NEWCASTLE THUNDER made it two wins from two games in Kingstone Press League 1 as they ran out 24-18 winners over North Wales Crusaders in Wrexham.

Tries from Dayne Craig, Lee Mapals, Louis Sheriff and Evan Simons, all converted by Benn Hardcastle, saw Stanley Gene’s side home in difficult conditions at the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium, and set up next week’s home game against Keighley Cougars as a top-of-the-table clash.

The only score of the first half came four minutes before the interval, with Hardcastle putting in a neat grubber that outfoxed the North Wales defence and enabled Craig to claim the score.

Two tries in six minutes at the start of the second half enabled North Wales to claim the lead, with George King breaking the Thunder line before showing good strength to ground the ball and Stuart Readon crossing from a quick play-the-ball.

Thunder responded with a try from winger Mapals, who set off down the right-hand side before stepping inside to beat the defence, and Hardcastle’s kick tied the scores.

Another bout of tit for tat scoring saw Thunder retake the lead in the 64th minute through another neat grubber from Hardcastle that earned a converted try from Sheriff, before Jono Smith levelled the match at 18-18 11 minutes from time.

Thunder’s decisive score came with nine minutes remaining, and saw hooked Evan Simons take advantage of a North Wales error at the restart.