The game turned just before half-time when Crossleyans scored two tries while West's Brett Cullinane was sin-binned and then added a third shortly after the interval. But West fought bravely back and their never-say-die attitude was certainly one positive thing to come out of the game.

Broomfield is not a place many sides will enjoy visiting this season and few will come away with any points if today's performance is anything to go by. The defence was outstanding for the majority of the game and flavoured with some Pacific Island tough tackling it will take more attacking flair than West had on offer to break it down. The small pitch offers little opportunity to exploit pace out wide so teams with big packs who like the rolling maul will probably stand the best chance.

Unfortunately for West they couldn't match their hosts in the defensive department with too many missed tackles but the forwards, in particular, must be commended for working tremendously hard in the loose and clearing the rucks very effectively all day. Sadly handling errors and mistakes out wide failed meant this work could not be built upon.

Crossleyans were on the offensive right from the kick-off and West's defence was called into early action. After 6 minutes of pressure they seemed to have finally cleared and moved forward on half-way with a good maul. But when the ball was moved along the backs it went to ground and the sharp home three-quarters pounced on the ball with winger Dan Bancroft racing clear and popping up to to scrum-half James Mallard who got over for the first try of the day converted by Tony Waite.

The hosts were looking really dangerous and West did well not to concede more points early on. The visitors best weapon was attacking around the fringes with the forwards and when it used it was proving potent. On two occasions, after several phases of possession overlaps were created out wide but both times the ball was intercepted along the line and with tackles being missed the mistakes were being capitalised on. Paul Moss was successful with a 29th minute penalty from 40 metres out and although West had come back into the game well they had made few, if any, clear scoring opportunities.

Then followed the key passage of play before half-time. Cullinane was sin-binned for apparent obstruction which was certainly harsh given contact was minimal and the chip ahead was way too long for anyone to catch on to. Crocs capitalised on the man advantage immediately with a pushover try finished by number eight Nafetalai Fusitua and added another 5 minutes later when Luke Bartle crashed in after two scrums were turned over inside the 22.

The second half didn't start much better either with another try coming just 7 minutes in. Again it came from a West mistake with this time Waite intercepting a pass and running 70 metres before delivering a scoring pass to James Wainwright. The made the score 24-3 and the visiting fans began to look at each other with worried expressions!
But West bounced back and launched an all out attack on the Crocs line. Phase after phase was knocked back or struggled to get over the gain line but they didn't give in. Twice they were up to the line and came away with nothing before eventually Martin Todd darted through a gap and stretched to the line. Moss made no mistake with the conversion and West were back in the game. Just before the try the referee had despatched Fusitua to the sin-bin for twice kicking the ball away from the base of the ruck with play less than 5 metres from the try line. He was soon joined by Bartle as he lowered a shoulder and delivered a late hit on Hodgson right under the officials nose.

West needed to capitalise on the 2 man advantage but failed to do so with the only scoring opportunity being a Crossleyans penalty shot which fell well short. With Fusitua restored to the action West finally got within a score thanks to a Jon Boatman try. It came after the forwards made good ground with a rolling maul and several phases of pick and go which was clearly tiring out the Corssleyans pack who had got through a serious amount of tackling. Wallis, on for Moss, made an excellent wide conversion and with just over 5 minutes left to go the game really seemed on.

But Crossleyans played out the time wisely, kicking deep into West territory and besides one threatening break ended by another intercepted pass it didn't ever looked like West would complete the comeback. It had been a valiant effort and if the first try had come 5 or 10 minutes earlier it might have been a different story. There are positives for Stubbs and Co to take from the game though as at a time when the team could easily have given up they fought back strongly and kept the result in doubt right until the final whistle. Well done to Old Crossleyans though who were deserving of victory and hopefully West can avenge the result with the return meeting in March at Brinkburn.

One worrying area were further injuries to add to that of Danny Weegram. Anth Carr suffered a blow to the face and required lengthy treatment on the sideline and Aaron Myers limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury. Hopefully neither injury is too serious and both will be fit for next week's visit of Durham City.


West: Todd, Lambert, Edwards, Hodgson, Hare, Moss (Wallis), Tighe, Carr (Norris), Sawyer, Cullinane, Rudd, Davies, D Boatman (Tones), Myers, J Boatman
Tries: Todd, J Boatman
Cons: Moss, Wallis
Pen: Moss
Sin-bin: Cullinane

Old Crossleyans: Seymour, Wainwright, Bartle, Maitatonga, Bancroft, Waite, Mallard, Seeto, Wheale, Day, Hill, Wood, Riaz, Thomas, Fusitua

Tries: Mallard, Fusitua, Bartle, Wainwright
Cons: Waite 2
Sin-bin: Fusitua, Bartle

Referee: Richard Whelan [Yorkshire Society]