CARL FORSTER was left questioning a huge late decision which played a pivotal part in North Wales Crusaders’ third consecutive League One loss.

Crusaders were leading hosts Hunslet with just a couple of minutes remaining when the home side grabbed a crucial try via Mackenzie Scurr.

This was the critical score as Hunslet eventually recorded a 22-14 triumph.

North Wales head coach Forster said: “It was a tough one to swallow.

“They scored in the corner and the linesman gives a knock-on and the referee gives a try.

“I have watched it back and it’s a strange decision.

“There were two minutes left and then I made the mistake with a bit of a hail Mary. But the damage was done just before.”

There was a brilliant start from the Crusaders, who found themselves 12-0 ahead inside the opening 20 minutes.

The visitors claimed the lead in the first minute as Owain Abel broke the line, raced through 50 metres and passed for Kieron Taylor to score.

Abel kicked the conversion and he then helped grab North Wales’ next try in the 19th minute.

Once again Abel was the creator and he jinked his way through the defence before setting Thomas Whitehead up for the try. Abel was again on the money with the extras.

Back came Hunslet, though, and half back Matty Beharrell grabbed his side’s first try of the afternoon in the 24th minute, which he successfully converted.

The away side made a promising start to the second half and following a period of pressure, Abel slotted over a penalty six minutes after the restart to stretch his side’s advantage out to eight points.

It was by no means game over and a Harvey Hallas try, converted by Beharrell, made sure there was only two points between the teams midway through the second half.

In a blow for Crusaders, Abel was forced off through injury minutes later.

Reflecting on this injury, Forster said “It didn’t swing the game. But it doesn’t help when you lose a player like Owain.

“You’ve got to move four players position-wise.

“We did kind of lose that attacking threat and we tried to come up with some players that you don’t do if Owain’s there.

“It just feels like it doesn’t rain, it pours at the minute!”

Crusaders’ home League One home clash against unbeaten Oldham will now take place on Saturday, June 1 (5pm).

It is a move designed to take advantage of the summer weekends and with Oldham expected to travel in numbers, a great game and atmosphere is predicted in Colwyn Bay with a host of pre-match entertainment and early Fanzone opening times to be announced in due course.

Commercial director Josh Antoniou told the club’s website: “First of all we’d like to thank Oldham, the RFL and also Stadiwm CSM for accommodating the fixture move.

“With the summer nights beginning to draw out, we thought it an ideal opportunity to move this fixture to a Saturday evening and allow everyone to create a real party atmosphere and enjoy the entertainment and events surrounding the game which we have planned.”