Four successive defeats have plunged Old Crocs into the bottom three and they also have the leakiest defence in the league having conceded 460 points from 17 games. Last Saturday they were hammered 45-0 at Wheatley Hills where we also came unstuck and the previous weeks saw them go down 36-11 at Durham City and 28-23 at Team Northumbria in between which they lost at home to West Hartlepool 12-3.
The tight pitch at Broomfield Avenue is a big advantage for Crocs but the Whites have proved on their last three visits that they can adapt to the small playing area from their home turf on the Friarage.
The last games in Halifax have seen Crocs narrowly win 16-14 last season; Rovers win by the same score in 2007/08 and Crocs triumph 15-10 in 2006-07. The Friaragemen have everything to play for, therefore, and they must set out to take the four points on offer. These results suggest that another close contest is likely and neither side could be confident of getting a try bonus point although a losing bonus point could be on the cards. In the past games have been won or lost through the boot with the small pitch bringing many penalties within kicking distance.
Last week’s 10-0 defeat at Driffield possibly makes the Woldsmen safe but the five sides below them: Morpeth played 15 points 29; Pontefract P16 pts 27; Crocs P17 pts 23; Northern P15 pts 21 and Rovers P17 pts 12 have it all still to do.
Losing the last three games, all winnable, has not helped Rovers and another defeat at Crocs would probably seal our fate even though there is still a third of the season to go.
Player-coach Alan Brown makes a couple of changes to his side, with Darren Smith stepping in for the unavailable Simon Hall. There is also good news with skipper Michael Thubron appearing in the lineup after he was forced off the field last week with an injury. Brown drops himself down on to the bench where he will be alongside Andrew Arnell and Andrew Egglestone.
Rovers: Masshedar, Lilley, Foreman, Coulson, B Cushlow, Sainty, King, Tucker, J Cushlow, I Pinchen, A Pinchen, Thubron (c), Grazier, Dring, D Smith. Subs: A Arnell, A Brown, Egglestone