Rawzy,

Bridgend Blue Bulls is a Conference (IE amateur) team which was raided for players by both Celtic Crusaders and South wales Scorpions). South Wales Scorpions is a Championship 2 semi-pro side. You would kinda expect the Scorps to have higher attendances.

FWIW though, even though the Scorps have better owners than Celtic Crusaders ever did, attendances in Neef are considerably lower than the Celtic Crusaders had in the same league in Bridgend. Scorps may be a slow burner and are (unlike Celtic Cru under samule) living within their means and growing organically but at the moment ( attendance wise ) are comparing unfavourably with the Celtic Cru at the same time.

I KNOW everybody wants only good news, but so far the game in S Wales is not really surviving well (despite the spin from the WRL and Crusaders). Comparing average like for like matches (ignoring the early "novelty attendances" in Wrexham and the appalling "games on the road" attendances) the differences in attendance of COMPARABLE like for like matches is actually 566 (and unless I misread it - that was in favour of Bridgend).

This is not to say the game can't succeed in both your and my backyard, but it clearly is not yet.

Correction the 566 difference in average attendances for comparable matches was in favour of Wrexham. But it's still far less favourable than Crusaders propaganda dept suggests.

Sorry got em the wrong way round

i think the crusaders had more loyal and passionate fans in south wales and i personally think they would be better off playing in neath, but im biased coming from south wales and having used to go to games.
i feel that the only reason the attendences are the way they are is because of the away fans
it would be nice though for the crusaders to finally have a place to play SL games and if it is Wrexham well i can only hope the crusaders fans double over the next few years and that publicity increases and the crusaders still come down south wales for a few games!

The Celtic Crusaders however had established League players, a few talented Australians and were challenging for promotion and eventually SL from day one Grendel. The Scorpions are not being fastracked in the same way as yet and they are in a smaller town with less League development than Bridgend in 2006.

The Leader seems to cover the RL a fair bit now I've noticed, and not just the Wrexham area, Flintshire's local seems to be covering them a bit, which is good as the likes of Mold and Flint are just utterly untouched by professional sports.

And most Wrexham FC fans don't hate the Crusaders, the majority aren't bothered as its more income all round, some seem to think the football team are now second fiddle, and some subscribe to the "Rugby ruins the pitch" theory.