Day 4 dawned and the battle continued for the Saints and their Crusaders. This battle was proving not only to be a test of skill but a test of stamina.
The Crusaders had settled into their routines and were starting to work out each other’s idiosyncrasies.
After another hearty breakfast that fuelled the Crusaders for the long day of battle.
The Crusaders have been joined in their support of the mighty Saints by a legend from the west in Lord Such. The Lord is a Saints legend and has spilt much blood, sweat and tears in the quest of making the Saints what they are today. The Lord started as a young squire and worked his way into becoming a mighty Knight and deserving of his status as a Saints legend. The Saints players were very appreciative of the commitment that the Lord has made to join our Crusade at the BPL, coming all the way from the west on his own accord to support the Saints in their first attempt at the BPL.
Game Sixteen we took on the high-flying Melbourne Pulse needing to continue the roll we were on.
The Saints started the morning on heat and took the first set 11-0. The Saints knew that the Pulse would surge at them in the second set. It settled down into a quality affair and some awesome shots were played. The Saints held off the Pulse for a 4-2 win in the set and therefore a straight sets win.
Game Seventeen was another battle with the Perth Suns. The first set was a high quality of nip and tuck. The Saints won the last two ends of the set to edge in front for a 4-3 win. With the Saints in the ascendency into the second set, two big ends in this set and the game was the Saints, a big 3 on end 2 and a power-play 6 on end 4 was enough to see the Saints home, 9-6. The Saints were coming and climbing.
Game Eighteen saw us take on the Melbourne Extreme. The Saints were rampant in the first set and played magnificently for 9-1 win. The second set saw some quality bowls from both sides. A magic running shot from the Extreme skipper saw them nab the second set on the last bowl to set up the exciting tie-break. The head changed many times of the 12 bowls and Dawnie went so close to snatching the victory just missing the shot bowl by millimetres and the victory went to the Extreme.
Game Nineteen was another battle with our fellow newcomers in the Geelong Jets. The first set was a struggle with the Jets making the best of the conditions and taking a 7-3 set win. The Saints needed to find something, and a change of tactics saw them grab a thrilling set 4-3 to set up another nerve-racking tie-break. The Saints held the ascendency for the majority of the end and held game with the last bowl to be played but Disco still had one to come, he played a quality shot to pick off the shot bowl clean, but we held on to win the measure and take a much-needed victory.
Game Twenty was the first nationally televised Sydney Derby. The Lions were flying high so it would take a mighty effort from the Saints to continue their run. The Saints played some mighty shots but the Lions skipper and one of the BPL20 stars, Nathan Black had the answers to what we threw at him. We unfortunately went down in straight sets.
Day Four of the Crusade ended with the Saints sitting in the top 5, a magnificent effort from the where we were on Day One. Our destiny is now in our hands, win out and we play finals in our first go at the BPL which will be an amazingly awesome achievement. Our two remaining games are up against the mighty Tweed Ospreys, who have sealed a top 2 spot and the Tassie Tridents, who are also in the hunt for a finals berth. An exciting day 5 beckons.