After their disappointing display at Pontefract the previous week, Chris Jones's side matched Sandal during the first half of Saturday's top-four contest.
Neither side really looked like scoring a try but all that changed after the break when, like buses, two came at once to help the second-placed visitors shoot into a 20-0 lead after 51 minutes.
There was no way back for Crocs against competent and confident opponents and although their unbeaten home record this season went out of the window, the hosts did manage to avoid being "nilled" courtesy of Jones's try in added time.
Crocs made a couple of late changes, with Richard Thomas and Mark Jowett drafted into the front five.
They were soon on the back foot against a lively Sandal side whose only defeat this season had come at home to Darlington.
Centre Neil Richardson eased the pressure with a strong burst and then a good grubber kick but his promising start was cut short when he took a knee in the back, which forced him off.
Crocs had their best spell in the middle of the first half with some solid forward play and good ball retention and passing but their efforts went unrewarded, Jones missing with successive penalty shots from just outside the Sandal 22.
Wood was off target with an ambitious penalty effort from close to half way as the visitors finished the first period strongly.
They were camped in the Crocs' 22 but slow ruck ball meant they never looked capable of cracking a solid, disciplined home defence and stand off Wood sensibly dropped two goals in the last four minutes of the half to ensure Sandal got points on the board.
Crocs threatened first after the break when centre Jack Hammond charged down an attempted clearance.
The game's pivotal moment came on 48 minutes with Crocs pressing near the top touchline, only for winger Alex Orr to intercept James Wainwright's pass and race 70 metres for a try converted by Wood.
Sandal suddenly had the bit between their teeth and when home scrum half Ed Cockroft hesitated and failed to collect scrappy lineout ball, the visitors cashed in. Fullback Tom Coad burst impressively through and prop James Purcell plunged over the try line. Wood again added the extras.
Rob Oliver came to Crocs' rescue to ensure a fine Sandal move involving winger Dan McCormack, Wood and lock Rob Overton came to nothing. Later on, only heroics from Jones, assisted by Andy Day, denied Orr a second try after he had hacked on a loose ball.
In between those two scares, Crocs had tried to steady the ship through driving mauls and an edge in the scrums, only for the referee's whistle to halt their progress.
The afternoon at least finished on a positive note for Crocs, Jones exchanging passes with replacement winger Joe Baker following a scrum on the Sandal 22 and going over in the corner.
Cockroft seems to struggle with easy kicks but had no so such problem from the touchline, the ball sailing between the posts.
Life does not get any easier for Crocs, who travel to free-scoring leaders Billingham next weekend.