Sat 6 Apr 2024
Crocs season went right the down to the wire when they faced a determined Morley side on Broomfield yesterday. Before the match Crocs were tied on points with rivals Bridlington but placed below on points difference, in the relegation zone. Crocs knew they needed the maximum 5 points to give them the best chance of staying in regional 2 north east (level 6) next season.
Morley showed, right from the off, they had arrived in Halifax to win and were not going to gift Crocs the victory. Having almost total possession in the opening minutes it took Morley six minutes to cross Crocs line for an unconverted try. 0-5 to Morley.
The home crowd must have got a case of Deja Vu ten minutes into the game when Nick Rawsthorne intercepted a Morley pass on the edge of the Crocs 22 metre line, almost exactly as he did against Malton & Norton three weeks earlier. Rawsthorne passed to winger Alex Thompson who ran the ball in under the posts for his first try of the day. Rawsthorne converted the try 7-5 to the Crocs.
Morley were awarded a kickable penalty which made the score 7-8 to Morley. After strong counter rucking Morley were punished for holding on. Rawsthorne kicked the penalty making the score 10-8 to the home team.
After a pick and go from Dan Smith and good ball carrying from Boj Sembi and Cameron Brannan, Ross Peltier crashed over the line carrying a couple of Morley defenders over with him. 17-8 to the Crocs.
On the thirty-minute mark a Cameron Brannan interception found scrum half Joe Stott who grubber kicked the ball into space behind the Morley defenders. Winger Alex Thompson again showed his pace and did superbly well to regather the ball to touch down for the try. The conversion was missed in the high winds. 22-8 to Crocs.
Crocs all important four try bonus point came from a Boj Sembi attack, finding Josh Hunt with a Pass. Hunt passed the ball back inside to the supporting Joal Macfarlane who cruised under the sticks. The conversion was good making the score 29-8.
From a scrum on the edge of Morley's 22 metre line, Joe Stott spotted Morley had a lightly defended blindside and made an excellent floating pass to Alex Thompson who crossed in the corner for his hat-trick. Thompson was unfortunately injured in the process but was well patched up by loyal club physio Harriet Stott and was able to return to play. 34-8 to the Crocs.
Just before half time George Banham made a neat offload to Ross Peltier who again crossed Morley's line but the referee brought play back for a previous knock on.
With the score at 34-8 at half time, Morley came back hard from the restart and Crocs did very well to defend the onslaught. After top tackling Harry Drennan and a Tom Metcalf tip tackle Nick Rawsthorne was able to kick a penalty making the score 37-8 just before the hour mark.
Morley scored a converted try minutes after making the score 37-15. A solid tackle by Chris Vine knocked his opposite man into touch earning the Crocs lineout possession. After this lineout a Crocs pass was intercepted and carried downfield by Morley who scored an unconverted try on the final whistle.
