WHILE North Wales Crusaders’ epic play-off victories have come away from home, head coach Carl Forster says they have felt like home encounters.

Forster has been full of praise for the support his side has received from fans in the wins over Workington Town and Oldham - and he is hoping Sunday’s key League 1 play-offs trip to Hunslet will be no different.

Following last Sunday’s thrilling 13-12 triumph at Oldham, Forster told the club’s website: “It felt like a home game and I’ve been in Cumbria myself.

“It’s not often you go to Cumbria and it feels like a home game.

“So, that’s a testament to them and it’s same again today.

“You come to this big stadium, you’re holding on to a lead for however long it was and all you can hear is them in the background.

“You know, you’re defending your own line, you’re causing errors.

“There’s scuffles going on in the corner and you look up and them fans are there cheering you home.

“I’ll tell you now, I know it sounds a bit cliche, but you don’t get home in them last three, four, five minutes when you don’t have that support behind you.

“So, for me, they’ve been through the mill this year, but if anything, it’s them that do deserve days like today and wherever we go next week, I’m sure they’ll be backing us again and hopefully we’ll do them proud.”

The North Wales Crusaders Foundation has announced it is offering free coach travel to supporters looking to make the trip, which will guarantee another strong backing for the players.

The support they received worked a treat at Boundary Park, when Crusaders recovered from a 12-point deficit at the interval to maintain their interest in the play-offs.

Tries from skipper Callum Hazzard and Matt Fletcher helped Cru to draw level, before Toby Hughes won it with a last minute drop goal.

That fightback is the latest highlight of a campaign that opened in testing fashion.

“I don’t think anyone would have pictured us here,” added Forster. “You know, 0-7 at the start of the season, but it just shows the togetherness and tightness in the group that we’ve stuck with it.

“The injured boys have obviously come back into the team and we’re playing with a lot of confidence.

“We go 12 down and we said at half-time it was our errors that put Oldham in good opportunities and fair play to Oldham, they took the tries well.

“But we just knew at half-time, if we got that first try, that we’d put an awful lot of pressure on them.”

Hunslet, who ended the league campaign as runners-up, lost out against Doncaster last time out.

Super League leaders Wigan are in action tonight at home to Castleford.

Tonight’s other fixtures: Leigh v Wakefield; Warrington v St Helens. Tomorrow: Hull v Huddersfield; Catalans Dragons v Leeds; Hull KR v Salford.