Sat 24 Jan 2026
Old Crossleyans 1XV 20 – 19 Selby
Johnson Penalty Clinches Last-Gasp Victory for Old Crossleyans
Old Crossleyans produced the perfect response to last week’s heavy defeat at Scarborough, securing a 20-19 victory over Selby at Broomfield. A penalty in the final act of the game earned Crocs four crucial league points against a side currently fifth in the table and who had previously defeated them back in October. The starting lineup was bolstered by the return of Dan Smith, Chris Vine, Josh Hunt, Matthew Beswick, and Alex Thompson, with Boj Sembi and Finbar Drennan providing impact from the bench.
The match began with Crocs exerting pressure through the front row at the scrum, though the opening 15 minutes were defined by missed opportunities. Selby capitalized first, intercepting a pass deep in Crocs' territory to score an unconverted try for a 0-5 lead. Crocs responded with multiple attacking phases, including an eye-catching chip-and-collect from Josh Hunt. The pressure eventually told after 30 minutes when James Johnson found Matthew Beswick in support, who crossed unopposed. While the conversion hit the post, Crocs continued to press. Just before the interval, Brockson Brown crashed over from short range following a powerful carry by Captain Tom Metcalf. Johnson’s conversion gave the hosts a 12-5 lead at half-time.
The second half began with immediate intent as Chris Vine went blind from a scrum to find James Johnson, who finished well on the wing. Leading 17-5, Crocs looked in command, but Selby’s powerful pack began to dictate play. Two converted tries for the visitors turned the game around, giving Selby a 17-19 lead heading into the final stages.
Crocs thought they had snatched the win when Finbar Drennan broke half the length of the field to offload to his brother, Harry, for a try. However, the score was controversially disallowed as the preceding quick lineout was judged not to have traveled the required 5 meters. Refusing to fold, Crocs launched one final assault, utilizing a series of pick-and-gos by the forwards and a jinxing run by Josh Hunt to reach the Selby line. A penalty was awarded directly in front of the posts, and James Johnson maintained his composure to slot the kick on the final whistle, sealing a hard-fought 20-19 win.
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