Old Crossleyans RUFC

With just two games remaining and this being the final home game of the season, Old Crossleyans found themselves in a critical situation, knowing that a win was essential to overtake Doncaster Phoenix in the Regional 2 North East league and to climb out of the dreaded drop zone.

In their previous encounter, Old Crossleyans had triumphed over Moortown at Far Moss Sports Ground, securing a 12-17 victory back in December. However, when the two teams met again on Broomfield, Moortown demonstrated their true potential. They put up a strong fight, forcing Old Crossleyans to battle hard for the crucial victory they desperately needed.

The Crocs celebrated the return of Chris Vine to scrum-half, with Alex Thompson stepping in on the wing. They also welcomed Cameron Brannan for his seasonal debut. Player-coach Jack Hammond reached a remarkable milestone, making his 350th first-team appearance while commanding the Crocs midfield. What an achievement!

The opening moments of the game set the tone, with both sides evenly matched. The Crocs displayed dominance in the scrum, while the collisions were intense and fiercely contested.

It took 20 minutes for the Crocs to break the deadlock. After being awarded a penalty, Finn Sutcliffe executed a precise kick to the corner. Alex Thompson, Tom Metcalf, and Ellis Nuttall then made powerful ball carries, setting up Cam Brannan, who pounced on the opportunity to crash over from close range. James Johnson added the extras, giving the Crocs a well-deserved lead.

Shortly after, the Crocs made a defensive error out wide, allowing Moortown’s fullback to make a weaving run from inside his own half. He evaded three Crocs defenders before crossing the line for an unconverted try.

After Finn Sutcliffe charged down a Moortown kick, the Moortown player had little choice but to kick the ball directly into touch. Following the lineout, a maul formed, and after several powerful picks and drives, with Harry Drennan and Seb Da Silva playing key roles, Sbulelo Roji surged over the line from close range to score. The try was successfully converted, bringing the score to 14-5.

Just before halftime, Crocs found themselves in trouble, becoming their own worst enemy. Matthew Beswick was first shown a yellow card for an alleged deliberate knock-

on, and just three minutes later, Finn Sutcliffe followed him with a yellow card for a similar offence. This left Crocs reduced to just 13 men as they entered halftime.

The second half began with more disciplinary issues for Crocs and 3 Moortown tries in a matter of minutes. Chris Vine was shown yet another yellow card shortly after the break, and Moortown capitalized with a penalty try, narrowing Crocs’ lead to 14-12. With Crocs down to just 12 players against Moortown’s full 15, Moortown seized the opportunity. Once Crocs returned to 13 players, Moortown quickly scored again, taking the lead for the first time, 14-19. Just minutes later, with Crocs still down to 14 men, Moortown added another try, extending their lead to 14-26.

Despite the mounting pressure, Crocs refused to back down. Buoyed by the crowd's support, they steadied themselves and began to fight back. Finn Sutcliffe delivered a precise kick into the corner, setting up a powerful Crocs attack. Dan Smith and George Banham led the charge, creating space for captain Tom Metcalfe. Metcalfe broke through a tackle near the posts to score a converted try, bringing Crocs back into contention at 21-26.

It was Moortown’s turn to face a yellow card, and Crocs quickly seized the opportunity. A monumental scrum from Crocs saw them drive Moortown off their own ball, gaining significant momentum. A series of scrums, in which Crocs dominated, pushed them to within a metre of the Moortown try line.

Crocs’ man of the match, Dan Smith, spotted a small gap in Moortown’s defence. After receiving a pass from Chris Vine, Smith powered through the gap to score the all-important bonus-point try. James Johnson’s conversion attempt hit the post but bounced over, putting Crocs back in the lead, 28-26.

The final eight minutes were tense and nerve-wracking. Moortown managed to break into Crocs’ 22-metre zone, but resolute, man-on-man defence prevented them from crossing the line. As the clock ticked down, Alex Thompson’s crucial work at the breakdown allowed Crocs to win a penalty and kick for touch, securing a badly needed five points and sealing the win.

Old Crossleyans fought back from a difficult position to claim the critical 28-26 victory. The win keeps their hopes of avoiding relegation alive, although Crocs will not know their fate until after their final game away to Morley on 5th April.