Cockroft’s late penalty edges Crocs to victory
OLD CROSSLEYANS registered a 13-10 away day success at Pontefract in Yorkshire One.
The game was deep into stoppage time when Ed Cockroft maintained his composure to successfully land a penalty enabling Old Crossleyans to snatch a victory which had looked increasingly elusive for much of the second half.
All the more surprising as Crocs’ performance in the first half was highly impressive, scoring two tries playing into the teeth of a gale force wind and, although the match was tied at 10-10, the away support could have been forgiven for thinking the hard graft would be rewarded when the teams turned round.
As it turned out, it was Pontefract who posed more of an attacking threat and it required a gutsy defensive performance from the Crocs to retain parity on the scoreboard.
Crocs made the perfect start, getting on the scoreboard after only two minutes when an unstoppable driving maul resulted in Nick Faulkner scoring the first of his two tries.
Pontefract responded well and drew level five minutes later following several phases of possession from the forwards.
An astutely judged kick behind the Crocs’ defensive line was chased down by Craig Fawcett and Liam Kaye’s successful conversion home team a 7-5 lead.
Despite some resolute defence a Liam Kaye penalty stretched the lead to 10-5 as the midway point in the half was reached.
Crocs refused to give best and the pack muscled their way through the midfield before Nick Faulkner’s surging run took play deep into the Pontefract half.
Again taking the line-out option, Nick Faulkner peeled off
gave
the an irrepressible driving maul to score his second try of the match and level the score at 1010.
Robust Crocs’ defence created another turnover as Pontefract looked to get a further score before half-time and Matthew Beswick had to be alert to the danger posed by a kick behind the defensive line.
Crocs now had the increasingly strong wind behind their backs but it was Pontefract who controlled the opening fifteen minutes of the second half.
One flowing Pontefract back line move was bundled into touch short of the line as Crocs were forced to defend for long periods of time.
Crocs finally got a foothold in the Pontefract half. This set the pattern for the rest of the game as it entered the final ten minutes. Crocs were seeing more of the ball but an inability to retain possession meant that a draw was looking the likely outcome.
As the game entered stoppage time, Crocs had one last chance to grab the win.
Their persistence in putting together a more patient, disciplined phase of possession drew a penalty 25 metres out.
Ed Cockroft made no mistake and, somewhat against the run of play, Crocs led 13-10.
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