Sat 8 Nov 2025
Pontefract Edge Out Crocs in Hard-Fought Contest
After a week off, Old Crossleyans travelled to Moor Lane looking to secure a third consecutive win, following their convincing 50-point victory over Doncaster Phoenix two weeks earlier. With both sides aiming to stay clear of the relegation zone, this was always set to be a key fixture.
According to one touchline count, the first-half penalty tally stood at 12–1 in Crocs’ favour, as Pontefract’s discipline repeatedly let them down. Despite this, the home side struck first after just six minutes, their pacey winger finishing out wide for a converted try. A fortunate bounce from a chip ahead soon gave Pontefract a second score, and Crocs trailed 12–0 after only 13 minutes.
Crocs began to find rhythm through a darting run from Chris Vine and a well-placed Josh Hunt kick to the corner. From the resulting lineout, Pontefract fumbled, and Finbar Drennan pounced to touch down and get Crocs on the board at 12–5. Continued pressure saw Hunt deliver a cross-field kick that found Matt Beswick, who won the aerial contest to score out wide and close the gap to 12–10 after 25 minutes.
Momentum stayed with Crocs as Hunt regathered his own chip and again kicked across for Beswick to finish his second try, putting the visitors ahead 12–15 after half an hour. A late penalty struck the post on the stroke of half-time, denying Crocs a further cushion.
The second half was fiercely contested. Strong carries from Tom Metcalfe, Boj and Raman Sembi, Dan Smith, and George Banham took Crocs close, but handling errors proved costly. Pontefract countered from deep, their back three running the length of the field to reclaim the lead at 19–15.
A late penalty chance went wide, and with time running out, Crocs’ afternoon worsened when influential playmaker Josh Hunt suffered a worrying injury that could keep him sidelined for some time. Pontefract added a final penalty, at the final whistle, to close out a 22–15 win.
Crocs will look to regroup during their week off before hosting Bradford Salem at Broomfield on 22 November.
