Old Crossleyans RUFC

Crocs outplayed in the final quarter

Old Crossleyans suffered a defeat in the opening match of the new year, slipping further down the league table to second from bottom after a hard-fought encounter with now top-of-the-table Rochdale.

Despite the final score suggesting a comfortable win for Rochdale, much of the match remained competitive. Rochdale held a narrow 26-17 lead at the hour mark, and the game was still very much in the balance. However, three late tries from Rochdale, including a penalty try, combined with two yellow cards for the Crocs in the final 20 minutes, ultimately secured the victory for the home side.

The Crocs started strong, with a try from Callum Dunne putting them in the lead 5-7 after the first quarter. Rochdale quickly responded with a try of their own, but the Crocs kept the pressure on, with James Johnson's reliable kicking bringing the score to a tight 12-10.

The Crocs were again forced to play catch-up, but after a series of dominant scrums that pushed the Rochdale pack back nearly to their try line, Ross Peltier dived over, catching up on Rochdale's 19-17 lead.

Rochdale's fly-half, Ste Collings, delivered a clever chip kick that extended their lead to 26-17, and that scoreline remained unchanged for much of the match. Despite the Crocs' resilience and determination to regain the lead, the challenge proved too great.

Rochdale demonstrated why they sit at the top of the league in the final 20 minutes, scoring three excellent tries and confirming their status as one of the league's strongest teams.