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.

Swansea Bay media duo cuddle up to the Scorpions

Two of Swansea Bay's most youthful media operations have become a key player in a new sports team.
Bay Radio and Nation Radio have linked up with Neath-based rugby league freshmen the South Wales Scorpions.

It could be a stirring combination - a new sporting spectacle for the region and two of the area's most innovative broadcasters. With God's game being a passion of mine, I wish all involved great success in this partnership.
The Scorpions' official radio stations for the 2010 season are part of the Town and Country Broadcasting Group that own six stations including Llanelli's Scarlet FM, Radio Carmarthenshire, Bridgend's Bridge FM and Radio Pembrokeshire.
Bay covers Swansea Bay, Nation a larger tranche of South Wales, including Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.
The two stations are pledging what is believed to be the largest amount of advertising ever for a rugby league club in Wales.
They plan broadcasts the week before each of the Scorpions’ 11 home fixtures, starting with a big-name friendly against Wigan Warriors at The Gnoll on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm).
The Scorpions are the newest professional RL side in Wales. Following the game against Wigan, they will be playing 20 matches in the Co-operative Championship 1 against the likes of Oldham and Workington Town.
In addition to adverts throughout 2010, Bay and Nation will provide editorial support when needed in the form of interview opportunities plus a link to the Scorpions website on Bay and Nation home pages.
Bay and Nation logos will appear on the Scorpions’ home and away shirts and there will be advertising boards at The Gnoll. Both stations will have ads in match programme and links from the Scorpions website.
Scorpions’ owner Phil Davies told Media Master: “They’ve had us in as studio guests a few times already and Sunday’s Wigan fixture was announced first on Bay Radio. This will be the start of a long and fruitful partnership.”
Andy Griffiths, broadcast director of Town and Country, said: “I'm impressed with the club’s enthusiasm, determination to develop local talent and their already good relationship with the supporters and local community.”
For Scorpions-Wigan tickets click here.