Crusaders to kick on after overdue win

Celtic Crusaders see their first Super League victory not as an end in itself, but as the start of a potential run.

The Welsh side finally won at the 12th attempt at Bradford last weekend. The challenge is to take that impetus into what they see as two winnable home games, against the Catalan Dragons today and troubled Wakefield – who this week suspended Danny Brough and Danny Sculthorpe for drinking on the team bus – a week later.

"Saturday was a significant day for us – the most pleasing in our short history in Super League," said the Crusaders coach, John Dixon. "We knew a win would come, we just weren't sure when and where.

"The hard work we've put in as a team and our ability to stay focused was always going to bring results and we hope this is the start of a few more," he added.

For today's visit from the Dragons, Dixon is able to name the 17 who won at Odsal, plus the recently injured Darren Mapp and Aled James – one of eight Welsh caps in the squad. The Dragons were close to beating St Helens in Perpignan last week, but the big difference from last year – and what will give Celtic players hope today – is how poor they have often been away from home.

For today's trip to South Wales, they have Cyril Gossard and Olivier Elima back in their pack, but Jamal Fakir is still out. Cyril Stacul replaces Dimitri Pelo on the wing, because of a knock picked up in the Saints game.

The future of the Welsh franchise will be on display before kick-off at the Brewery Field, when the club's Under 18's parade the Gillette Youth League Trophy, which they won by beating Leigh Miners Rangers 32-0 last week. Dixon has always argued that the Crusaders are a long-term project, but a taste of short-term success is none the less welcome for that.

In the Co-operative Championship, Kevin Penny and Steve Pickersgill are in line to make their Widnes debuts, on loan from Warrington. The opposition is provided by Gateshead, whose players know that there are places up for grabs in next weekend's team against St Helens in the Challenge Cup quarter-final.

The other game in the division pits Sheffield Eagles, who were shock winners over the leaders, Halifax, last week, against the rapidly improving Toulouse Olympique.

One of Super League's most durable veterans, Keith Senior, has signed for at least another season with Leeds. The 32-year-old centre played in the very first Super League fixture, for Sheffield Eagles in Paris in 1996. He has retired from Tests in order to extend his club career.