Media boosts Swansea Bay Super League first

Thursday, April 1, sees the first professional rugby league game in Swansea Bay.
Super League outfit the Crusaders - complete with Gareth "Alfie" Thomas - are set to face London rivals Harlequins RL at Neath RFC citadel The Gnoll from 7.30pm.
It's great news for the area and great for the Crusaders, coached by league giant Brian Noble, that they can make a splash so far away from their new Wrexham home.
Andy Pearson Publicity was engaged to help publicise this evangelical sporting mission to South Wales and readers of the South Wales Evening Post over the past few days won't have missed three front page ads for the game.
They were one of the publicity options taken by the club's marketing man Richard Jones. Others included special ticket offers into some of the area's biggest employers, including Swansea Council thanks to internal communications manager Debbie Williams.
Those who've not seen pro-rugby league before are encouraged to attend - it's a tremendous sport played by incredible athletes.
Ball-in-play time is huge, the try-count is generous and the collisions are muscular and make the hardest of us wince.
Moreover, Wales' only Engage Super League club have made a styong start to the 2010 campaign and I predict a healthy win over the Quins.
Get there in good time ... the Engage Super League authorities like to see colourful family entertainment before kick-off.
Crusaders prop Mark Bryant told Media Master: "The people down in South Wales were fantastic when we were based there last year - they gave us some amazing support.
"Some of them still travel to Crusaders games, both home and away, which is phenomenal, so it's good to go back down there. We're really looking forward to playing at The Gnoll."
Alfie, by the way, is likely to wear the full-back's No 1 jersey.
Ticket prices for Crusaders v Harlequins start at just £8 (adults) and £4 (kids) - great value. Call 0871 221 9511.

Crusaders deserve Swansea Bay media splurge

Look out for significant Swansea Bay media activity by rugby league club the Celtic Crusaders over the next week and a half.
On April 1 they're due to bring the first ever Super League game to the area as Gareth "Alfie" Thomas and his teammates meet London rivals Harlequins RL.
That makes for an exciting night out in my book, an antidote to the disappointingly one-sided RBS Six Nations.
The Crusaders asked Andy Pearson Publicity to line up some decent visibility in the Swansea Bay media as the build-up progresses.
Our friends at Afan FM, Radio Tircoed and the South Wales Evening Post have all indicated an eagerness to run match ticket competitions.
Other organisations have put their hands up too to help herald a new dawn in Welsh sport. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Trust and Swansea Council are among the organisations keen to run employee ticket offers.
Hosts Neath RFC, meanwhile, have also been quick to show their support.
A press just issued from The Gnoll reads: "We welcome Super League here for the first time when the Crusaders play Harlequins on April 1 at 7.30pm.
"It will be the first time the famous old ground has hosted top-class professional rugby league and, with the Crusaders beginning to make an impression from their new Wrexham HQ, great interest is already being shown in one of only two 2010 fixtures the outfit will play in South Wales."
Supporters have the chance to see both codes with a ticket package embracing the Crusaders’ return to South Wales and Neath’s Principality Premiership clash with Pontypridd on Easter Saturday for £20. For dual tickets click here.
Tickets for the Crusaders-Quins game are £10 adults, £8 concessions, £5 U16s. To buy, click here.