Despite those four tries Crocs defence was pretty resolute throughout the game, particularly in the second half were they spent the vast majority of the time inside their own half. We had already scored 3 times in the first period but couldn't find a way through to add a fourth, despite heavily dominating territory and possession. Finally, with 8 minutes left, we launched a 10-man maul from 5 metres out and as it collapsed over the line, replacement Carl Miller emerged with the ball to claim that all-important bonus point.

Crocs arrived touted with having a strong running back division but they never really got the ball to show what they could do. We played with the strong wind at our back in the first half and the conditions were clearly something on the visitor's minds as they opted against kicking for touch from any penalties towards the middle of the field. Stephen Stockdale set his stall out early on with some barnstorming runs from number 8 and he crashed over for the first try in the left corner, breaking through a couple of tackles on his way to the line.

We suffered a blow when Paul Moss had to leave the field with an ankle injury suffered during the build up to the opening try. Despite trying to play on for a few minutes he couldn't continue and Peter Hodgson took his place in the centre. Chris Jones then notched a penalty for Crocs after 10 minutes when a tap penalty from scrum half James Wainwright had got the visitors on the attack.

Adam Larkin finished well on 26 minutes for the second try, this time in the right corner. Darren Thomas came on to the ball at pace down the right before slipping a good pass to the winger who took a tackle short of the line but stretched out well to touch down.

We continued to attack and Carl Robinson was held up over the line minutes later but, as the ball was moved through the backs from the resulting 5 metre scrum, Peter Hodgson wrestled through a couple of tacklers and forced the ball down for the try. Gareth Foreman was disappointed to see a make-able conversion drift wide and leave the score 15-3.

Jones had a chance to double Crocs tally but his penalty also slid wide and it would prove to be his side's last bit of possession inside our 22. The closing moments of the half saw us back in sight of the try line, with a few surging runs going close but eventually a scrum against the head allowed Crocs to clear and bring the half-time whistle.

Turning round with the wind now helping them Crocs would probably have felt 15-3 wasn't that big a mountain to climb but we controlled the ball extremely well and forced them into long periods of defence. To their credit they made tackle after tackle but it took it's toll and on the odd occasion they did get the ball in an attacking position, mistakes at the line-out and in handling proved costly.

Gareth Foreman's penalty on 62 minutes nudged us further in-front but it was always that fourth try we were looking for and it eventually arrived thanks to that giant maul! Wheatley Hills loss at home to Old Brods certainly sets things up nicely for our trip to Percy Park next week where the winner will take top spot in North One East. We may have some injury worries to contend with as Darren Thomas left the field late in the game after a heavy collision and with Scott Jordan missing the last two weeks through a shoulder injury the coaching team will be hoping at least one of the full-backs is fit to make the trip.


West: Thomas (C Miller), Butcher, C Cheslin, Moss (Hodgson), Larkin, G Foreman, A Foreman, Carr (Wood), Bailey, C Robinson, Davies, T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Stockdale.

Tries: Stockdale, Larkin, Hodgson, Davies
Pen: G Foreman

Yellow card: J Boatman


Old Crossleyans: Seymour, Baker, Hammond, Richardson, Thomas, Jones, Wainwright, Palmer, Wheale, Day, Wood, Normanton, Sembi, Temm, A Hinchcliffe.
Reps: Cooper, Davis, S Hinchcliffe

Pen: Jones

Yellow cards: Wainwright, Normanton, Cooper.

Referee: Raph Mitchell [Warwickshire]