Crocs bounce back with win over Leos

OLD CROSSLEYANS overcame the wrath of Storm Dennis and stubbornly determined opposition to record a hard fought 13-7 home win over Leodiensians in Yorkshire One.

There was never any prospect of repeating the heady excitement of last week’s attacking rugby at Old Brodleians, with both teams battling against the inclement weather in a gruelling and dour contest which, unsurprisingly, offered few scoring opportunities for the spectators who ventured down to Broomfield.

The pitch held up extremely well, in spite of the deluge, but the playing conditions were atrocious and there was, inevitably, a plethora of handling errors from both teams as they struggled to cope with the driving rain and howling wind.

Crocs, with the elements in their favour, held a narrow 5-0 advantage at the interval and, when Leos took the lead five minutes into the second half, the home support could have been forgiven for thinking that victory would prove elusive.

Instead, they defended resolutely when required and began to assert more control as the game entered the closing stages. A penalty midway through the half restored the lead and Jack Hammond’s late try sealed the hard fought victory.

The scoreboard remained so until five minutes before the interval when Crocs finally had points to show for their efforts. The resolute Leos’ defence was eventually breached following a penalty award on the visitors’ ‘22’.

Crocs took the tap option and initiated a series of controlled pick and go drives until Ed Cockroft cut back inside the defensive cover to touch down by the posts for a 5-0 interval lead.

Leons went ahead early in the second half when, having won their own line out ball, they set up a driving maul in the Crocs’ ‘22’ and Ed Farmer peeled off to touch down by the posts. He then added the formality of the conversion and Leos led 7-5.

Rather than the anticipated Leos’ onslaught, Crocs battled to take the game to their opponents and, with the filthy weather, if anything, getting worse they established a foothold in the Leos’ half.

A deft grubber kick into the in goal area was covered and further pressure was applied when Leos were penalised for not rolling away at the tackle. Unfortunately, the Crocs’ line out was struggling and they lost possession within the Leos’ ‘22’.

Just when the home support’s frustration was mounting, Crocs finally regained the lead following a powerful drive in midfield from Jack Pilcher to take play deep into Leos’ territory.

Crocs were subsequently awarded a penalty and they chose to go for goal into the teeth of the gale force wind. Ed Cockroft’s kick hit the upright before, tantalisingly, dropping the right side of the crossbar and Crocs led 8-7 midway through the half.

Leos responded and were soon laying siege to the Crocs’ try line.

But some heroics defence was rewarded when Crocs went down the other end of the field and scored the try which sealed the win.

A series of penalties enabled Crocs to squelch into the opposition half and a further penalty for dragging down a driving maul set up a line out 15 metres from the try line.

This time the ball was secured and controlled and patient recycling drew a further penalty as the clock ticked down.

Crocs had a scrum feed and when Ed Cockroft’s pass was released on the short side, Jack Hammond crashed over the line and the lead was 13-7.

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