go over, before Luke Gale added a second conversion of the night.

Back came Crusaders and Moore was put over from 10 yards by half-back Michael Witt before Witt added a drop-goal to make it 25-12.

Wing Elliot Kear completed the scoring with a try in the corner after a Witt cross-kick.